2021 West Coast Nationals Builders Choice Top 10 by Dominator Street Rods
Leonard Lopez of Dominator Street Rods is a longtime friend of Goodguys and has been a fixture at the West Coast Nationals for years. We know we can rely on him to seek out Builder’s Choice Top 10 selections that have outstanding style, great build quality, and a wealth of details – just like the rides that come out of his shop.
As we’ve come to expect from Leonard, this year’s lineup had plenty of variety – from traditional-style early rods, to ’50s cruisers and refined ’60s muscle machines and trucks. They shared some themes, though, like clean lines, precise execution, and big power. Let’s take a look!
-
- Bryan Thompson has had quite a season with his killer ’34 Ford pickup, grabbing Builder’s Choice awards in Salt Lake City, Puyallup, and Pleasanton. The old-school truck is and has it channeled over a heavily modified frame with a dropped and drilled front axle, wishbones, and a ’49 Flathead with triple carbs, open headers, and plenty of polish. Beautiful black paint by Antone’s covers a cab that is stretched 6-inches and chopped 5-inches, while the inside is upholstered in distressed black leather by Andrew’s Upholstery.
-
- Longtime rodder Gary Matranga brought out this red-hot Deuce Tudor with LS power under the much-louvered hood. Those fat rear Hoosier treads wrap around wide American Rebel wheels, with a dropped and drilled axle on billet wishbones getting the nose down low. We dig details like the custom frame horn filler panel supporting a Moon tank, and the frenched Ford emblem on topping the grille shell. The fiery red body is complemented with custom leather upholstery over bucket seats inside.
-
- Dennis Howland calls his Chevy sedan a ’39 ’Vette and had Mike Porter Street Rods incorporate many Corvette-influenced elements, like the early ’Vette headlights and thin split bumpers. The car is also sectioned, has a redesigned hood, laid-back grille, extended fenders, and many more mods under the Axalta Mosaic paint. Independent front and rear suspensions position the ET wheels, with power coming from an LS2/4L60E combo. The inside is equally custom, with a full-length console, redesigned dash, and custom leather upholstery by Tom Sewell.
-
- Chevy’s El Camino disappeared from 1961-63, but Mike Schiada wondered what it might have looked like based on the ’63 Chevrolet full-size platform. His “ImpaCamino” is right on the money with factory-style proportions and details, looking like it could have just rolled from the showroom. The updated chassis now rides on air springs, while the small-block V8 is now a 383c.i. stroker example. Finished in a factory-style red paint with upholstery inspired by original patterns, this hybrid looks like something Chevy should have built.
-
- We showed you Kevin and Gabrielle O’Neil’s ’70 Cuda in a full feature back in October 2020 (search “E440” on FuelCurve). Built by the craftsmen at Cotati Speed Shop, it’s tastefully updated with Hotchkis and Detroit Speed suspension components and Schott wheels, while the original 440c.i. big block has been enhanced with Holley Sniper EFI and a Tremec six speed. Tucked bumpers and refined gaps are highlighted by Mercedes Brilliant Blue paint, while DJ Designs stitched modern upholstery that pays homage to the original.
-
- Terry Paine’s ’55 Thunderbird was built by Zane Cullen and his team at Cotati Speed Shop. Based on an Art Morrison chassis, the first-year ’bird roars with modern Coyote V8 power to get the classy-looking Billet Specialties wheels turning. Naturally, the bodywork and gunmetal gray metallic paint are first rate, as is the beautiful red leather upholstery over the custom bucket seats and console inside.
-
- Datsun Z-cars have always had a strong following, but we’ve seen some especially cool street machine versions in recent years. This ’71 240Z belonging to Richard Burgess is a great example, built by Gary’s Rods & Restorations with aluminum front control arms, an Infiniti differential, Wilwood brakes, Niche wheels, and Chevy LS3 power backed by a Tremec six-speed. A host of custom metal body mods are topped with Ferrari Griorio Silverstone metallic paint, with Dakota Digital instruments and leather upholstery inside.
-
- Kyle Kuhnhausen and his team at Kuhnhausen Metal Concepts took this fiberglass ’67 Corvette to the next level, setting it up on an Art Morrison chassis with a modern GM LT4 crate engine, 4L75E transmission, and tasty Forgeline wheels. There’s a wealth of detail on this gold ’Vette, from the one-off side pipes, to a host of custom pieces on the chassis and under the hood. Stitch-It Upholstery gets credit for the tasteful trim work inside.
-
- Mike Dwight built his clean and cool Deuce roadster with help from some of the best in the Bay Area, including Roy Brizio and Jack Hageman Jr. (chassis), Mel Green and Dominator Street Rods (metal fabrication), and Gary’s Rods & Restorations (paint). The just-right roadster is powered by a Ford Racing stroker small-block V8 sending power through a Tremec five-speed to a Winters quick-change rearend and is finished off with upholstery from another Bay Area legend: Sid Chavers.
-
- Search “Betsy F100” on FuelCurve for more details and photos on this beautiful ’62 F100 unibody built for Mark Bell by the team at Kenny’s Rod Shop in Idaho. This one-time field find now rides low over Intro wheels thanks to Porterbuilt suspension components, with power coming from a Chevrolet Performance LS3 crate engine fed by Borla stack injection. With gorgeous copper paint by Regenerated Rides and upholstery by Ron Mangus, it’s definitely a first-rate F100.
