With a completely handcrafted body, custom interior and stunning two-tone paint, it’s safe to say Kevin and Karen Alstott’s 1935 Ford roadster was built to win.

When the car named “Radster” took home the coveted Ridler award at the 2006 Detroit Autorama, the Alstotts and the car’s builder, Roger Burman of Lakeside Rods & Rides, were delighted.

Little did they know that Ridler’s victory was just the beginning. “Radster” later won the AMBR and AMBSR awards, as well as the Street Rod d’Elegance title. Only one other car, Chip Foose’s 1936 Ford “Impression,” has won all four major industry awards. –

Before the Alstotts recruited Burman and his team to build their car, they researched what it took to build an award-winning custom car by interviewing many auto show judges. different bowls and study the characteristics of past winners. As a result of their research, the Alstotts chose to build a 1935 Ford roadster, then contacted Burman at his Rockwell City, Iowa shop to see what ideas he could come up with for make.

At first, Burman wanted to build a 1935 roadster without fenders, which up to that point had not been done. Although Kevin Alstott loved the idea, he ultimately decided that he wanted the car to be a full fender car. (Burman ended up building a fenderless yellow 1935 roadster for the Alstotts team, and it did very well in the show circuit, too.) With a plan in place, Burman and his team at Lakeside Rods & Rides got to work. It took two years and a team of 18 people to create the outstanding award-winning roadster.

Marcel’s Custom Metal in Corona, California, fabricated the entire body out of flat sheet metal. The hand-formed body includes a modified SAC frame and was built at Lakeside Rods & Rides.

The car’s two-tone paint job is done using PPG’s bronze on top and platinum on the bottom. Gold leaf treatment was used to separate the two colors.The car has a teardrop theme that can be seen throughout its interior. Burman commissioned J&B Microfinish in Pontiac, Illinois to create one-off billet parts to highlight both the exterior and interior of the car. The company created teardrop-shaped shift levers, suspension nut covers, and disposable wheel centers. The teardrop shape can also be seen on the brake and clutch pedals, tail lights, trunk badge and front and rear fenders.

Restoration Room Interiors in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, upholstered the roadster’s interior and, in keeping with the teardrop theme, created a teardrop-shaped cutout in the leather bucket seats to provide a view of the trunk. Even the floor mats carry this theme.

Under the hood is a Dart 408ci small-block V-8 engine, rated at 550 horsepower. The engine block, along with Sanderson headers, intake manifold and six-speed transmission are polished, while the Demon carburetor, valve covers and air filter are chrome plated by Sherm’s Custom Plating in Sacramento, California made.

To keep the undercarriage and trunk looking clean, Burman placed the gas tank and most of the car’s electrical system in the hood area. This also provides a nice view of the IRS and exhaust system.

“The ‘Radster,’ when first seen, is a spectacularly complete custom build,” said Jeff Bertrand of J&B Microfinish. “[It] introduced trends for others to follow in the years that followed.”