Street Machine of the Year Award

“Understated.” That’s how photo-jounalist Bob Boberg described a 1967 Chevy Nova resto mod custom when it won the 2014 Goodguys Street Machine of the Year title here in Columbus, Ohio this evening. No shiny chrome, no high rise engine sticking out of the hood, no bling! This low key rocket is an exquisite example of today’s modern technology influencing the custom car hobby.

Some of the top names in the hobby were involved with this car. It was painted by Charley Hutton of Charley Hutton Color Studio, famous for his work on many Ridler Award winners. It has a custom one-off interior that was designed by Eric Brockmeyer and fabricated by Extreme Performance. The engine is a NASCAR engine from Rick Hendrick. It is a small block Chevy 355 SB2. Tim Allen told us it was rated at 850 base horsepower at the rear wheels. It uses Precision turbos with custom fabricated manifolds. Click here for an in-depth look at the 1967 Chevy Nova when it was a Great 8 finalist for the Ridler Award.

Miranda Built, a Florida custom car design shop did the design and build. It was their idea to wire the car to be controlled by an iPad or iPhone. The Ride Tech Shock Waves and all the electronics are controlled with an iPad screen in the dash utilizing an ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System. The Budnick Gasser D wheels are custom colored to fit the design and paint of the overall car.

Steve Tornari and his team with the 2014 Goodguys Street Machine of the Year — Steve Tornari (in front with black cap) is shown with Tim Allen (center) of Miranda Built as they pose for cameras with the 2014 Goodguys Street Machine of the Year behind them.

Earlier on Saturday, the 2014 Goodguys Street Machine of the Year top five finalists had been chosen. Here are the Top 5 as given to us by Goodguys Rod & Custom Association:
-Angelo Vespi, St Augustine, FL, 1969 Chevy Camaro
-Steve Smith, Manchester, NH, 1958 Corvette
-JF Launier, Osyoos, BC, 1964 Buick Riviera
-Steve Tornari, Palm City, FL, 1967 Chevy Nova
-Dom & Becky Farbo, Williamsville, NY, 1965 Mustang

1964 Buick Riviera Custom Ridler Award winner at the 2014 Goodguys Columbus Nationals — The 2014 Ridler Award Winner, a 1964 Buick Riviera Custom with unique Twin Turbocharged engine, will be in the running for 2014 Goodguys Street Machine of the Year at the Goodguys Columbus Nationals this weekend. Click here for an in-depth look at this Custom street machine. (Photos by Bob Boberg of eClassicAutos.com)

1967 Chevy Nova engne — This incredible 1967 Chevy Nova Custom was one of the Great 8 finalists for the Ridler Award in Detoit earlier this year. Not only is it a phenomonal build, it incorporates things like an Ipad controlled dash to lower and raise the suspension. It is owned by Steve Tornari of Palm City, Florida. Today it is a finalist in the 2014 Goodguys Street Machine of the Year competition. Click here for more photos and info on this custom street machine.

1969 Camaro Custom — Angelo Vespi of Detroit Speed has a very fast time on the Autocross course today in his 1969 Custom Camaro. The car was very aggressive and did a 30 second time.

1965 Mustang in the final five for the 2014 Goodguys Street Machine of the Year award — This 1965 Ford Mustang was custom built by the Ring Brothers, who made their claim to fame creating Mustang Resto Mods. This one is owned by Dom and Becky Farbo of Williamsville, NY. It has a NASCAR 427 big block motor and a Tremec transmission.

Steve and Dawn Smith of Manchester, MD had a sweet 1958 Corvette Custom in the competition for 2014 Goodguys Street Rod of the Year. The unqiue fuel injection system looked as good as the paint.

About twenty cars were pulled into the indoor display where the Street Machine of the Year award contenders will be announced here on Saturday. We were here at the 2014 Goodguys Columbus Nationals where the tension was mounting for the car owners who entered their custom muscle cars in the Street Machine of the Year Award competition. Five cars were picked for the final judging here by mid-day on Saturday.

Here are more of the top cars we saw in the 2014 Goodguys Street Machine of the Year competition:

2014 Goodguys Columbus Nationals. Goodguys Rod & Customs show

Street Machine of the Year Award

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