Goodguys Nats in Columbus - Hit of the Season - Expanded Coverage

George and Melanie Duryea added Watson-style scallops to their just-finished, and much-driven, chopped and dropped '55 F-100 pickup. Custom elements include the '61 bumper, '57 Plymouth grille insert, and '56 Chevy hood blisters. The engine is a 360 Dodge. Finished in April 2007, it had already rolled more than 10,000 miles by the middle of July.

This cantaloupe-colored '32 Vicky was homebuilt by John McCue. The original steel body sits on a Lobeck chassis. We sure like the contrasting dark red on the solid steel wheels. It runs a 350/350 engine and transmission combo. The dash came out of a '34.

Helping to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the '32 Packard, Wayne Putnum's hot rod coupe found a prominent parking spot. Builder Rusty Jackson from Odd Rod Creations displayed the car, which was once a four-door sedan. Power is provided by a supercharged LS1 with a six-speed transmission.

There's always plenty of cool stuff in the swap meet section of the Goodguys Nats, including what could be the starting point of a pretty cool '60s show rod project. According to the hand-lettered sign, this old A was built back in 1966 or 1967 by hot rod builder Dave Puhl.

There's more than one way to build a '32 Ford pickup. Judy Appleman's gold highboy shows the early '60s influence, expressed through the wheel selection and hairpins. The 283 small-block is hooked to a two-speed Powerglide.

Larry McCauley took a different angle, keeping the fenders and bumpers on his two-tone truck, and choosing wide whites on reversed steel wheels. The powertrain includes a Flathead with a four-barrel, and five-speed.

Bruce Capen channeled his truck and kept the finish natural. This stroked 283 is topped with six two-barrels and runs a four-speed, spinning cheater slicks.

John Reddinger's '57 Olds 88 Holiday hardtop is what you'd call a study in contrasts. The screaming orange paint is toned down as soon as it hits the top and rear sheetmetal, finished in conservative grey. The fully dressed exterior makes the 454 Rat motor hiding under the hood a surprise.

This green '32 was one of the most talked-about Lobeck roadsters at the show. Gina Adams' hot rod is the Deuce that wants to be a Mustang, judging from the Cobra wheels, faux side vent and trim (repeated on the valve covers), and the 302 engine.

Steve Lucas bought his '56 Merc a couple years ago and got the upholstery done just in time for Columbus. The shaved bright blue sheetmetal, quadruple Packard taillight treatment, and tail-dragger posture all adds to the Merc's appeal.

This low-key shade of green looks great on Don Bunch's chopped '50 Merc, built with classic 'sled touches, such as the DeSoto grille and bumpers, flush skirts, Lincoln taillights, and '54 Merc side trim. A 330-horse Chevy crate motor powers Don's custom.

The thing we like best about Jason Graham's '30 Ford five-window is the profile-long, low, and channeled to within inches of the ground. The next best thing is the Merc Flathead, built with Offenhauser heads, an Eddie Meyer Hollywood intake, Lincoln Zephyr V-12 carburetors, and those short, straight pipes.