LS7-Powered “Elegant Lady” Bel Air Wins The 2026 Ridler Award

Rex Satterfield’s 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air, Elegant Lady, claimed the 2026 Ridler Award at the Detroit Autorama. Riffey’s Hot Rod completed the final details of the multi-year build after Jeff Wolfenbarger of Kool Kolors passed away. Every body panel and support structure on the car was modified and modernized, making Elegant Lady a full ground-up reimagination of the classic Bel Air.

A Build That Changed Hands

Kool Kolors started the build under Wolfenbarger’s direction, and the shop did exceptional work before his passing brought the project to a halt. Riffey’s Hot Rod took over and pushed the car to a competitive level. The finished product honors the craftsmanship of everyone who contributed along the way.

Justin Spradlin of Riffey’s Hot Rods summed up the team’s approach: “Everything that could 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 standard applied to every inch of the car.

Chassis, Suspension, and Powertrain

The Elegant Lady sits on an Art Morrison chassis. Owner Rex Satterfield chose a Kugel Komponents independent rear suspension specifically for the inboard disc brakes. With the rotors tucked out of sight, the expertly detailed undercarriage is fully visible through the spokes of the rear wheels.

Power comes from a 7.0-liter LS7 built by Don Hardy Engines, topped with a 4.5-liter Whipple supercharger. That combination makes an honest 1,100 horsepower. Don Hardy also built the 4L80E four-speed automatic transmission to handle that level of output.

Custom Bodywork and Interior Details

The floor of the body was dropped over the frame, which required a custom one-piece floor pan. The firewall was custom-made with a recessed panel to house the engine. The grille and side molding were machined from billet aluminum, as were the custom wheels built by EVOD Industries. EVOD also designed a matching steering wheel and the taillights.

Inside, the dashboard comes from a ’56 Pontiac and features Classic Instruments gauges. Steve Holcomb designed and built the leather interior. Wolfenbarger sprayed the custom-mixed paint that Satterfield calls Light Coffee before the project changed hands, leaving that signature finish as part of his legacy on the car.