The 2026 Ridler Award Winner, "Elegant Lady!"

Rex Satterfield has always been drawn to convertibles and when he found this rare 56' Bel Air, he knew it was the one. He loved the look, the style, the timeless presence that only this car could deliver. From the very beginning Satterfield had the vision to compete in the Great 8, and hopefully, and ultimately, win The Ridler Award at Detroit Autorama. He commissioned the Red Brick from Rockmore, Florida and set the plan in motion. Satterfield chose Jeff Wolfenbarger at Kool Kolors because of a previous build they had completed together. He trusted Jeff''s craftsmanship and reputation. What followed was an eight-year journey of dedication and precision.  The car is named the "Elegant Lady", as a fitting tribute to its graceful lines and refined execution. "Without any hesitation, the engine, which is 1000 horsepower LS7 is my favorite part of this car. It's the heart of this remarkable build," stated Rex Satterfield. Most importantly Satterfield would like to honor Jeff Wolfenbarger, who poured his passion, heart, and soul into this car, until he passed away near the completion. After Jeff passed, Satterfield found Kevin Riffy of Riffy's Hot Rods, who stepped in to carry this vision to completion. Dawn Kelley

The 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air owned by Rex Satterfield has won the Ridler Award at the 2026 Detroit Autorama. A multi-year build, Riffey’s Hot Rod took over the build after the owner of the former shop passed away. Called the Elegant Lady, this reimagined ‘56 Chevy has had all its body panels and support structure modified and modernized.

Sitting on an Art Morrison chassis, the owner opted for a Kugel Komponents independent rear suspension because he wanted inboard disc brakes. With the brake rotors out of the way, you can see expertly detailed undercarriage through the spokes of the rear wheels.

The grille and side molding were all machined from billet aluminum, as were the custom wheels made by EVOD Industries. EVOD also designed a matching steering wheel and the devastatingly elegant taillights. The floor of the body was dropped over the frame, necessitating the use of a custom-made, one-piece floor pan. The firewall was also custom made with a recessed panel for the engine. Justin Spradlin of Riffey’s Hot Rods says, “Everything that can be painted, was painted, if it can't be painted, it was chromed, if it can't be chromed, it was polished stainless steel.” That sums up lengths the build team took to dress up this Chevy so that it would live up to its name.

Power comes from an LS7 built by Don Hardy Engines. We all know the potential of this 7.0L package, but Don Hardy went a big step further by dropping a 4.5L Whipple supercharger on top, making this combination good for an honest 1,100 hp. Accompanying the engine, Don Hardy also built the 4L80E four-speed automatic transmission with the necessary components to handle a mountain of power coming from the engine.

Inside the car, you’ll notice the dashboard is from a ’56 Pontiac and features gauges from Classic Instruments. Steve Holcomb designed and built the sumptuous leather interior, and Jeff Wolfenbarger of Kool Kolors sprayed the custom-mixed paint that the owner calls Light Coffee. Elegant and classy, this 1956 Chevrolet stood above the rest of the Great 8 in the eyes of the judging team, and we think they made a great call.

Congratulations to owners Rex and Rhonda Satterfield and the crew at Riffey’s Hot Rod for winning the Ridler Award at the 2026 Detroit Autorama!

Text: Dawn Kelley and John McGann

Photos: Street Machine Central