2021 Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals Builders Choice Top 10 by Hot Rods by Dean
If you want to earn a Builder’s Choice Top 10 award at the Southwest Nationals, you have to capture the attention of Dean Livermore, who has been turning out award-winning rides from his Hot Rods by Dean shop for more than two decades. Dean has a keen eye for style and function, as the cars and trucks he builds at his shop are known for being as roadworthy and reliable as they are attractive.
Dean had a great selection of deserving vehicles to choose from in Scottsdale and took his process seriously, talking to car owners to learn the details and backgrounds on their projects. Dean makes a point of choosing a variety of eras and styles of cars and trucks, but all share common elements of clean design, strong execution, and attention to detail. Check ’em out!
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- Erik Hartery’s badass ’64 Chevelle two-door wagon doubled up with at Builder’s Choice Top 10 and the Classic Instruments Trophy Dash selection, and with good reason. There’s a healthy 496c.i. big-block Chevy rumbling under the hood, backed by a Tremec five-speed in a modified chassis rolling on Schott 18- and 20-inch wheels. We dare you to find a ripple in the smoothed black body by Lucky Luciano, which is perfectly complemented by red leather upholstery by Ron Mangus.
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- Dune Coddington has had this ’56 Chevy since he was 14 years old and recently had Carnock Creations in Iowa transform it into this satin silver ground-pounder. A modified frame and suspension help drop it down low over Schott wheels with some seriously wide rear meats, while the Whipple-supercharged 427c.i. LS7 engine packs a potent punch. The custom-mixed two-tone satin paint covers a smooth body devoid of emblems, with tasteful black leather upholstery inside.
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- Jim Bridgewater’s ’37 Ford coupe is no stranger to the winner’s circle and cruised through the awards in Scottsdale after earning a Top 10 pick from Dean. Built by All Ways Hot Rods, it rides on one-off wheels designed by Jimmy Smith, which are connected to a TCI chassis. The Ford Coyote engine is beautifully detailed, as is the interior, which was stitched in two-tone leather and cloth by Armando’s to complement the tasteful Quicksand paint by Lucky Luciano.
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- We saw Mark and Diane Bell’s ’62 Ford F100 unibody several times during 2021 and it never failed to haul home some hardware. Built by Kenny’s Rod Shop, it uses Porterbuilt suspension components and air springs to get low over Intro wheels, and an LS3 engine topped with Borla eight-stack injection to get moving. The bed was shortened, the doors stretched, and lots of smoothing was done before the custom PPG paint was applied. Ron Mangus finished the inside in matching style with black and brown leather upholstery.
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- Randy McDaniel tells us he’s had this custom ’51 Merc for more than 15 years and has re-customized most of it during that time. Mods include a 6-inch top chop, ’56 Olds headlights, a DeSoto grille, Buick side trim, and flush-fit fender skirts. The PPG candy brandywine paint by Cypress Auto Body simply glows in the desert sun, while a Coyote V8 is nestled under the hood in a Camaro subframe with air springs. Tan leather covers the classic T-bird seats inside.
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- Ron Jones wowed us with this fresh-looking ’77 Firebird by telling us it’s been finished for years! Detroit Speed suspension components get it down low over Curtis Speed wheels, which perfectly suit the ultra-slick body sporting smooth black paint and a distinctive custom grille. An LS7 engine gets this bird moving quickly, Wilwood discs slow it down, and custom leather upholstery complements the full roll cage inside.
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- You’ll see a lot more detail on Bill Raper’s pearl red ’67 Galaxie later this month, but here are a few highlights on this smooth beauty. In addition to the shaved trim and beautiful PPG paint, it’s got tucked bumpers, a ’59 Impala dash, and stylish leather upholstery by Armando’s. The modified frame has air springs, 18- and 20-inch Budnik wheels, and a 5.0-liter Coyote engine backed by a 6R80 transmission. It nabbed plenty of Top 10s during 2021.
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- This ’30 Model A coupe was a 10-year father-and-son project for Charlie Morris. It rides on a boxed original frame with a dropped front axle and steel wheels. Charlie kept it all Ford, opting for a 347c.i. stroker small block for power. The steel body is straighter than ever and bathed in custom-mixed blue paint, while the Sid Chavers upholstery is augmented with Classic Instruments and a banjo-style steering wheel.
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- Ray Malzo’s ’35 Ford roadster is traditionally clean, riding low over beige wire wheels that nicely complement the blue PPG paint on the Henry steel body. The perfect stance is augmented with upgrades like Wilwood disc brakes and a 9-inch rearend to handle the power from the 383c.i. stroker small block. Paul Atkins upholstery, Classic Instruments, and a ’40 Ford style wheel finish this one off well.
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- Britt Duran reminds us why mid-’50s F100 have always been preferred custom haulers. A TCI frame has it perched perfectly over the Cragar five-spoke wheels, with small-block Chevy power getting things rolling. The shaved and smoothed body is bathed in bright red PPG paint and accented nicely with a chrome ’56 grille and ribbed front bumper. Tan leather upholstery and a custom console are among the highlights inside.
