By Richard Hail
 Mattteo Medoro’s winning build was created from the cab and front end of a ’47 Dodge two-ton pickup joined to the frame of a ’92 Dodge Cummins 4x4. |
Matteo Medoro once again joins the ranks of the SEMA Young Guns with a win at the 2020 SEMA Battle of the Builders (BOTB) Young Guns Pacific Northwest virtual regional qualifier. For the second year in a row, he moves on to compete alongside his peers in the BOTB competition this November.
His winning build, which he started working on immediately following the 2019 SEMA Show, was created from the cab and front end of a ’47 Dodge two-ton pickup joined to the frame of a ’92 Dodge Cummins 4x4. After having the frame sandblasted, he gave it a healthy coating of POR-15 rust preventer. Then he lifted the cab into place, making sure the late-model diesel powerplant would fit into the classic’s frame. Once aligned, he designed and created all of the mounts and adapters needed to fuse the two trucks together including a custom bumper and deck with ample storage for tools, a full-size jack and more.
From there, Medoro added a Northern Radiator behind the cab, fabricating all of the radiator lines and intercooler lines himself out of copper. The powertrain includes an upgraded turbo, injection pump, injectors, lift pump and a rebuilt transmission putting out 550 hp and more than 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque. A customized FLO-PRO exhaust runs through the cab and along the running boards.
The interior boasts a headliner sewn together from upcycled old Albertan potato sacks and burlap, while the seats and door panels were created from distressed leather with a pattern stitched into the seats that are based off of Medoro’s cowboy boots. The imposing truck sits on 37-in. tires all around and boasts a finish that is part patina, part fauxtina.
The Battle of the Builders competition celebrates the amazing craftsmanship and talents of people who create and build some of the most unique cars in the world. The Young Guns program is a feeder to the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, and offers up-and-coming builders who are 27 or under the opportunity to compete to earn a spot in the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition. Furthermore, the Young Guns program recognizes and inspires the next wave of young builders and gets them actively involved within the aftermarket industry.
To see more of this build alongside hundreds of others, register for SEMA360, where you’ll also receive access to Feature Vehicle displays, the latest aftermarket products and industry-leading educational sessions. Manufacturers and buyers can register and connect at www.sema360.com.