Two of the coveted Goodguys Top 12 awards were given out this weekend at the PPG Nationals. On Saturday a new Street Machine and Street Rod of the Year was crowned. The competition was stiff, the talent endless. The PPG Nationals saw dozens of the most technologically advanced, creatively custom, and uniquely interpreted builds rolling. Five finalists from each category were chosen. Shortly thereafter, there were two new sheriffs in town.
The Goodguys Street Machine of the Year Award went to the 1971 Ford Maverick owned by Jimmy Shaw and created by Greening Auto Company. As far as Street Machines go, this Maverick walks the walk and talks the talk. What Greening did was make an insane pavement pounder out of an unlikely platform, the modest Maverick. Starting with a pristine 27,000-mile, 6 cylinder 3 speed “Grandmother’s car”, Jesse Greening did some renderings for Jimmy and the rest is history. Part of that history happens to be 202MPH in the standing mile at the East Coast Timing Association event in Arkansas. Breaking the 200MPH mark was on Jimmy’s bucket list and Jesse Greening and his crew at Greening Auto Company built the menacing machine to do it.
They turned to Bennett Racing Engines to build a motor capable of 1100-1200 horsepower on pump gas. The engine is a 427 ci Ford small-block V8 featuring a Dart block, forged internals, and two Precision turbochargers. They mated the engine to a Bowler 4L80E automatic transmission, QA1 carbon fiber driveshaft, and Currie IRS. Everything sits on a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis with Baer XDR brakes and one-off Greening fabricated wheels wrapped in Pirelli rubber. Suffice it to say, all the parts did their job in spades!
The Greening team fabricated custom wheel flares for both front and rear, a forward-tilting louvered hood, custom front valence and spoiler, carbon fiber side skirts, custom rear diffusers in the lower pan, and a custom rear spoiler. M&M Hot Rod Interiors crafted the perfect cross between a race and street interior. Custom bucket seats, Stroud race harnesses, and a Kicker audio system were incorporated into the cockpit. Vintage Air AC, a carbon fiber dash, RacePak IQ3 digital instrumentation and a Momo wheel gave Jimmy everything he needed to check off the 200 mile an hour mark in stye and comfort. Jimmy now wants to break the 230 mark!
Take a look at this pint sized rocket in action.
The runners up for the Goodguys Street Machine of the Year are: The Roadster Shop built 1970 Camaro “Road Rage”, Mike Goldman Customs ’65 Chevelle “Reflection”, SpeedKore built 1970 Dodge Charger, and the 1972 Plymouth ‘Cuda built by Campbell Auto Restorations.
The Goodguys Street Rod of the Year award is the oldest of the Goodguys top 12 awards. It was first awarded in 1991. The latest in the illustrious line up of winners is Phil and Debbie Becker’s ’32 Ford Vicky “Legacy”. “Legacy” has been in the Becker family for the past 45 years. After over four decades on the street, this heirloom was in need of a rejuvenation. Tapped for the task was Dave Lane of FastLand Rod Shop. His expertise brought the ’32 “Legacy” to its current glory and into the winners circle as Goodguys Street Rod of the Year.
“Legacy” was built in the style of the coach built cars of the 30’s. The rear valance was artfully refabricated, the gas tank was raised and recessed including a recessed gas cap. The finishing exterior touch is the Axalta paint adroitly applied by Adam and Tyler Krause. The Lincoln inspired interior was executed by Schober’s Custom Hot Rod Interiors. Schober’s was able to salvage and rework the original seats. The ’39 Lincoln Zephyr steering wheel was resized to fit the scale of the ’32. And Classic Instruments recreated the ’39 Lincoln center gauge. To keep it period perfect, the Moal coach built chassis has a 5-inch dropped and drilled front axle with a Winters aluminum banjo rear end. Dayton wire wheels are perfectly instep with throwback feel.
The engine is a small block Chevy 350 with “extra jewelry”. Some of the additional baubles include the injection linkage off of a Ferrari. It has one-off custom valve covers and the one-off air cleaners elegantly top the engine. This is all housed under a custom four piece hood. This Vicky is all steel, just the way Old Mr. Ford built them.
The runners up for Street Rod of the Year are: Pinkee’s Rod Shop built ’36 Ford “3 Penny Roadster”, the Adams Hot Rod Shop built ’32 Ford Roadster, Reisinger Custom Rebuilding’s “Morr” ’32 Ford Roadster and the ’32 Ford Roadster crafted by Streamline Custom Designs. It was a true battle of the blue oval!
Hit up Greening Auto Company‘s Builders Showroom and see what these automotive “Mavericks” are up to.
Be sure to head over to Dave Lane’s FastLane Rod Shop Builders Showroom. This guy knows a thing or two about building award winning rides.
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Till the next time – Keep on Kruzin!