Goodguys Del Mar Nationals - Where Hot Rods Play

Jeff Mattazaro, El Cajon, CA / 1956 Chevy pickup Of course it was the eye-catching Kiwi Green paint that drew us to this ZZ4-powered pickup, riding on a Total Cost Involved front and rear suspension setup and rolling on 20- and 22-inch Race Line rims. The up-to-date interior is covered in cream-colored leather. Inside and out, it’s a beauty.

Brookville Roadster body No. 11 rides on an original ’32 chassis, with a 383 small-block Chevy, Richmond five-speed, and Halibrand quick-change moving it along. Jack and Donna Linden from Prescott, AZ, are owners of this chopped highboy.

Sure, it’s shiny. Notice the sun bouncing off the hood of Dave Iversen’s chopped ’36, built at Iversen Originals. A ton of fabrication work went into the roadster, which was once a five-window coupe. The ’37 Flathead is backed by a ’39 gearbox. The DuVall-style windshield is a one-off piece.

The paint on Bob and Sharolyn Kerns’ ’50 Olds Holiday coupe was bright even inside the Display of Excellence building. The shaved, slammed, tubbed, chopped Olds sits on a Jaguar front and rear suspension. The Olds is owner-built except for upholstery and the ’56 Olds engine.

Trevis Berry from Gilroy has the completely correct attitude about his ZZ4-powered Deuce five-window, which he’s owned since the mid-’90s. As nice as it is, it’s built to drive. Berry’s motto is “I’m going to put the dings into it myself.”

Rick Geilenfeldt still has the $140 Bill of Sale from when he bought this ’50 Olds as a high school kid in 1964. Since then, he’s added a 455 from a ’73 Toronado, seats from a ’65 Corvair Monza, Fatman IFS, and a narrowed 9-inch.

This hand-patina’d original-steel ’33 was built by previous owner Rod Palmer at Arizona Street Rods. Bruce Albertson from L.A. bought it as the L.A. Roadster Show last summer. The engine is a 502ci GM crate motor. Bison leather covers the interior and nickel plating covers the Halibrands and many other components and trim pieces.

The Good Wood corral is a popular part of the show in Del Mar, and the Good Wood Pick award was given to Joe Free’s ’50 Ford woodie, completed one day before the event. The passenger compartment is finished in dark tan interior and wood paneling. A Ram Jet crate engine is underhood. “It’s gonna be a driver,” Free promised.

Another Del Mar veteran is Lou Lettino’s unchopped, channeled ’27 T coupe, from Cardiff (United Kingdom). The dual Stromberg ’banger we remember has been replaced by a 292 Y-block with three deuces. Lettino took home the Goodguys Suede & Chrome award.