Cal Auto Creations’ Andy Leach was the recipient of the Goodguys Trendsetter Award, presented Wednesday, November 5 at the Hot Rod Industry Alliance awards banquet in Las Vegas. The award is presented annually during SEMA week to a rising talent in the rod and custom car building industry.
Leach’s talents were visible at an early age. He first picked up a welding torch as a curious grade school student and by the age of 14 had already taught himself to weld, build and fabricate cars, working out of his parent’s garage. He restored his first car, a 1937 Ford, back to new condition before he turned 16.
After college, Leach apprenticed at Rad Rides by Troy in Manteno, Illinois, using his fresh ideas and high level of fabrication skills to assist Troy Trepanier in building award-winning custom creations.
In 2009, he got an opportunity to step out on his own, laying the foundation for his own hot rod and custom car empire. In a startling rise straight to the top of the hot rod hobby, he and his team at Cal Auto Creations took home the 50th annual Ridler award in 2013 for a 1940 Ford coupe they built for Leach’s business partner Ron Cizek. The blown Flathead-Ford-powered coupe, known as “Checkered Past,” went on to be named Goodguys’ Street Rod of the Year and was the signature car for the entire 2013 season. As a result, his shop is now full of innovative projects including post-war hot rods, ‘60s touring cars and ‘70s muscle.
Over the past decade, the industry has seen the emergence of a new generation of young coachbuilders that take the hobby to new heights with fresh takes on old classics, impeccable build quality and superior design. Andy Leach is at the forefront of the youth movement.
Past recipients of the Goodguys Trendsetter Award include Chip Foose, Troy Trepanier, Alan Johnson, Eric Peratt, Tim Strange, Dave Lane, Zane Cullen, Dean Livermore, Jesse Greening, Troy Ladd, J.F. Launier, Phil & Jeremy Gerber, Mike & Jim Ring, Dave Kindig and Jonathan Goolsby & Josh Henning.