‘Il Capo’ Rat Rod SEMA STUNNER 2019

The International RATical Rod Build Off Drive Off is a competition with a difference. And this year’s winner was definitely different!

The ‘Build Off’ rules require each team to commence a new rat rod build at the start of the year and complete it by October. The entrants must then get their creations to Lincoln, Nebraska, for the ‘Drive Off’: a 1,400-mile (2,250km) cruise to Las Vegas and presentation at SEMA.

First held in 2016, the RATical Rod Build Off Drive Off has attracted teams from throughout the US, as well as Canada, Mexico and Europe. This year, teams from Australia – Double Jacks Garage on the Sunshine Coast – and New Zealand also entered.

Bad Ass Rat Rods in Florida won with ‘Il Capo’ (The Boss): a creation that had plenty scratching their heads when they saw it on the Derale Performance stand.

Based on a ’36 Packard four-door sedan, Il Capo featured a two-door conversion, roof chop and front guards repurposed as rear guards amongst its many body mods, as well as dual rear wheels, a massive rear wing, supercharged Chevy LS V8 made to look like a HEMI, Franklin Racing quick change rear end, Derale oil and trans coolers, Ohlins custom shocks and plenty more.