The event is considered to include some of the most talented automotive sculptors and builders on earth.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only Brady Ranweiler was allowed on the TV set at the Specialty Equipment Market Association contest in Los Angeles in November.

Ranweiler, the station wagon and show finalists will be featured on the History Channel on the A&E Network’s television special “SEMA: Battle of the Builders,” beginning at 10 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 7.

The show, which forms part of the network’s FYI and History’s DRIVE segment will air periodically after Feb. 7.

The History Channel will feature Brad, Brady and Cory Ranweiler of Show Cars Automotive Inc. and their 1963 Chevrolet wagon that won the 2020 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Battle of the Builders recently held in Los Angeles. The show premiers at 10 a.m. CST, Sunday, Feb. 7. The photo was taken behind the Brown County Historical Society Museum on Broadway.

The contest that included 330 online submissions, was held virtually, due to pandemic restrictions that eliminated an actual show in Las Vegas.

The Ranweilers, (Brad, Brady and Cory) of Show Cars Automotive, Inc. of New Ulm and their 1963 full-size, Chevy wagon made history in a number of ways.

It was the first time in the history of the contest that a station wagon won the contest. Other finalists included a 1965 Chevy C10 1/2 ton pickup, a customized 1974 Jaguar EX-E and a 1968 Chevy Camaro.

In addition, they were named best finalist in the Hot Rod category.

The wagon has won big, significant contests before. Earlier last year, it won the prestigious Ridler Award at the Detroit Autorama.

“The SEMA show was different because of COVID,” Cory Ranweiler said. “Only Brady was allowed on the TV set. But it was kind of cool, meeting all the big names and other people in the automotive contest business. The best part of it was doing it with my family.”

Brady Ranweiler said it was a daunting task just pulling the customized wagon in a trailer to Los Angeles last fall.

“The weather on the trip that takes a couple days was good, other than being dusty way out west.

“We didn’t run into any snow or fires in the mountains,” said Brady.

“It would have been different if we had taken it to a show in Las Vegas, but you take what you can get. Everything was locked down when we got there,” Brady said. “I’m the only one that go to go in (to the TV set). But my family and everyone else that works at Show Cars played a role in this.”

“They bused us to a TV set in Los Angeles but only Brady got to go inside,” Brad Ranweiler said.

“They kept it a secret just where the filming would take place because they didn’t want a lot people to know about it due to COVID (restrictions),” Brad added.

Brady said winning the Ridler Award in Detroit was his father’s Brad’s dream for a long time.

“That’s the Super Bowl of custom auto world,” said Brady. “Up till last year, no one car won both contests.”

The contests continue. The Ranweilers were invited to attend and plan to compete at the Birmingham, Al. Autorama in February and a Barrett-Jackson Auto Show in Scottsdale, Az. in March.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nu

journal.com).