The 2024 SEMA Battle of the Builders, presented by Mothers, crowned Noah Alexander and his ’68 Dodge Charger as the top entry, emerging victorious from the Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck category amid 172 competitors. The annual competition, a highlight of the aftermarket industry, offers builders a prestigious platform to showcase their expertise and innovations to enthusiasts worldwide.
Winning this title is a significant accomplishment, as Alexander emphasized on stage: “To be crowned the 2024 SEMA Battle of the Builders overall winner is an amazing accolade. The competition every year is incredibly fierce. Some of the people we look up to most in the industry have won this award, so to appear alongside those people is truly incredible.” Beyond the award, Alexander shared that the best part of the experience was connecting with talented fellow builders: “It was amazing to talk to all these other builders and hear what they do; they pull all their best talent, and to share that is what this hobby is all about.”
The journey of Alexander’s winning build began with a chance meeting at Barrett-Jackson with the car’s owner, Ed Houston, a loyal customer of Classic Car Studio in St. Louis, Missouri. Houston had bought the Charger nearly 20 years ago and initially approached Alexander’s team for some routine updates. However, after seeing the operation at Classic Car Studio, he encouraged them to take the project further, saying, “Guys, I want you to build me the baddest Charger out there.” This request set the wheels in motion for an extraordinary transformation.
Alexander’s team focused on keeping the Charger’s iconic design intact while enhancing it with refined, subtle modifications. “The best part about the build is it has those gorgeous lines from the factory, so we wanted to keep that intact. We set out to modify as much as possible while being subtle and keeping it timeless,” Alexander explained. This included sharpening lines, tucking in bumpers, and shaving drip rails, with the result being a fully functional and drivable masterpiece.
The award presentation took place on Friday, November 8, on the SEMA Show stage in the Silver Lot outside Central Hall. The event was streamed live as part of SEMA Live’s new 2024 YouTube program, offering car enthusiasts a front-row seat to this exciting competition.
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