The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association ended its 2015 show season with the 18th Southwest Nationals last weekend at WestWorld of Scottsdale, Arizona. The show featured over 3,000 classic cars and trucks and featured a display of the Top 12 Cars of the Year.
Among the vehicles were a number of cars that just a few weeks ago had been displayed at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Among that group was the winner of the SEMA Battle of the Builders, a 1933 Ford Roadster owned by Larry Olson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and built by Bobby Alloway. The car was displayed at the Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop booth in the Goodguys manufacturers midway on the show field.
An Alloway representative, Scotty Troutman, talked to Classic Car News about the current trends in the automotive aftermarket industry, including an increase in the number of cars with flame paint jobs.
“We like to leave the integrity of the car we are building, so anyone who is a fan of that year, make, and model will be able to instantly recognize it,” the Alloway representative said. “We leave the trim and the chrome because that is part of what initially attracts people to the vehicle.”
However, he added, “We might slam the car but we tend to leave the modifications looking somewhat original to the car so that 20 years from now the car still looks good and is still cool.”
When it comes to trends, the Alloway representative said the “current trend” always changes because its popularity leads to it becoming expensive, so people start to look for alternatives.
“That is how a new trend is born. New trends come from those who can’t afford what is currently in.”
Goodguys 12 national award-winning vehicles:
2015 Muscle Machine of the Year | Harold & Tracy Chapman | Andice, TX | 1968 Corvette |
2015 Truck of the Year Late (sponsored by LMC Trucks Parts) | Tim Molzen | Sioux City, IA | 1962 Dodge Pickup |
2015 Hot Rod of the Year | Keith Hill | Bixby, OK | 1933 Ford 3 Window |
2015 Custom of the Year | David Hoekstra | Roswell, NM | 1956 Linclon Continental |
2015 Truck of the Year Early ( Sponsored by Street Rod HQ) | Robert Anderson | Savannah, GA | 1940 Ford Pickup |
2015 Muscle Car of the Year (Sponsored by Rocket Racing Wheels) | Dennis Albaugh | Ankeny, IA | 1969 Chevy Camaro |
2015 Street Rod D’Elegance (sponsored by March Performance) | Randy Marston | Nanoose Bay, BC | 1935 Ford Coupe |
2015 Street Machine of the Year (Sponsored by Optima Batteries) | Sonny & Debbie Freeman | Lafayette, LA | 1967 Chevy Corvette |
2015 Custom Rod of the Year (Sponsored by Vintage Air) | Gil & Janet Losi | Murrietta, CA | 1956 Plymoutth Belvedere |
2015 Street Rod of the Year (Sponsored by Classic Instruments) | Chuck & Diane Rowe | Memphis, TN | 1937 Chevy Coupe |
2015 Autocrosser of the Year | Danny Popp | Cincinnati, OH | 1972 Chevrolet 65.603 |
Photography by Hans Marquez