(Photos by Darr Hawthorne) • Dennis Troggio’s jaw-dropping 1955 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, built by the craftsmen at Type One Restoration, didn’t just turn heads at the Grand National Roadster Show—it owned the room, earning the 2026 Al Slonaker Memorial Award. In a field stacked with heavy hitters, Troggio’s Ghia emerged on top of 12 finalists that included a 1958 Chevrolet Corvette, a 1956 Plymouth Roadrunner, and a 1951 Studebaker Champion.
Presented in honor of Al and Mary Slonaker—the visionaries who founded the Grand National Roadster Show in 1950—the Al Slonaker Memorial Award has recognized the show’s finest non-roadster since 1974. Along with the trophy, Troggio took home a $12,500 cash award from ARP Fasteners and a billet trophy that matched the build’s no-expense-spared mentality.
Built over roughly four years, the Karmann Ghia was completely reengineered from the ground up. Nearly every body panel was reshaped or reimagined, including the fenders, doors, hood, and decklid. The wheel openings were modified and the quarter-panels stretched to swallow wider rubber, all while preserving the Ghia’s unmistakable silhouette. The custom dark green over olive green paint sets the tone, but it’s the details that stop you cold—custom-machined fasteners, one-off bolt heads, and brake rotors carved from solid 90-pound blocks of cast iron.
Power comes from a 2.4-liter air-cooled flat-four, backed by a fortified transmission and limited-slip differential built to handle the added muscle. It’s equal parts art, engineering, and obsession—and the judges noticed.
“The 76th annual Grand National Roadster Show demonstrated that the world of hot rodding and custom cars is as innovative and popular as ever,” said John Buck, owner of Rod Shows and producer of the event. “We were honored to have so many industry legends, historic cars, and groundbreaking builds fill the Fairplex this year. It was the perfect way to celebrate more than seven decades of this incredible show.”
