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Goodguys Nats in Columbus - Hit of the Season - Expanded CoverageThe Goodguys Nats in Columbus From the February, 2009 issue of Rod & Custom By Tim Bernsau Photography by The Rod & Custom Staff
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There's one thing you may have noticed about Rod & Custom: We make the rounds. Just like many of you, we go to a lot of car shows. By the middle of the summer, we've been north, south, east, west, and central-walking the aisles, visiting the vendors, scouring the swap meets, eating the corn dogs, listening to the classic rock, talking to you guys, and checking out literally thousands of great rods and customs. With so many Goodguys events to choose from every year, we try to break up the schedule from season to season. If we get to Des Moines, Indy, and Charlotte one year, then maybe we'll hit Nashville, Kansas City, and Spokane the year after. There is one event, however, that we've been going to every single summer. It's the Goodguys PPG Nationals, held in July at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. Maybe it's the sheer number of cars that show up. Maybe it's the consistently high quality of those cars. Maybe it's the nightly parking lot parties at the headquarters hotel that are now a traditional part of this event. For whatever reason, Columbus is a high point in our summer-the hit of the season. This year was no exception. Great cars and acres of 'em. As you'll see from these photos, especially from our Top Tin picks, the greatness isn't restricted to Fords and Chevys. We'll be back in Columbus next summer. In the meantime, we've got these photos to remind us of the fun we had in 2007. Wanna see more? Visit the R&C Web site.  Eric Peratt at Pinkee's Rod...  Eric Peratt at Pinkee's Rod Shop keeps building amazing, up-to-date, traditionally styled hot rods. The fendered '32 three-window built for his dad, Bill, is deceiving-the clean look, simple painted steelies, bumpers, and external hinges give the coupe a simple look, but every corner of this Deuce has been rebuilt, and the chassis itself is a work of art. The engine is a Corvette small-block.  This '54 Plymouth Plaza business...  This '54 Plymouth Plaza business coupe was called a total loss when Milburn Hubbard found it in 1965. Look at it now, rebuilt to show-and highway-condition with a 385ci GM Fastburn engine, breathing through a Street & Performance EFI system. The five-spokes are Streamliners from Billet Specialties.  Talk about a fresh-looking...  Talk about a fresh-looking '50. Roger Petschauer made some great-looking mods to his sky blue shoebox, starting with the '54 Ford grille, continuing with '63 Ford side trim, and ending with the '58 taillights. In between is a beautiful white traditional interior. With a Ford 302 mill, C4 transmission, and Fatman IFS underneath, it's a great package.  If Dwayne Fietzer's '23 T...  If Dwayne Fietzer's '23 T looks like something out of the '60s, it should. Dwayne's dad first built the car in 1964. Dwayne had his chance at the T, rebuilding the chassis during his lunch hours. In between the Kelson body and the suicide frontend and spindle-mounted 16-inch Americans is a Ford 289 Hi-Po engine.  This beautiful '34 coupe underwent...  This beautiful '34 coupe underwent a restoration in the '80s, but it's hard to imagine it looking nicer than in full hot rod trim. Gary Hatfield kept a vintage look with a '57 283 engine with four Deuces on an Offy manifold and early Cal Custom valve covers. The chassis is from Pete & Jake's. The interior is finished in tan and white, matching the scallops. Those hubcaps are from a '54 Oldsmobile.  Just about everything except...  Just about everything except the trademark portholes was shaved from the body of Gary and Barbara Rhynold's '48 Buick Super Sedanette, which sits at just the right height thanks to an Air Ride Technologies system and a heavy-duty Mustang II-style frontend. Pleated white seats fill the interior, and a 502 Ram Jet fills the engine compartment.  The lines of Ann Bechtel's...  The lines of Ann Bechtel's '49 Chevy custom make it look like its about to launch, and the Buick grille teeth are a great modification. The big Chevy sits on a Fatman IFS, and features power brakes and power steering, as well as Vintage Air A/C. That plus the 350 small-block and TH350 automatic guarantees perfect road trips. Turn to page 18 for the full story on Ann's Chevy.  Sure it's elegant, but Lyle...  Sure it's elegant, but Lyle Handsor's '40 convertible might be the toughest-looking LaSalle around, thanks to a few hot rod elements, like shaved sheetmetal and a down-low airbag profile. The ragtop, which was once a coupe, has a Camaro subframe and is powered by a '97 Cad Northstar engine.  In addition to a Top Tin award,...  In addition to a Top Tin award, Jeff Eischen's 302-powered '31 touring won the Traditional Homebuilt Heaven prize. All three of those words accurately describe Jeff's personally fabricated rod. It would've won best use of SO-CAL pin-drive knock-off wheels with big 'n' little bias-plies, cool suede Magnum 5-inch I-beam axle, and awesome use of rivets, if such an award existed.  This '29 Tudor looks like...  This '29 Tudor looks like it could've popped out of a photo of the dirt oval races of the '50s. Tracy gave his sedan a 4-inch chop and 4-inch channel and laid it over a frame he built himself. The Tri-power small-block is a 350, and the Firestone dirt-track tires from Coker roll on Wheel Vintiques rims.  We met Brett Bunker a few...  We met Brett Bunker a few years ago rolling around this same show in a custom '61 LeSabre. This year, he came to Columbus with this traditional chopped and channeled '30 Model A five-window, rolling on some serious big 'n' little pie-crust tires. The 283 small-block is topped with three two-barrels.  The '54 Chevy Bel Air that...  The '54 Chevy Bel Air that Chip Foose built for collector Wes Rydell was a spectator magnet all weekend. Chip added a new Corvette LS1 with LS6 heads, late-model Eldorado seats, and Corvette suspension components. There must be a million low-key modifications in the sheetmetal alone.  Wires and wide whites, plus...  Wires and wide whites, plus some eyeball-burning red paint call attention to Jerry Hirschberg's beautiful '53 Buick Roadmaster. The black top and interior break up the bright body color. A Buick 322 V-8 is planted under the hood.  Mike Ogden's chopped and channeled...  Mike Ogden's chopped and channeled '30 Model A Tudor is a return participant at the Columbus Nats. A pair of Holley 2V carbs on an Offy manifold tops the small-block. We also like the red tinted glass and cheater slicks.  After being stored indoors...  After being stored indoors for 21 years, it was time for a full restoration on this maroon pearl '40 Ford convertible, owned by Ron and Mary Schmidutz. A Barry Grant SixShooter setup feeds the stroked 383.
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