By Brian Brennan
Goodguys 2025 Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year
Goodguys Rod & Custom Association has recognized Ross Myers and his 1936 Ford roadster (former Modern Rodding cover car) as the 2025 Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year. The award was announced on July 12 during the Goodguys 27th Summit Racing Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.
Built by Rad Rides by Troy in Manteno, Illinois, this roadster showcases over two years of craftsmanship. Unlike typical builds that start with old bodies or rusty remains, the Rad Rides team fabricated the body from scratch, incorporating innovative modifications while preserving the car’s 1936 Ford identity. It features a custom Porsche green metallic paint and a custom lift-off top.
Mounted on a fully custom chassis, the roadster features a torsion bar suspension with wishbone-style radius rods and a quick-change rear axle, all riding on unique, handcrafted wheels. Power comes from a vintage 312ci Ford Y-block, supercharged by a McCulloch unit through three throttle bodies designed to resemble classic carburetors.
The interior complements the exterior’s custom style, featuring a modified dash from a 1950 Buick, unique steering components, and comfortable leather upholstery. Every detail has been carefully designed or customized by the talented Rad Rides team. Goodguys will award seven more vehicles with their Top 12 of the Year honors this season.
Goodguys 2025 PPG Street Machine of the Year
Goodguys Rod & Custom Association recently honored Angelo Vespi and his impressive 1987 Buick Grand National as the 2025 PPG Street Machine of the Year. The award was presented on July 12 during the Goodguys 27th Summit Racing Nationals in Columbus.
This stunning Grand National, built by Dutchboys Hotrods in Vicksburg, Michigan, took four years and nearly 10,000 hours to complete. Vespi aimed to craft the ultimate Grand National, and this recognition solidifies that vision.
The Dutchboys team carefully replaced the original plastic body panels with handcrafted metal ones, tightening gaps and forming aluminum bumper strips to improve its look. The factory chassis was swapped out for a custom frame, giving it a low stance to fit the custom 20-inch wheels, along with a special suspension from Detroit Speed and Baer brakes.
Vespi doubled the car’s power by replacing the original turbocharged 3.8L V-6 with a twin-turbocharged 7.0L LS engine from Mast Motorsports, generating over 1,000 hp, controlled by a Holley EFI system.
The interior, completely redesigned by Avant Garde Design, features 3–D–printed parts wrapped in leather and suede, along with a flat-screen display. Named the GNXS, this masterpiece continues the Grand National legacy. Congrats to Angelo Vespi and Dutchboys Hotrods!
Goodguys 2025 Tanks Inc. Hot Rod of the Year
Goodguys Rod & Custom Association awarded Dave Kroona and his 1933 Willys coupe the Tanks Inc. 2025 Hot Rod of the Year during the 19th BASF Nashville Nationals. The coupe, featuring a striking black finish with blue hot rod flames, was built by South City Rod and Custom in Hayward, California. As a longtime drag racer and Willys enthusiast, Kroona aimed for the car to embody serious hot rod attitude and performance, a goal achieved under the skilled hands of Bill Ganahl, who previously won this award in 2023.
To qualify for this prestigious award, vehicles must be older than 1948, have at least 500 miles on the odometer, and complete a 100-plus mile reliability run through Tennessee’s scenic backroads, often in rain. Additionally, a dragstrip run was required, and the Willys excelled in all challenges.
It sits on a custom chromoly tube frame with a unique Watt’s link rear suspension and independent front suspension. Powering the coupe is a small-block Chevy from Panella Racing Engines, equipped with a supercharger and electronic fuel injection. The body features extensive modifications, including reformed fenders and custom emblems, while the interior showcases vintage elements like gauges and a classic steering wheel. Goodguys will crown 10 more vehicles for their Top 12 of the Year Awards throughout the 2025 season.
In The Garage Media Editor’s Pick Magazine Awards
Continuing with the yearlong program, which will return next year, is the In The Garage Media Editor’s Pick Awards, handed out at several Goodguys events.
Wrapping up the 28th Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals in Phoenix, it was time once again to present the three awards to those entrants who we believe did a great job building and driving their hot rods to the Goodguys Southwest Nats.
At this event, three were selected, each representing one of the brands: Modern Rodding, Classic Truck Performance, and All Chevy Performance. The first Editor’s Pick (shown above went to Jeff Bjustrom’s 1952 Chevy mild custom. (shown above
Next up was the Classic Truck Performance Editor’s Pick winner — this interesting rig owned by Toby Tuttle, which included his 1976 Chevy Dually and his outboard-powered boat in tow. He was prepared for the Goodguys event and for some skiing or a few hot laps up and down the river.
The All Chevy Performance magazine Editor’s Pick went to this gold 1971 Chevelle with a black vinyl roof, owned by Greg Heinrich.
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