Hill's Rod and Custom Brings 1972 Blazer and 1951 Studebaker Woody Fastback to SEMA 2013

Brett Alworth and Curt Hill transformed a homely 1972 Chevy Blazer into an award winning show stopper.

In 2009 Brett Alworth met up with Curt Hill and together they embarked on a two year journey creating automotive art. The unlikely subject for their project was a "homely" 1972 Blazer, which the duo determined would appear "stock-ish" - at first glance anyway. However, it's what sat underneath the surface that made the Blazer a crowd favorite at the 2013 SEMA Show, as it became a testament to suspension technology and creative vision.

Eric Reyes hand-painted the badge on the air cleaner cover.

Instead of bagging the truck, they decided to build the chassis around a coil-over system that Hill designed. The truck sits low at all time, and to accomplish this, many changes had to be made to improve the substandard frame. All cross members were removed to get the low-stance Hill's is renowned for. The result is a Blazer that rides well and handles like a sports car. Hill employed his innovative "Super Slammed" front and rear wheel wells to allow for the drop, yet still maintain perfect steering geometry. The potent small block kicks out 495 horsepower and 510 lb/ft of torque.

"I have been working in the automotive industry for the last 19 years," said Hill. "I worked for two shops before starting my own business five years ago. At Hill's Rod & Custom we can handle all of your custom car fabrication needs. We create everything from NHRA roll cages to Salt Flats racers, chopped customs to bagged Suburbans. We specialize in custom fabrication and we like making parts from scratch while maintaining the overall design of the build. We can take your dream, design it, create it and finish it to the highest standard. We usually don't do the same job twice and always find new ways to make and evolve cars to the best of our ability."

Hill's Rod and Custom also displayed a stunning 1951 Studebaker Woody Fastback at the 2013 SEMA show.

The Salt Flats racer Hill mentions is a streamliner that runs at Bonneville. It currently holds the record in its class (e/bgs). "Which stands for 259 cubic- inch motor, blown- twin turbo, gas," explains Hill. "And it holds the 2012 record at 334.260 mph. The owner of the streamliner is Dennis Varni, and we had it on display at SEMA in 2010. We run two K&N air cleaners on the liner, and that helps keep things from entering the engine at over 300 mph."

Hill and his Pleasant Hill, California shop have received numerous awards and countless accolades for their innovative creations. Before turning heads at SEMA, Alworth's Blazer debuted at the Grand National Roadster Show and it handily won its class. A follow-up victory at the Sacramento Autorama show proved that this truck was indeed a winner. At the Good Guys March show, Alworth's truck collected the Meguire's Magnificent Masterpiece and Award of Excellence.

Eric Reyes produced the original rendering of the Blazer and Hill and Alworth executed on that vision. Brian Jennings Kustom Restoration did the bodywork and paint, including fully detailing the fiberglass top inside and out. The Blazer has a K&N air filter and other breathers for the valve covers, and Reyes stepped in again to hand-paint the badge on the air cleaner cover.

"At the 2013 SEMA show I also brought a 1951 Studebaker Woody Fastback and showed it in the Dynamat booth," said Hill. "This was a full custom built woody. It has many items that have been hand built from scratch. I just finished a 1961 Ford Falcon too, and it was a ground up build. That car is on a boat and headed to South Africa right now for a vintage rally. It's also using a K&N air filter and breathers to keep the dirt out of the motor."

Hill says he would love to display the Falcon at the 2014 SEMA show, he just hasn't found a booth to have it in yet, adding "Any help would be greatly appreciated."