Edmonton, Alberta – Old Coal, a custom truck with parts more than half a century old and a builder just barely out of high school made a splash at SEMA’s Battle of the Builders competition last week, placing in the top 40 overall.
“It can be any vehicle you want, they’re basically just looking for you doing the work,” Matteo Medoro told CBC News. “My truck was a 1947 Dodge truck cab and body on a 1991 Dodge frame.”
At only 20-years-old, Medoro–who hails from Edmonton, Alta. resident–finished first in his regional category, in the top 10 in SEMA’s Battle of the Builders: Young Guns competition and in the top 40 overall.
“I’m quite young, I don’t have tons and tons of money,” he said. “I build a lot of the stuff myself, it keeps the price down … it’s a good way to prove myself.”
Born from the familiar experience of a high school auto shop class, Medoro’s passion for the history of car building stood out even in his decision to opt for a rusty, vintage-style build, as opposed to the flashier custom entries of the competition.
“It’s rare when you see a young builder become a student of the past and really try to get inspiration from what has occurred before the young builder was born,” said SEMA vice-president of public relations, Ira Gabriel.
“There’s a lot of celebration with that, I think it stops a lot of the judges and the other builders and makes them look.”
Medoro already has two new retro builds on his docket for the coming months.
“The one’s a ’56 Chevy pickup truck and the other one is a ’38 International.”
One Response
He definitely has a lot of talent for a young man his age. The welding that he has done and customizing is amazing, so nice to see the drive in this young gun ! Keep up the great work, all the best in your adventures in the future 👍