The '32 Ford hot rod roadster of Floyd Williams took home the 2010 Goodguys/Gearstar Hot Rod of the Year award at the 22nd Hot Rod Nationals in Indianapolis. Williams, a long time Southern California native recently pulled up his roots and settled in Austin, Texas. With it's burgeoning traditional hot rod culture, Austin is the perfect home the newest Hot Rod of the Year.
Floyd grew up drag racing at OCIR and other so-cal strips so his goal with the car was to build a 60's style street/strip roadster. Enter Dave Lane of Fast Lane Rod Shop Donahue, IA. Once Lane was commissioned to build the car, the trio of Williams, his son Kevin and Lane set out to build the ultimate hot rod roadster.
With the trio's vision, artist Eric Brockmeyer rendered a period correct interior which incorporated a combination of bare bones basics, diamond pleated leather seats and the right amount of lightning holes. With black being the only color for a true hot rod, DuPont Super Jet Black single stage was chosen. With the interior and paint settled, attention was turned to the drive train. A small black Chevy topped with Hilborn stack injection was chosen. Vintage 60s features include a Joe Hunt magneto, Milodon oil pan and Corvette Valve covers. The 400+ ponies are routed through a Tremec 5 speed to a ladder bar supported Winter's quick change. The big window polished Halibrand rear wheels are wrapped in Hurst cheater slicks for that perfect So-Cal drag look.
The car gets its intimidating rake courtesy of a Magnum 5 inch dropped axle with So Cal hairpins. A So-Cal front brake kit stops the polished kidney bean Real Wheels. All the fancy brightwork is courtesy of Jon Wright's custom chrome plating in Grafton, OH.
Look for the Williams' hot rod roadster at the L.A. Roadster's Father's Day show in Pomona, Goodguys 13th PPG Nationals in Columbus, the Goodguys 24th West Coast Nationals, Goodguys Midwestern Nationals in Kansas City and the season-ending Southwest Nationals in Scottsdale, AZ.
The finalists for this year's Gearstar Hot Rod of the Year included Bill Kullbom, Burlington, IA ('30 Ford), Dick McCann, Wheaton, IL ('29 Ford), Floyd Williams, Austin, TX ('32 Ford roadster), Donny Friese, Beach Park, IL ('32 Ford) and Jeff Kuhn, Plainfield, IL ('34 Ford).