Goodguys Southeastern Nationals - Rods And Customs In Nascar Country

Willard Robertson is just getting started putting miles on his '37 Lincoln Zephyr, which has covered more that 43,000 so far, including the road trip to Charlotte. There is a blown 5.4L Ford SOHC motor under the hood and a Fatman front suspension, Air Ride shocks, and a triangulated four-link underneath. Willard performed the bodywork and shot the champagne metallic paint.

We love old survivors like Jim and Vicky Cliborne's '49 Merc. Jim has owned his candy green custom since high school in the mid '60s, which is when he did most of the body mods. The 389 it ran then has been replaced by a 455 with six 2s. Rear Air Ride parts and dropped Fatman spindles help drop the sled.

Goodguys was looking for a "Kustom of the Year" finalist in Charlotte; their pick was John St. Germain's amazing '36 Ford roadster, built in the Westergard style but with a lot of personal touches. The Packard grille is flanked with '35 Olds side trim. The powerplant is a 296 flathead with a 4-speed.

John Bauer did a great job on this full-fendered Deuce coupe, dressed up with beautiful paint, some tasty 'striping, and the right rolling stock. John's wife, Bonita, did the tuck 'n' roll interior work.

It didn't have a hemi when it was originally built in 1956, but the 241 with a high-rise intake and three deuces looks right at home in this channeled '29 roadster, owned by C.S. Bagshaw.

Here's another sweet survivor. Harvey Bagshaw chopped the top on this '32 sedan when he first bought it 30 years ago. Five years later the interior was redone, which now includes '64 Mustang seats. The '55 small-block is running four Strombergs. Harvey's been working on it recently and got it running the night before the show.

Stay tuned for a full feature on Will Hudson's '50 Ford, built at Hudson Rod & Custom. The 351W-powered sedan was built with a full bellypan, subtle exterior trim pieces, and numerous custom touches in the interior. This was it's first outing, and Goodguys jumped on it for a Fab 5 award.

Killer kustom is a Goodguys award and the perfect description for Rich and Cheryl Hughes '50 Pontiac. The shaved custom has a 455/TH400 drivetrain combination.

Here's another nice black Deuce. This coupe is owned by Ronnie Staples. We liked the red accents on the grille, steelies, interior upholstery, front axle, on the flathead, and on the motorcycle tank mounted in front behind a custom nerf bar.

Hats off to Jack Mills for this super sanitary '49 Ford woodie, packed with a 5.0L Mustang engine. Shaved panels, dog dish caps, a perfect stance, and absolutely no extemporaneous accessories keep it clean and cool. Mmm mmm.

Our sister magazine, Classic Trucks, gave a Finest 5 award to Tony Stacey's '66 Ford F-100 pickup, finished on the outside with great-looking two-tone paint and on the inside with leather early Thunderbird seats.

With diamond plate on the door panels, floor, and bed of this '28 Model A roadster pickup, only the owners, Rudy and Dawn Zierden, get soaked when it starts raining. You can see the small-block up front, and the autographs from George Barris, Gene Winfield, Pete Chapouris, Jim Jacobs, and others, on the dash.

We keep telling you-tall Ts are making a comeback as trends move into the '60s and '70s and T roadster kits are abundant. Darryl Bobzin is already there with his '23. Note the huge Mickey Thompsons, the big stacks and manifold on the 350, and all that chrome.

Bobby Hobbs kept a good balance between tech and tradition with this 502-powered '57 Bel Air. The Recovery Room did the cream colored contemporary interior. Billet Specialites wheels, a nice exterior color, shaved panels, and an Air Ride-provided stance work together well. The '57 was a Goodguys Rep Pick.

Charles Libby pulled a page out of history with this '28 Model A tracknose roadster. From the paint to the dropped I-beam axle to the quick-change rearend, from the cloth-covered buckets to the drilled split 'bones, it's great. The extended nose covers the straight-six engine.

It might not be the wisest way to advertise a body shop, but Bill Nichols has a blast driving this patina'd '48 Chevy, built over an S-10 frame. Lancer caps, a Mexican blanket over the bench, and some careful sheetmetal neglect contribute to the desired effect.

Wayne Hawk pulled this '28 sedan out of a barn and dropped it on a Brookville chassis during the three-week build-up. He's had it to Louisville and the L.A. Roadster Show. But it's the old bike hanging off the back that got our attention.