Valspar Automotive to showcase multiple custom builds at SEMA 2016

Oct. 25, 2016
Anton’s Hot Rod Shop, The Custom Shop and Counts Kustoms and History’s Counting Cars will be showcasing custom builds at the Valspar Automotive booth.
Anton’s Hot Rod Shop, a Cleveland-area custom shop, is bringing not one vehicle, but two vehicles to SEMA 2016, November 1-4, at the Las Vegas Convention Center; one is a complete custom rebuild of a 1950 Studebaker and the other car will be announced by Valspar Automotive—booth no. 10851 (North Hall)—at the show. Both vehicles by Anton’s Hot Rod Shop are finished in the company’s coatings from the Matrix Automotive Finishes and DeBeer Refinishes paint portfolios with repair products from U.S. Chemical & Plastics. Located in Hiram, southeast of downtown Cleveland, Anton’s Hot Rod Shop is known for the obvious—hot rods—with over-the-top fabrication and engine builds. The SEMA bound 1950 Studebaker is the perfect example of the level of craftsmanship that comes out of this shop, owned by Anton Lanesky and his wife Shannon. “I always wanted a 50s Studebaker and when a friend had one and couldn’t finish it and offered it up to me, I jumped at the opportunity,” he says. Today that friend’s Studebaker is a tribute to the Memphis Belle—known as the Boeing B-17F “Flying Fortress” during World War II. One for the history books, the Memphis Belle was one of the first heavy bombers to complete 25 consecutive combat missions and return to base with crew intact. In fact, Studebaker made engines for many of Boeing’s airplanes during World War II and promoted models made during that era alongside heavy bombers. “The 4-panel rear window is exactly what you would find on an airplane from that time,” says Lanesky. Lanesky’s custom “Stude” as he refers to it came together piece-by-piece but not without a lot of customization from the chassis – 116” wheel base, fully-fabricated frame and NHRA Certified roll cage – to the one-of-a-kind quarters covering 36-17-16 Goodyear tires and double bead lock weld wheels. Each and every painted detail is ripped from the Memphis Belle, from the yellow and black checkered detail on the light bezel to the military star on the driver’s door. Other details in Matrix colors include: ·         Yellow bombs representing the bomber’s 25 successful heavy-bomb missions ·         Flags representative of the number of enemy planes shot down during WWII ·         Tail art shows both the squadron number and the “L”, an identifier for the 381st Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force Ironically the “L” suited Lanesky’s last name; the squadron number he did modify. “It’s my wedding date,” he says. The pinup girl is also not the original from the plane. “This car truly pays tribute to our veterans from all eras,” says Laura Yerkey, director of marketing, Valspar Automotive. “We couldn’t be more proud to have it in our booth showcasing Matrix’s colors. It truly captures the Americana spirit of the Matrix brand.” Born in the motor city, Matrix Automotive Finishes is starting from the ground up. The Detroit-born coatings company has a long-established history of providing high-performance refinishing products through innovation, research and customer service to the custom market. Lanesky’s color choice for the body of his Studebaker is a military-inspired green, Tarragon Green, (WA860K); the entire car is cleared in Matrix’s MS-42 Clear.

As for Lanesky’s “other” vehicle at the show for the company, Valspar Automotive is keeping that under wraps (literally) until day one of SEMA, November 1. “The only thing we can tell you is that the vehicle is finished in something sweet,” says Yerkey.
 
Alongside Lanesky’s Studebaker Dragster in the Valspar Automotive booth no. 10851 is a custom trike from Las Vegas’ notorious Counts Kustoms and History’s Counting Cars, also painted in Matrix paints. On the other side will be a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am in Prospray Finishes by John Wargo of The Custom Shop in Flanagan, IL.

Owned by John Wargo and his wife Kim, The Custom Shop of Flanagan, Illinois, is no stranger to SEMA. The Wargo’s began showing their incredible custom builds at what is recognized in the industry at the biggest event of the year in the late 90s. In 2001, SEMA awarded The Custom Shop the Meguiar’s Shine Award and in 2008, Best Truck—both vehicles painted in Prospray Finishes, a Valspar Automotive brand.

“We work hard to design, create and build high-end customs for customers across the United States,” says Wargo, “and all of our vehicles are painted in Prospray. I’m a longtime customer of Valspar Automotive and a longtime believer in the line.”
 
Wargo’s ’77 Trans Am at this year’s show is finished entirely in Prospray colors including Ruby Red (M7-27700), Wilderness Candy (UC-03), Mystical Pearl (FX-708), and Spectra Flair (SF-1-18). Wargo cleared the car with PSC-8500.
 
“This car is five months in the making,” he says. “The customer really let us get creative, which helps when you’re digging into a custom job and trying to make it unique.”

Valspar: If it matters, we're on it.®
Valspar is a global leader in the coatings industry providing customers with innovative, high-quality products and value-added services. Our 11,100 employees worldwide deliver advanced coatings solutions with best-in-class appearance, performance, protection and sustainability to customers in more than 100 countries. Valspar offers a broad range of superior coatings products for the consumer market, and highly-engineered solutions
for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets. Founded in 1806, Valspar is headquartered in Minneapolis. Valspar's reported net sales in fiscal 2015 were $4.4 billion and its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: VAL). For more information, visit www.valspar.com and follow @valspar on Twitter.

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