Congratulations to Sid Chavers of Sid Chavers Company for being inducted into the Darryl Starbird National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame. In fact, the Hall created a brand-new auto upholstery category just to recognize his legendary career.
The 2025 ceremony took place last month at the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska, where Chavers was honored alongside some of the best in the industry. This year’s inductees included Roger Burman (Builder), Ken Callison (Specialty Manufacturer), Mitch Lanzini (Custom Painter), and Cody Walls, who was named Builder of the Year.
Hot rod builder and MC Tim Strange summed up the night perfectly in a social media post: “We are proud to celebrate the incredible craftsmanship, creativity, and passion that these legends have poured into the custom car world. Each of this year’s inductees has left their mark — building, painting, innovating, and inspiring generations of hot rodders and custom car enthusiasts.”
Strange added: “Their artistry and dedication ensure that the legacy of custom car culture lives on, and we couldn’t be more honored to recognize their contributions at the National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame. Thank you for keeping the spirit of innovation, individuality, and craftsmanship alive in the world of rods and customs!”
For trimmers, the highlight of the evening was seeing Chavers take the stage. Friend and colleague Mark Maliepaard of Fit and Finish Hot Rod Interiors put it best: “I think it’s great for the industry that this Hall of Fame created a category for him. Who knows, we may see some more interior guys inducted in the future.”
Chavers’ introduction was delivered by longtime friend Rich Santana of Santana Interior Design, who spoke from the heart. “Sid has dedicated his life strictly to high-end custom interiors,” he said. “He’s won more AMBR’s than any other trimmer, probably more best interior awards than you can imagine, and has hands on and in more projects than humanly possible. He accomplishes because of his business ethic. One car in, one car out. No messing around with small retail jobs, no goof around stuff here and there. Truly drop your car off on the first and pick it up by the end of the month. … You’ll find nobody more dedicated to quality and craftsmanship than Sid. Period.”
When it came time for his acceptance speech, Chavers was humble and heartfelt. “Wow. I can’t even begin to say what an honor this is. Thank you so much. … It truly means the world to me.”
He went on to thank his wife Lori, daughter Lindsay, and his team over the years, including Santana and Maliepaard. “As many of you know, chasing perfection in this line of work doesn’t exactly stick to an 8 to 5 schedule. There were plenty of nights I had to make that same old phone call: not gonna make it home for dinner, not gonna be available this weekend. Through all that Lori and Lindsay gave nothing but love and support. I could not have done this without them. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. This honor isn’t just mine, it belongs to my family, my friends, my team, and everyone who believed in me and this crazy dream. I’m so grateful. Thank you.”
What a fitting tribute for one of the greatest names in custom interiors. Congratulations to Sid Chavers and all the 2025 inductees. It is always awesome to see greatness recognized.
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