2008 Goodguys Denver Colorado Nationals - Rockin' The Rockies

Steve Akre's slick '37 Chevy is a contemporary-style hot rod that even a true traditionalist would love. Its smooth, clean lines are truly classic and the car definitely has class. Steve's coupe is powered by a 350-cube small-block backed by a 700-R4 overdrive automatic, and sports all the creature comforts needed for long-distance cruising.

Pure class-that's the best way I can think to describe Roger Ward's slick Deuce highboy. Roger is known nationwide for building and painting some of the most outstanding street rods, customs, and classic trucks in the country, but his aversion to the spotlight keeps him on the fringe and out of the limelight, more often than not. That said, I just couldn't stop myself from stickin' him in the limelight and giving him and his beautiful roadster a Top 100 pick at the Colorado show. Roger's Wescott's-bodied '32 is outfitted with a Du Vall windshield, a 383 stroker/TH350/9-inch combo, and a quartet of American five-spokes. And, of course, a paintjob that's as flawless and smooth as a pinup's behind.

Modifieds are neat little hot rods, but Tim Van Pelt's '26 is perhaps the coolest I've ever run across. Tim whipped together a homebuilt frame as the roadster's foundation and then proceeded to outfit it with a full-house '52 Merc Flathead, a '35 Dodge tube axle, a quick-change rearend, and a set of '35 Ford wire wheels. Tim also whacked a good 7 inches out of the center of a '40 dash and squeezed it into that tiny T cowl as a perfect finishing touch. Heck, the only thing I see wrong with this hot little ride is that it ain't mine!

Ken Frasier's beautifully modified roadster started out as a '29 roadster pickup body. He cut off the rear portion of the truck cab and then grafted a portion of a '29 sedan body (that he'd removed the roof from) to it. He then cut the rear wheelwells out of that portion and raised 'em 6 inches and set the newly formed body on a shortened and kicked Deuce chassis. As if that weren't enough handiwork, he then fitted it with a Jag rear and a 4-inch-dropped I-beam, four-wheel disc brakes, and a 350/350 combo.

This hot little pickup is just plain radical! Ethan Conyers channeled a '46 Chevy pickup cab and handmade bed over a custom-built chassis, dropped in a Dart-equipped 383 stroker backed by an M21 four-speed and a 9-inch Ford rear, and added a modified '36 Hudson Terraplane grille shell in an effort to create a hot rod that would catch one's eye. It worked well enough to garner him a STREET RODDER Top 100 pick, that's for sure! Keep your eyes peeled for a full feature on this baby in the future.

Mopar all the way! That's what Highland Ranch, CO's Jim Smith says with a smile, and that smile is well deserved, as Jim has built himself one heck of a nice street rod. The sedan is a completely homebuilt hot rod-right down to its awesome flamed paintjob. The '36 is powered by a 354-cube Chrysler Hemi backed by a 727 trans and a narrowed 8-3/4-inch Chrysler rearend. Jim also did the bodywork and chopped the top a good 3 1/2 inches.

Tracy Rufenacht is one lucky guy. Not only is he the rightfully proud owner of this awesome Dearborn-bodied Deuce, but he was fortunate enough to get a ton of help on the build from his dad, a lifelong hot rodder. Tracy's roadster sports a SO-CAL Speed Shop chassis equipped with an extremely stout '48 Merc Flathead backed by a T5 trans, a Halibrand quick-change, and a Super Bell aluminum I-beam. A quartet of SO-CAL knock-off wheels, a louvered Rootlieb hood, and a glass-smooth coating of gloss-black finish off this beauty-a truly deserving Top 100 award recipient.

Abe Jones' way-cool '29 roadster is a definite Top 100 contender in my eyes. This traditional-style 'glass-bodied roadster has all the goodies-an original A frame, a Deuce grille shell, an 8BA Flathead backed by a '39 trans, a '40 rearend, '40 Ford brakes outfitted with '57 Buick drums, and a '39 steering wheel.

I have to admit, Ron John's '33 was my favorite pick of the show. It's a no-nonsense homebuilt that embodies the hot rodding hobby-no bells, no whistles, just real steel and elbow grease. Ron originally purchased the coupe back in 1981 and not long ago finally got around to sewin' together this baby. Seein' that it was built to drive, Ron chose to power the '33 via a stout little ZZ4 SBC backed up by a 700-R4 overdrive trans. A supple leather interior ensures comfy cruising while a set of 15- and 16-inch blackwall-shod wires and a glass-smooth coating of hot-rod black maintain its true traditional look. This baby's another future feature car, so keep your eyes peeled!

Don Smith's fresh new three-window elicits exclamations wherever it's seen-and it's no wonder with that Ardun-equipped Flathead hangin' out of its hood sides. Don's Sunset Copper jewel is the epitome of traditional hot rodding, and one you'll soon see a full-blown studio feature of in the pages of STREET RODDER.