Canadian Launier takes home Ridler using BASF paint

Southfield, Michigan — March 14, 2014 — BASF Automotive Refinish Solutions is pleased to announce that Canadian JF Launier of B.C.-based JF Kustoms has won the 2014 Ridler award for his 1964 Buick Riviera Rivision.

The Ridler, one of the custom car industry’s most prestigious awards, was presented to Launier at the Detroit Autorama on March 9, 2014. Rivision features many signature elements, including its bright yellow color, called Rivieran Sunset Pearl, which Launier created for the car. The vehicle also features boat tail-style rear glass, a two-seater coupe footprint, an 850 HP turbo V8 and twin turbochargers. To top it off, Launier’s award-winning custom ’64 Buick featured BASF R-M Onyx HD paint.

“BASF congratulates JF Launier on his much-deserved Ridler Award win for the truly impressive and eye-catching ’64 Buick Rivision,” says Vitor Margaronis, Marketing Director, BASF Coatings Solutions, North America. “We’re thrilled JF chose paint from BASF’s R-M line for this project, which is a shining example of high quality custom work.”

Butch Patrico, President of the Michigan Hot Rod Association says cars eligible for the Ridler Award are judged on creativity, degree of difficulty and quality, and that JF’s car embodied these criteria.

“It’s a very unique and beautiful vehicle. You have to look at it a long time to appreciate all the work that went into it,” Patrico says.

Paint from BASF has been featured on several recent Ridler Award winners. Six of the past 11 winners were painted with the company’s Glasurit line. The 2012 winning 1955 Ford Thunderbird designed by Jonathon Peace and built by Torq’d Design Lab and Greening Auto Company, featured Glasurit 90-Line Brilliant Red.

BASF served as the silver sponsor of this year’s Ridler Ball at the Detroit Autorama. Held annually, Autorama is the largest indoor custom car show in the United States. The Ridler Award, given out every year at the show since 1964 to the best new creations, is named after Don Ridler, who started promoting Autorama in the 1950s. Cars must make their public debut at the show in order to be eligible.

BASF’s Automotive Refinish business makes and markets coatings for the collision repair, commercial fleet and automotive specialty markets. Its paint products are supported by technical training programs, advanced color information systems and business management and planning tools.

For more information please visit BASFrefinish.com.