Austrian airbrush artist Knud Tiroch has received a top award for outstanding paintwork on a custom vintage car at the Elmia Custom Car Show in Jönköping, Sweden.

Tiroch teamed up with global refinish brand Spies Hecker in Germany to resurrect the vintage car and turn it into a high-performance, unique, red Speed Rod. Tiroch discovered fragments of the Ford A Roadster from the early 1930s on an old farm in Iowa, USA. After a lot of research, he found that during Prohibition the car had smuggled illegal liquor at night as a so-called Moonshine Runner. After the end of Prohibition, the car went on to take part in privately organised races, which were the precursors of today’s NASCAR series.

Since completing the restoration the car has been on show at the Spies Hecker training centre in Cologne, Germany. This was its first outing where it could be seen not only by the public but also by fellow artists and judges.

Tiroch chose to exhibit the bright red Speed Rod on a white gravel floor so that the striking Spies Hecker Hi-TEC 480 RAL 3000 Fire Red truly stood out. He also sat a mannequin of an old school race car driver from the 1930s on the front tyre to complete the Speed Rod tableau.

Anthony Cashel, Marketing Manager for Axalta Coating Systems says, “We were delighted to see the Speed Rod make an appearance at this important motor show, and absolutely thrilled that it received such prestigious recognition. And Spies Hecker’s involvement in the restoration of the Speed Rod makes this vehicle extra special for us.”

The Custom Motor Show, which is in its 40th consecutive year, attracted 90,000 motor enthusiasts who saw four themed halls which covered Street Cars, Racing Cars, Nostalgia and Classic Racing Cars.