PPG sponsored

Goodguys Columbus Nationals 2015

 

Finalists at Goodguys Columbus Nationals 2015 …

Dodging the weather all weekend, the big events at the Goodguys Columbus Nationals 2015  came off without a hitch. Although rain was threatening early each day, the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio dried up in time for the judged events here.

Photo-journalist Bob Boberg of eClassicAutos.com has posted this video which captures the atmosphere on the grounds of the Goodguys Columbus Nationals 2015. Click the video window to take in the sights and sounds of this years Goodguys event:

On Saturday Goodguys announced the winner of the Goodguys Optima Batteries Street Machine of the Year, as well as the Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year. These are two of the most coveted awards in the custom car hobby. Both were announced here on Saturday at the Goodguys Columbus Nationals 2015.

That’s when we found out that the Goodguys Street Rod of the Year is a 1937 Chevy Coupe owned by Diane and Chuck Rowe of Memphis, Tennessee. The Goodguys Street Rod of the Year Award is sponsored by Classic Instruments, and is one of the most prestigious awards offered in the street rod hobby.

Those who have seen this special street rod have called it “Simply Amazing!” It certainly has the credentials. This 1937 Chevy Coupe won the title of Best Hot Rod at the 2015 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona. It also was the Gold Goodguys Award winner at the 2014 SEMA Show. It features an all-aluminum McLaren Chevrolet Big Block V8 (rare vintage motor used in Can-Am race series). It also has suicide doors, an Art Morrison chassis, Mike Long G-Force 6-speed transmission, one-off Alloway ET wheels, red leather interior and Classic Intrument gauges.

Interestingly, the 1937 Chevy Coupe beat out some pretty intense competition including two Great 8 finalists from this year’s Ridler Award competition at the 2015 Detroit Autorama. See photos of the Goodguys Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year here in a slideshow.  See the Top Five finalists as well as other top contenders for the award below:

The winner of the Optima Batteries Street Machine of the Year for 2015 is a 1967 Corvette owned by Sonny Freeman of Lafayette, Louisiana. What you may not be able to tell from the photos is that this Corvette Custom is done in all brushed nickel, and featured tucked bumpers … something that did not allude the judges. It has an built LS7 Chevy motor. Freeman’s Corvette had to beat out some stiff competition from Willy Maise’ 1965 Dodge Dart SL Street Touring car, a Great 8 Award winner at this years Ridler Award competition at the 2015 Detroit Autorama.

Here are photos of the Goodguys Optima Batteries Street Machine of the Year:

Here are the Top Five runnersup for the Street Machine of the Year award sponsored by Optima Batteries, plus many of the other contenders not chosen to the Top Five:

Out of the 20+ contenders in each of the Street Rod and Street Machine categories, only five finalists were chosen.  These 10 cars were then moved to center-stage and the owners/builders were interviewed in front of the audience.  Then the winners in each category were announced.

Over 100 cars received trophies in various categories. Here are some of the cars as they paraded to the awards ceremony:

What an exciting day for Rick Lingen of Cave Creek, Arizona here at the Goodguys Columbus Nationals 2015. Out of 21 Goodguys Show Winners eligible for the Goodguys Truck Giveway today he chose the lucky key from the bowl that started the prize 1970 Chevy G-10 Custom Pickup.  There were 21 winners here from Goodguys events around the country in the past 12 months. Each one took a turn to draw a key from a bowl. One key would start the G-10 Custom. Lingen was the eighth person to draw a key and when he tried to fit it into the ignition and the truck fired, the place erupted. Confetti and balloons dropped from the ceiling. At that point Lingen knew he had won the prize Goodguys custom truck. Boy, did his face light up. He was smilin’ from ear to ear. See photos in the slider below:

On Saturday, the stage was set for the announcement of the 2016 Goodguys Giveway Car here at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio as Cars On Line.com was on hand to cover the unveiling of next year’s Goodguys Giveway Car. When the cover came off, baloons filled the air and the hoopla was impressive. You’ll be seeing a lot of this 1932 Ford Old School Hot Rod during the next year at all the national level Goodguys events. It will be awarded to one of the Goodguys Nationals winners here at Columbus next year. All of the show winners from now until next July will have a chance to win this incredible ride.

This year’s Goodguys Columbus Nationals 2015 was even bigger than last years record show.  According to Goodguys Rod & Custom Association there were over 6,300 cars registered at the PPG sponsored Goodguys Columbus Nationals 2015. Cars On Line.com readers were able to follow all the action just as if they were there. Bob Boberg of eClassic Autos.com reported here  and  on Twitter the whole weekend. There was a lot to cover. Cars On Line.com readers were able to see his photos and videos here and on our Facebook page. Click here to view his article on the Goodguys Columbus Nationals 2015.

The Goodguys Columbus Nationals is the biggest show of the year for America’s largest street rod and customs organization. Some of the top cars in the country are on hand for the show. For many years this has been where hot rod history was made with the top cars in the hobby meeting here to contend for the two biggest awards of the summer car show season.

Here is a look at many of the incredible cars we spotted at the show: