Goodguys PPG Nationals – Our Top Ten Favorites From This Past Summer

ppgnatstop10leadartThe Goodguys 18th Annual PPG Nationals brought out some of the best hot rods and custom cars from all of the country to Columbus Ohio. It really is very easy to get lost in the sea of chrome, horsepower, and amazing cars that invade the state fairgrounds each year for this show.

Picking out just a handful of cars is difficult, but we found a few that jumped out at us over the weekend and speak to the variety this show brings. There are not many shows you can attend where you can see everything from top shelf custom cars, period correct restorations, and so many cars that have a creative and personal touch added by the owners.

Chris Rowe’s 1955 Chevy Bel Air.

_MG_5588Over in the Homebuilt display area of the show we found Chris and Judy Rowe’s stunning 1955 Chevy Bel Air. The Rowe’s did pretty much every bit of work to this car on their own, minus laying the paint down, and doing the machine work on the engine, and did it all in their two car garage.

The running gear on the car includes a built 355ci SBC engine with Pro Comp heads, 700R4 transmission, and a John’s Industries 9-inch rear end. The Bel Air has been lowered four inches with the help of Heidts two-inch drop spindles and a set of CPP control arms.  All of this mixed together makes the ’55 Chevy built by the Rowe’s just look right from every angle.

The 1969 SC427 Nova

_MG_5564To the average person this 1969 Nova just looks like your run of the mill muscle car, but those in the know see the Yenko lettering on the rear fender and understand how special this car is. Don Yenko and his team of mad scientist built only 38 of these SC427 Novas, so they are some of the rarest of the rare dealer built monsters ever made.

Yenko took full advantage of the Nova platform with these cars putting a high compression L72 427 c.i. engine under the hood that pumps out 450 hp. This particular car is not only has the big block between the frame rails, but also has the classic four speed transmission and a 4:10 gear in the rearend. With this combo the Yenko Nova could click off 11-second passes at the drag strip all while looking very mundane on the street.

Steve Becker’s 1948 Morris Minor Traveler.

_MG_5496There are a lot of cars at the PPG Nationals that have the “wow” factor, and then there is Steve and Mary Ann Becker’s 1948 Morris Minor Traveler. This pint sized panel truck looking creation has more than the standard wow factor, starting with the massive BDS 8-71 blower sticking out up front and going all the way to the back with the massive 31×16.50 rear tires.

There is really nothing small about the power plant shoehorned under the hood of this Morris, Becker managed to get all 502ci of GM power to fit like it came from the factory. Art Morrison parts were used throughout the car including the roll cage, suspension, and brakes. The deep black paint works well with the wood accents and liberal amounts of chrome all over this pocket rocket classic.

Larry Johnston’s 1969 Chevelle

_MG_4917Larry Johnston’s 1969 “Black Shadow” Chevelle lives up to its name with some slick black paint and stealthy look that hide all of the power this Chevy is packing. The details that Johnston has added to this car remain hidden from a distance, but upon further inspection you see just how well built this car is.

Under the hood is a Texas Speed built 454 c.i. LSX based engine that cranks out some serious power and looks like a stock replacement engine. Behind the modern mill is a Temec five speed transmission and Moser rear end filled with 4:56 gears. Johnston also added drilled and slotted Wilwood brakes at all corners to make the Black Shadow a very well rounded street machine.

Justin Murnane’s 1963 Bel Air

_MG_4952Another great Chevy that got our attention was Justin Murnane’s 1963 Bel Air, a very functional classic with miles of style. The Arrival Blue metallic laid down by Dr. Phil’s Collision compliments the Raceline Static 5 Wheels so well and makes the car pop.

To give this car a great and functional stance Murnane added a Cool Cars rear wishbone, two-inch drop spindles and Air Ride Suspension to the Bel Air. Keeping things simple when it comes to a driveline a 350 SBC with shorty headers and Comp Cams 268 cam that is backed by a TH350 transmission keep this clean Bel Air rolling.

Ken Gratto’s 1958 Chevy Biscayne

_MG_5534One of the popular trends at this year’s PPG Nationals was the gasser look, and we’re perfectly okay with that. A car that caught our eye as something different was Ken Gratto’s 1958 Chevy Biscayne gasser, with its big body and rowdy sounding power plant as it rolled around the show.

Gratto purchased the Biscayne with a very tired small block Chevy providing power and a laundry list of other issues. With the car in his possession a 475 hp crate motor, TH400 transmission and a straight axle kit from Speedway Motors all were added to give the Biscayne some muscle, and that iconic gasser look.

Danny Allen’s Nova Wagon

_MG_5549This 1965 Chevy II Nova Wagon owned by Danny Allen falls deep within the category of looks can be deceiving, because it is packing some serious heat.  You have to look just a bit closer to see the secrets of this wagon, and when Allen pops the hood the Nova’s teeth show big time.

Powering this wagon is a twin turbo, 402ci LS2 based engine that cranks out around 1,000 hp to the tires and pushes the wagon into the 9.70 ET range at the drag strip. Helping to put all that power down is a Total Cost Involved Pro-Touring coilover IFS and Total Cost Involved coilover four-link rear suspension.

Bob Cook’s 1970 Mustang

_MG_5659Bob Cook’s 1970 Mustang takes swapping modern muscle parts into old school iron to a whole new level with not only a drive line swap, but an interior swap as well. If that was not enough Cook takes his Mustang out to auto cross events regularly to stretch it’s legs.

Cook grafted a 4.6L supercharged engine and interior parts from a 2003 Cobra into his Mustang. To make his Mustang corner like a modern model Cook added Bilstein coil over struts, HyperCoil springs, Eibach sway bars and tubular control arms. A full set of Cobra brakes are at all four corners to provide solid and constant braking for Cook’s trips around the autocross course.

Mike Roe’s 1965 Mercury Comet

_MG_5524Mike Roe’s 1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone is something you just don’t see many of, and is in such good condition you would think it just rolled off the showroom floor. The Mercury has some neat features like a dash mounted factory triple gauge rally pack with tach with a vacuum gauge among many other things.

Powering this Comet is an original 289 block outfitted with a very healthy Lunati cam, Keith Black pistons and rods, a pair of ported and polished cast iron 289 heads, and screw in studs. Roe bangs gears in his ride via an original Borg Warner T-10 4-speed as he cruises down the road.

Jef Fern’s 1970  Camaro

_MG_4859Jeff Fern’s 1970 twin turbo Camaro is the kind of car that grab’s your attention from any distance and will not let go. This car goes big and does not hide its intentions of being an over-the-top mechanical masterpiece that is equal parts good looks and big power.

To power this Pro Street piece Fern built a nasty small block Chevy that is filled with nothing but the best parts, and it needs those guts to take on the boost from the pair of 67mm Turbonetics turbos. Knowing this combo could put up some big numbers at the track Fern designed his own 8.50 certified chassis and wrapped it with a show stopping leather interior highlighted by some repurposed Viper seats.

These ten cars are just a tiny slice of the diversity that comes out the Goodguys PPG Nationals each year. Walking around the grounds in Columbus you gain a true appreciation for the sheer volume of cars on display, and the variety that can be experienced.

About the author

Brian Wagner

Spending his childhood at different race tracks around Ohio with his family’s 1967 Nova, Brian developed a true love for drag racing. Brian enjoys anything loud, fast, and fun.
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