In these topsy turvy times Goodguys was able to work some major Hot Rodding magic. With hard work and a very cooperative city and state the 29th Goodguys Heartland Nationals went ahead as scheduled. Not so much for the PPG Nationals in Columbus next week. So Goodguys made gear head lemonade out of Covid lemons in Des Moines and awarded the Columbus titles of Street Rod and Machine of the Year here at the Heartland Nationals. The competition was stiff, the talent endless.  And now from the heart of the country, there are two new kings on the Goodguys Street throne.

The winner of the Goodguys Street Machine of the Year award went to the 1969 Camaro from Dutch Boys Hot Rods. Chris McPhie is the owner of this pavement pounder which is the perfect blend of original and custom. They call it ultimate the ’69 Camaro.

Dropping the body and raising the floor created the perfect stance and stretching the fenders and quarter panels gives it a very muscular look.  The Detroit Speed Hydroformed front subframe and QUADRALink rear suspension makes this Camaro rock solid. 675 horses from an LS7 give this first gen it’s get up and go. Mr. McPhie will take it through the gears with a Bowler race-prepped 6-speed Tremec Magnum transmission. Custom Forgelines wrapped in Michelin rubber grip the pavement. It’s no wonder with all this gear it won the Best Track Build at the 2019 SEMA Show. Look out this Camaro is ready to rumble.

The remaining 4 finalists are the CAL Automotive built 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, BBT Fabrication built 1969 Camaro, 1959 Corvette, and the Steve Cook Creations 1969 Camaro.

The winner of Goodguys Street Rod of the Year is the 1932 Ford Sedan “5th Avenue Special”. The Street Rod of the Year started as an all original Ford body and then the team at Goolsby Customs went to work. Unchopped with only subtle body mods, the “5th Avenue Special” is built in the early street rod style. The power plant for the “5th Avenue Special” is a 383 small block Chevy with FAST EFI. Bowler Performance 4L60E backs up those ponies and a Johnson Hot Rod Shop Chassis provides the perfect foundation for this elegant Rod.

The interior is as polished as the exterior. The refined look of the vintage fabric and leather upholstery combined with exposed wood trim offer an unexpected surprise inside. A Lokar/Goolsby edition gauge cluster, Lokar shifter and Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop steering wheel round out the classic look. It’s a good thing Nathan Powell’s “5th Avenue Special” is a sedan because he has room to hold all the awards this ride is collecting. Add Street Rod of the Year to Goodguys Gold and Glasurit Best Paint. All well deserved for this stunning Street Rod.

The remaining four contenders are the Karl Kustoms built ’32 Chevy, the Steadfast Manufacturing ’32 Ford 5 Window Coupe, the Adams Hot Rod Shop built “Lady Laird” ’34 Ford Roadster, last but not least the Lakeside Rods & Rides built ’35 Ford 3 Window Coupe.

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Till the next time – Keep on Kruzin!