It was great to be back in town for the Goodguys Nashville Nationals. When I attended this event in 2006, I didn't know what to expect. Neither did Goodguys and neither did any of the participants or spectators, since that was the first year for this particular show. I came home impressed and had been waiting a couple of years to return.
This year, I wondered if the quantity and quality of rods, customs, and classic trucks would be as great as I remembered. Of course, it was. The LP Field at Tennessee Titan Stadium was packed with more than 2,000 great cars-everything from big-name, pro-built rides to backyard-built, low-buck drivers-many of which had been finished just a few months, weeks, or even days before the show. Goodguys welcomes '72-and-earlier cars in Nashville, and there was musclecar-era iron in abundance.
You probably saw George Poteet's '32 Ford delivery in our July issue, or maybe at the Grand National Roadster Show. This was the first look for many spectators in Nashville, and builder Dave Lane spent the weekend answering questions and accepting compliments. The faux rivets, custom billet artillery wheels, reshaped body panels, inset rubber floor matting, and all that maple were just a few components that earned the Deuce a pile of prizes in Nashville.
Of course, R&C loves pre-'64 rods and customs the best, and these made up the majority of the show. Just like last time, I was blown away by the mountain of well-done traditionally styled early Fords. Period-influenced hot rods are not a California fad; they're hot all over the country. In addition to all the early Blue Oval rods, I ran into a lot of '55-57 Chevys in Nashville-some done in the nostalgic style like I'm used to, and many others modified into mild customs.
The swap meet packed people in at the far east end of the show, and adjacent to that, the Air Ride Technologies Street Challenge Autocross was running competitors through the cone course as fast as they could go. Only a handful of "true" hot rods or customs took a stab at the slalom run. The ones that did couldn't perform like the super-handling street machines that dominated all weekend, but they were more entertaining to watch. Despite the price of gas and diesel, vendors are still committed to being part of the Goodguys show season-at least it sure looked that way by all the aftermarket manufacturers showing off their goods.
Even the weather was impressive. The thunderstorms that were supposed to unload throughout the week only produced some intimidating clouds and a cool breeze that kept us from overcooking.
I'll shut up and let you get to the photos of the 3rd annual Goodguys Nashville Nats, starting with R&C's Top Tin picks.
We were impressed by this clean, traditional hot rod, even before we found out that the chopped '31 five-window on Deuce 'rails was 19-year-old Kirby Kennedy's high school creative project ("Everybody else learned to play the guitar"). Kirby stuffed the coupe with a 292ci Y-block with three 97s, a four-speed trans, and a Halibrand quick-change. The wire wheels are 18s and 16s. The bench seat is covered in hand-stitched cowhide. | 
Lots of people (OK, me) mistook Joey Collins' chopped and slammed coupe for a Ford Model A before learning it's really a '30 American Austin. Jason Graham handbuilt this just-finished rod, which sports an Enderle-injected '56 Chrysler 354 Hemi. The Ansen rear wheels and front Americans are a great fit for the coupe, which was driven to the event. | 
In addition to being one of our Top Tin picks in Nashville, Gordon Peters' '56 Chevy wagon, built by Neil Lea, was in the Great 8 at the Detroit Autorama and is now a Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year finalist. With a complete '02 Corvette LS1 drivetrain and more than 1,000 custom components, the wagon-once an old Handyman used as a fish and game department truck- has been taken to an elite level. |
It's tough to beat a homebuilt '32 highboy like Rusty and Nancy Canfield's 350-powered roadster. Rusty built the car while recovering from back surgery, setting the Rod Shop body on a Street Rods by Michael frame. We liked the Moon tank, drilled I-beam, American Racing Salt Flat Specials, gray-green pearl-mist paint (a Volvo color), and keeping it all simple. | 
When you run a shop, it's tough to find time to build your personal cars, but Will Hudson from Hudsons Rod & Customs put his free time into finishing this low two-tone '50 Ford coupe. He kept the body and top stock, and covered the interior in black leather. The engine is a Ford 351 Windsor, tied to a C4 automatic transmission. We'll have a complete feature soon. | 
Stroker McGurk was on hand, in paint at least, to remind everybody of the true definition of a hot rod. Bill Akin's '32 lowboy roadster-piloted to the show by Jim McPherson-drove home the point, with tube axle, dirt-track tires on mags, and a cartoon image of Tom Medley's Stroker behind the wheel of a similarly styled old-time rod. |
People were fooled by Van Tyler's '33, thinking it was a steel car. In reality, the body is from Rat's Glass. The top was ground for the roof insert, which contributes to the illusion. Same with the external door hinges (it's really hinged on the inside). The 502ci big-block and the Dayton wire wheels are absolutely the real thing. Bobby Alloway built the beautiful coupe. | 
Ron Wilson kept the modifications mild on his '57 Ranchero, but added some cool elements, like the 385hp Roush 351 under the hood, homebuilt bracketry and emblems, a rigid exhaust system, and custom wood in the dash. Ron did all the work except for the interior. The 12-month project, nicknamed Rodchero, was completed just before heading to Nashville. | 
A stroked 426 Hemi and 727 trans keeps Chrysler power in Chuck Williamson's '53 Dodge Meadowbrook Suburban wagon, rolling on an Art Morrison Air Spring Plus chassis with Air Ride suspension parts. One-piece flat glass replaced the split rear side window and the front side window. Allante buckskin and Sumatra ostrich skin covers Jeep Grand Cherokee seats. |
Tim Turner loved looking at the straight-axle Chevy gassers in his car magazines when he was in third grade. All these years later, he built one. The '55 was a shell when he started. The 525hp 427 big-block with a four-speed is plenty powerful for street driving. It has Lexan side windows and the perfect look to hook a new generation on Chevy gassers. | 
Walter Russell bought this '57 Chevy convertible from the original owner almost 24 years ago, and finished it a week before this event. It's original on the outside-including chrome and stainless pieces-with an LS1 and a six-speed on the inside. Paul Atkins covered the Lexus front seats in leather and '57 Chevy cloth. Other amenities include power brakes, steering, and windows, plus XM radio. | 
Three twos feed the 327 on Shane Davis' '23 T roadster, riding on a split wishbone suspension with a suicide frontend. Take a close look and you'll see some pinstriping on the cowl and Deuce grille, as well as outlined flames running the length of the body. |
It didn't take a lot of mods to draw a crowd to Larry Hurst's monochrome '61 Rambler American convertible. Larry kept most of the mild custom modifications in the off-white-upholstered interior, and in the engine compartment where he dropped a Chevy 350 hooked to a TH350 automatic. | 
This chopped and channeled '28 sedan with a shortened Deuce grille gets the prize for in-your-face impact, thanks to a stretched frame and crazy-tall blown 383 engine. Dick Stevens built the all-steel (and some lead) Model A with his son and grandsons. "Once we got started, it took on a life of its own," he said. The headlights are '34 Ford commercial lights, and a Cadillac hearse roof, facing rearward, was the perfect fit for the filled top. | 
Bill Randle's '49 Ford club coupe sports two-tone burgundy and tan paint, broken up by modified '54 Buick side trim. The interior is done in burgundy and white. The engine is a 5.0L Cobra motor. |