UPDATE: SEMA RATICAL BUILD-OFF AND DRIVE-OFF

Heidi Watso and Arco Horton . January 22, 2023 . All Feature Vehicles

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MN Outlaw Customs takes on the challenge

Drive takes an exclusive look at one of the twenty contestants for the 2020 SEMA RATical Build-Off; custom builder Arco of MN Outlaw Customs hammers steel into style for a chance at a win.

Seeing the throwback silhouette, flowing curves and creative inspiration already taking shape, we like his chances. We’ll have updates as the build progresses, right up to the judging and final roll-out to SEMA Ignited in November.

In this issue we are proud to present the second in the ongoing Drive series coverage of their custom build. We check back in with Heidi and Arco who share their progress and give us an update on this completely unique, hand-fabricated piece of Ratical art.

Vehicles must also complete the drive-off portion of the contest from Lincoln, Nebraska to Las Vegas – over 1,400 miles!

Even though the car we are building for the International RATical Build-Off and Drive-Off is going to be a sleek, shiny, beautiful car – we are building it in the rat rod tradition. That means building with what you have, and making it all work together to create a head-turning ride.

Progress has seemed slow but we are moving forward quickly considering we are doing the build with what we have “in our backyard”. The grille shell was built out of the top sections of 2 Chevrolet pickup doors. We have done this before and it creates a very cool Art Deco look.

When we couldn’t figure out what we wanted to use for the grille, Arco remembered that we had stainless steel grate material out in a shed that was given to us by my uncle. Arco brought it in, we measured it, and it was the perfect size. It looks exactly how we wanted it to look.

Another big milestone is also in the front of the car, we have completed the shape of the front fenders, they are robust and beautiful. We have been hashing out where the headlights should go, but haven’t found the perfect lights yet – but when we do we know it will all come together.

In this stage of the build, the one-off rat rod has earned its name: ROGUE

We were having some issues getting the roof line to flow into the back of the car so we cut into the roof line above the door opening about a foot, moved the top of the window, which opened it out so now the roof flows into the rear of the car. That change helped us figure out a piece in the back of the car near the rear window where we had been struggling to get to look just right.

Almost all these changes are documented on Outlaw Edge on YouTube.

Fabricating a car out of what you have laying around, including flat sheet metal is quite a challenge, and a great way to let your creativity flow. It is equally important to not be married to anything in the design because changes will more than likely need to be made, and details about the car that you previously loved might be cut out and remade to fit better, or fit something that you forgot, or something doesn’t land exactly how you imagined, and in reality, sometimes we simply change our mind. Regardless, building a one-off car is an exercise in balancing patience and ambition with skill and vision to create the car in your mind out of the steel in your hands.

Become a sponsor on this project.

If you are looking for a showcase for your business and a way to get your products featured in front of the media on an international stage, this unique project going to SEMA is exactly that. Be a part of it.