Bay Area Biggie - 2006 Goodguys Pleasanton

Rod and Carol Hadfield came from Australia to tour the states, and everywhere they went, a crowd gathered around their '29 Ford pickup. Powered by a blown V-12 Lincoln engine, the A is full of masterful bits of engineering.

Former AMBR winner Lonnie Gilbertson built this '40 Ford coupe from the ground up. Underneath the perfect sheetmetal is a C4 Corvette suspension and driveline components including the rear-mounted six-speed transmission. A 700-horse fuel-injected small-block Chevy provides plenty of go.

Scott and Linda Bare are the owners of the 1933 Plymouth convertible. They stayed true to the ragtop's heritage by using a small-block Mopar and Torqueflite transmission.

Old trucks don't get any straighter, or any more yellow, than Richard Gale's '41 Chevrolet. A 350 Chevy engine, 350 turbo, and a '57 Corvette rearend will be found under the stock sheetmetal. Up front is a dropped axle while airbags smooth out the ride in back. In the bed is a '31 Cadillac accessory trunk.

Ted Perez hails from Auburn, CA. Black and straight as an arrow, his chopped '32 Ford three-window uses a small-block Ford for power. Swan neck mirrors attached to the doors is an interesting and practical touch. Note the lakes plug below the door.

Talk about a cruiser, John Gilbert's '35 Ford cabriolet was built from a box stock restoration, but underneath there's a Chevrolet LT1 and 4L80 auto. Wire wheels and wide whites go with the resto rod theme.

Chopped and channeled pickups are sure popular. This example, based on a 1934 Ford, belongs to Brian Collins. It just goes to show that less can be more.

Michael Leeds, of Big Bertha (the V-12-powered giant roadster) and Blastolene fame, was on hand with some of his sculptures. Check out the origins of this one.

The window sticker on Bill Story's roadster says it's a '32 Ford; we'll buy that. It also says the car has a five-speed-OK, we believe it. The engine is said to be a 315 Dodge; we'll let you be the judge on that one.

There was a great display of unbelievable operational miniature engines. When the throttle was cracked on the tiny, blown V-8s, it really drew a crowd.

Burnt Ranch California is home to Lee and Lynn White and their '37 Plymouth. A big 383 wedge and 727 trans keeps the coupe all Mopar.

This '32 Ford Vicky was once sold off a used car lot for $800. After serving as daily transportation for a number of years, the Deuce was torn apart for a small-block Chevy and four-speed installation. It was never completed.

When Mike Brock purchased the Deuce, it had been parked for some time. He installed a 99T Flathead and three-speed trans, added a dropped axle, and new brakes, and has been having a ball with the car.

The Goodguy himself, Gary Meadors (left), introduced someone who needs no introduction, Andy Brizio (center), as Marc Meadors (right) looked on. Brizio was "roasted" Saturday night, and believe us, it was worth the price of admission.