Dutchboys Builds 1969 Torino for Darren King
Dutchboys Hotrods unveiled a custom 1969 Ford Torino for Darren King at the 2026 SEMA Show, completing a pair of builds started for his brother.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Car Culture
Dutchboys Hotrods built a 1969 Ford Torino for Darren King, debuting it at the 2026 SEMA Show. It follows a companion Torino built for Dennis King, unveiled at the 2025 SEMA Show.
Why it matters
The project was conceived by Jim King, who had the idea for Dutchboys to build a pair of 1969 Ford Torinos for his sons; he died before the first car was finished. The two-car effort shows how custom builders are producing bespoke, family-driven restomods for the SEMA Show circuit.
The 1969 Ford Torino produces 685 HP and rides on a Roadster Shop Fasttrack chassis with 14-inch Baer Extreme Plus brakes on all four corners. Forgeline Grudge wheels measure 19x10-inch front and 20x12-inch rear, and the builder has not disclosed pricing or whether the car will be sold.
The players
Dutchboys Hotrods
A custom car builder that fabricated both Torinos for the King brothers, known for bespoke restomod work.
Roadster Shop
A chassis manufacturer that built the Fasttrack chassis for both Torino projects.
Darren King
The owner for whom the 2026 Torino was built, and brother of Dennis King.
Dennis King
The owner of the companion 1969 Torino that debuted at the 2025 SEMA Show.
The details
Dutchboys Hotrods fabricated extensive custom metal for the 2026 Torino, including a custom hood with a scoop fitted to a custom wiper cowl, and a billet-machined grille finished in Advanced Platings chrome. The rear spoiler and side vents were eliminated, and Roadster Shop used one donor car to model the frame for the Fasttrack chassis built for each brother's project.
Timeline
2025: Dennis King's Torino debuted at the SEMA Show.
2026: Darren King's Torino debuted at the 2026 SEMA Show, with the build completed after Jim King's death.
Car Culture
The pair of Torinos follows the annual SEMA Show pattern in which custom restomod builders debut family-commissioned cars to the aftermarket industry. This two-year sequence, begun at the 2025 show, illustrates how such builds have become a recurring showcase for the sector.
For enthusiasts tracking custom builds, the Torino's 685 HP and Roadster Shop chassis show the performance and component level that restomod builders now offer. Buyers considering a similar build should expect the cost and timeline of a fully fabricated, chassis-based restomod to be substantial, though the source gives no pricing.
The takeaway
Custom restomods built on modern chassis, like the Torino built on a Roadster Shop Fasttrack, show how classic muscle cars can be rebuilt to contemporary performance and safety standards. The King brothers' project also shows how family commissions can carry a builder's work across years.
Further reading
Explore more Car Culture coverage across the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MotorTrend.
