Photos courtesy Good-guys.com
For the fifth time, the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association team has chosen five exceptional autos present at SEMA to receive Gold Awards. These prestigious awards are given to cars illustrating the latest hot rodding trends, along with an attention to detail and admirable craftsmanship.
Winning one of these awards grants a special billet anodized gold bar trophy and an invitation to the Goodguys 20th Southwest Nationals November 17-19 at Westworld in Scottsdale, Ariz. All winning cars are also highlighted in the Goodguys Gazette magazine.
This year's winners represent a wide variety of the most cutting-edge design cues in hot rodding. Take a look:
Mark and Dennis Mariani – Model A Sedan – Rad Rides by Troy
The body of this splendid Model A is hand-fabricated, forming a lower, shorter and more elegant version of the classic Model A Tudor. The satin/gloss mix paint is a rich bronze accented by hand-painted pinstriping. A split windshield adds a striking touch, and beneath the hood rests an aluminum-block small-block Chevy with a tri-power-style EFI setup, backed up by a Legends five-speed transmission from Bowler. A bowed headliner and handcrafted interior wrap up this beautiful build.
Debbie Walls – ’40 Ford Convertible – Goolsby Customs
Seamlessly blending elements of street rod style and classic custom tradition, this Ford - affectionately named 'Lucille' - features a multitude of subtle modifications. The 48" top has been chopped a mere two inches, and given rear quarter windows as well. ’39 Deluxe fenders and grille, ’46 Chevy bumpers and Studebaker taillights further enhance this auto's appeal. The paint is an already gorgeous merlot BASF hue given a boost by Advanced Plating brightwork. A small-block Chevy V8 with Borla injection and Speedway Motors Tru-Ram exhaust manifolds powers this attractive machine.
Vic Buraglio – ’69 Dodge Charger – BBT Fabrications
Long, low and distinctively custom, this second-generation Charger is a work of art. The factory-inspired interior gives a vaguely nostalgic tinge to this otherwise very bold B-body. The chin and rear deck spoilers are a nice touch, and the custom aluminum hood and bumpers shift the car's look slightly away from your average Charger. A Hilborn-injected 426c.i. Hemi and Bowler-prepped Tremec T56 powers this large cruiser, which is painted in classy white.
Tad Leach – ’58 Lincoln Continental Mark III Convertible – Kindig-It Design
In contrast to some of the subtler machines above, this Lincoln is radical all the way. The body is smoothed and the quarter panels modified to better reflect the front fenders. The door handles are flush fit. Beneath the surface, a Ryan Falconer aluminum V12 engine topped with twin superchargers provides ample power. The cockpit is large, and draped in luxurious cream-colored, custom-stitched leather. The wheels are custom-carved.
Prestone – ’72 AMC Javelin AMX – Ringbrothers
This Javelin was dubbed Defiant! It's built for hardcore performance, with a Wenger Motorsports 6.2-liter Hellcat Hemi crate engine supported by a Whipple supercharger and Holley fuel management. Together with the Bowler 4L80E transmission, it can make over 1,000 ponies. The BASF Glasurit Jalop Gold paint provides an eye-catching coating, and the body features an aggressive front spoiler and custom hood.
