Mark Sundell / Waynesville, MO / '37 Chevy Pickup
A Cavalier race car tube chassis, built by Art Morrison, was fabricated to fit under this wild pickup, loaded with a Hilborn-injected LT1 small-block with Phase 6 heads. A custom grille, Headwinds bike headlights, widened rear fenders, relocated front fenders, and numerous other mods were added, along with a beautiful interior.
Chris Staneck / Waynesville, OH / '26 Ford roadster
There's not a lot of money in this hot rod, but a ton of hours. Except for the cowl top, the whole body of this track T roadster is handbuilt by the owner, as is the frame. The Ford Ranger four-cylinder mill is hooked to a five-speed. The front wheels were made by welding VW hoops to the spokes from a pair of '35 Ford wheels.
Larry Henderson / Waynesville, OH / '32 Ford roadster
Some cool components, like the distressed leather and vinyl upholstery and piecrust rubber on 16- and 18-inch wire rims, drew our attention to this traditional Deuce, built from a Brookville body and powered by a 385-horse 350 with Fast Burn heads. It rides on buggy springs with hairpins in front and ladder bars in back.
Gary Bennett / Newport, AR / '32 Ford coupe
Gary was thinking about red or black until a friend convinced him to go with this custom green, with a metallic gold and white tuck 'n' roll interior. The Chevy small-block features decoy Olds valve covers, six Strombergs, and Fenton headers that got the most attention. The five-window rolls on original 'rails beefed up with round tubing.
Jim and Cindy Getter / Sunbury, OH / '31 Chevy sedan
Aside from not being a Ford, close to 100 body modifications distinguish this Chevy two-door sedan. All the wood has been replaced with steeling tubing, and the engine compartment is filled with a 350 small-block. The Night Mist blue paint is contrasted by saddle-colored leather inside the car. The front end is an IFS setup from Heidts.
David Douglas / Murfreesboro, TN / '35 Chevy coupe
The steel-bodied coupe was David's 50th birthday present to himself and he spent the following three years building this Chevy. Marcel provided the 2-1/2-inch chop. All the original wood was removed, the doors open suicide-style, and Roger Burman handled assembly and the Viper red paint. A ZZ4 small-block and 700-R4 automatic move it down the road.
Gary and Debi Deason / Crawfordville, FL / '55 Chevy Gasser
The inspiration for this up-in-the-air Chevy was the '55 Gasser that Gary's dad raced in the '60s. This one was also once an "abused old Gasser," built at home by the Deasons and a few friends, and now doing duty on the highway. The powertrain combo is a Chevy 355 and Muncie four-speed. Future plans are to make it dragstrip legal.
Dan Tallant / Liberty, MO / '48 Chevy cabriolet
Dan Tallant gave the contemporary treatment to his '48 Ford cabrio, including Mercedes headlights, Mazda 626 seats, and a wraparound steel dash. The all-steel car was chopped 5 inches and sits low to the ground on a four-corner airbag suspension. There's a big-block Chevy for power. Tallant did all the work except the upholstery.
The Cool Custom prize was...
The Cool Custom prize was awarded, appropriately, to Ed Weidekamp's 303-powered chopped '53 Olds, wearing '56 Olds bumpers and headlights, '56 Packard taillights, '51 Merc skirts, and an '86 paintjob that still shines. "If I could buy paint today for what I paid for it then, I'd repaint it," Weidekamp says.
Bill Holt did everything but...
Bill Holt did everything but the stitching on his '32 roadster, which combines old and new styles. The drivetrain includes an LT1 Vortec, a TH350 trans, and Ford 9-inch rearend. The interior is commercial vinyl "because roadsters get wet," even with a Sid Chavers Bop Top. He's driven it 8,000 miles in the year and a half it's been finished.
Our favorite '53 Dodge Meadowbrook...
Our favorite '53 Dodge Meadowbrook two-door wagon of the entire event was RideTech's Low, Smooth, Cool Pick winner. Chuck Williamson's Arkansas-based custom features Cadillac Allante seats, Boyds five-spokes, and one-piece side glass. The drivetrain is Mopar: a 426 Hemi and 727 TorqueFlite trans.
In California in the '60s,...
In California in the '60s, Ron Normann's "Hairy Hauler" Willys pickup was the "Lettuce Hauler" Normann bought it four or five years ago and upgraded the whole thing, keeping the authentic period look, including the drilled straight axle and original American mags. With a blown stroker, small-block, and Kenny Hansing at the wheel, the Willys ran a 10.12 e.t. (its quickest to date) during the weekend.
A mountain of work went into...
A mountain of work went into this chopped '53 Stude custom, owned by Chuck and Carol Herb, including square tube 'rails, Mini Cooper headlights, a tilt-forward hood, welded bumpers, a custom interior, and lots of PPG Vibrant Orange Glow paint.
In addition to being awarded...
In addition to being awarded Wonderful Woodie at Bowling Green, Brian Vanzant's chopped and shaved '50 Chevy tin woodie is the Goodguys '09 Custom Rod of the Year. The 502 mill is Hilborn injected. The wagon was originally a four-door; modified doors and glass were part of the buildup, done by Brad Starks Rod & Custom.