2020 Southwest Nationals Builders Choice Top 10 from Hot Rods by Dean
Dean Livermore’s shop, Hot Rods by Dean, has been consistently turning out top-notch rides in the Phoenix area for decades. With a wealth of respect from other builders and customers alike, Dean is a great ambassador for the hobby and an ideal craftsman for selecting the Builder’s Choice Top 10 at the Southwest Nationals. Dean likes a wide range of rides – from early hot rods to ’70s muscle – and as you’ll see from his picks, he greatly values clean design and execution and tasteful style. Let’s see what he picked to wrap up the 2020 season!
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- Tony Arme’s ’68 Mustang was a 14-year project that’s been on the road a couple years now and even picked up a Muscle Machine of the Year finalist nod in 2019. The twin-turbo Ferrari engine captures plenty of attention, but there are countless mods throughout ranging from the chopped top, custom rockers, and modified nose, to the carbon fiber floors and trick “floating” taillights. A RideTech suspension gets it down low over Avant Garde wheels, while a custom dash with Dakota Digital instruments are highlights inside.
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- We kept stopping by throughout the weekend to check out Heart Cumpton’s clean, traditional ’29 Model A roadster on Deuce rails. We like how the trimmed frame horns help showcase the chrome-plated grille shell and the understated Dark Brewster Green paint complemented by tan leather upholstery. We also dig the Flathead V8 topped with Edelbrock heads and a Thickston intake and air cleaner, plus distinctive details like the ’47 Frazer taillights.
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- Fred Bishop’s ’72 F100 was making waves on social media a week before the Southwest Nationals – people love seeing a “bump-side” Ford done so well! Air springs on a Heidts IFS and custom rear suspension get this one the deck over Intro wheels, with power coming from a supercharged 5.0-liter Coyote engine. A one-off grille and heat extractors in the hood highlight mods on the bright red body, while artfully stitched leather by Recovery Room in equally red leather cap off the cabin.
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- Cougar sighting! Phil Camp’s bright red ’67 Cougar is not only extremely cool and well done, it’s also owner-built! The lethal cat has a 427c.i. SOHC engine stuffed under the hood, supported by a Detroit Speed front suspension and RideTech rear suspension and rolling on Shelby-style wheels. The bright red Axalta paint commands attention, while the clean cabin features black upholstery over Nissan bucket seats, Classic Instruments, and a four-point roll cage.
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- We’ve shown you Bob Cummings’ ’55 Ford wagon a few times this year, including a cover image and feature article in the October Gazette. Built by Rocket’s Hot Rod Garage, it’s been treated to a ton of mods to integrate the Crown Victoria windshield and trim and create a phantom Crown Vic wagon. The beauty is more than skin deep, too, as there’s an Art Morrison chassis underneath, a smoothed and incredibly detailed Y-block under the hood, and vintage-style blue upholstery inside with scores of one-off details.
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- Las Vegas-based Curtis Osgood has a sure bet with this ’67 Camaro RS/SS. An Art Morrison Sport GT chassis and Forgeline wheels provide a firm, updated foundation, with power coming from an LS7 backed by a T56 six-speed transmission. Hot Rods by Night applied the smooth PPG metallic gray finish, while the interior was upgraded with Recaro seats, tilt steering, Dakota Digital instruments, and a roll cage for an extra measure of safety.
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- Keith Hickman came all the way from Gunter, Texas to participate in the Southwest Nationals in his clean ’59 Biscayne. The winged wonder gets its killer stance courtesy of an Art Morrison chassis and Intro wheels, and gets its power from an EFI-fed 454c.i. big block V8. The PPG black finish is complemented by an equally black interior stitched in leather, with amenities like tilt steering and air conditioning to help make Lone Star cruising more comfortable.
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- Mark Westrick’s Deuce roadster was one of the most-photographed cars of the weekend – it’s one of those rides that just screams “hot rod!” A home-built chassis rides on a combination of skinny and fat American Rebel and Real Rodders wheels for a killer stance, with a healthy 327c.i. Chevy small block rumbling behind those smooth hood sides. Mick Mackley gets credit for the beautiful maroon paint, while black leather upholstery by Jeff Shelton coordinates well with the thin body beltline stripe.
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- It’s hard to beat the classic lines of a clean ’55 Chevy, especially one with a high-impact red-and-black finish like Jerry Kennedy’s Phoenix-based beauty. It’s built right with an Art Morrison chassis, Budnik wheels, and a burly 544c.i. big block Chevy with stack-style fuel injection. There’s custom leather upholstery adorning the cabin of this cool Chevy, along with well-integrated details like a tilt steering column and Classic Instruments gauges.
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- Charlie Lillard is no stranger to rare and unusual muscle cars and his latest is no exception. This ’70 Mercury Cycle Spoiler is a scarce example of the muscle car heyday and was recently treated to ground-up restoration. There’s a rumbling 429c.i. Super Cobra Jet engine under that long hood, while the bright Grabber Blue paint is contrasted with white vinyl upholstery inside. Rolling on Wide Oval rubber and factory sport wheels, this Cyclone will whisk you back to the ’70s!
