Five Builders Strike Gold During SEMA – the Goodguys Gold Award Winners
The 2024 SEMA Show has reached the half way point which means all the latest, most anticipated builds have been unveiled to the throngs of people roaming the halls of the massive Las Vegas Convention Center. That also means that the Goodguys team put in the hours (and miles) to check out all these incredible new builds to determine their Top 5 to receive their coveted Gold Award of 2024!
The prestigious Goodguys Gold Awards recognize five incredible Goodguys-style rides showcased at the SEMA Show – cars and trucks that you’ll be able to see at one of the 15 Goodguys events in 2025. The Goodguys team walked miles of aisles to discover what they consider the Top Five builds at the show – no easy feat!
The unique Gold Bar trophies were presented to the builders on Wednesday during the show and we gathered a few pics and details about each of the winning vehicles in one story to whet your performance appetite until you can see these cool cars in person. Here’s a look at the five builders taking home the Goodguys Gold for 2024!
Scott and Stephanie Moivc – 1932 Ford Roadster – Ace Fabrication
It was so cool to see a fresh prewar street rod debut at the SEMA Show. Scott and Stephanie Movic’s ’32 Ford roadster was built by Missouri-based Ace Fabrication and unveiled in the Hot Rod Industry Alliance Booth on Tuesday. It cleanly combines classic style with contemporary flair and craftsmanship.
Based on an Eric Brockmeyer design, the Deuce began with a Brookville body and a custom chassis with a stretched wheelbase, c-notched rear, dropped front axle, and a ladder bar rear suspension locating the 9-inch rearend. One-off salt flat-style wheels by EVOD are tucked perfectly in the fenders. The 430hp Chevrolet Performance LS3 crate engine has been beautifully detailed, fitted with custom Y-block-style valve covers from EVOD, topped with eight-stack Borla injection, and backed by a Bowler Performance TKX five-speed.
Subtle mods on the body include a stretched hood, chopped top, tucked fuel tank, and ’39 Ford taillights recessed into the rear pan. Show Me Rod & Custom applied the PPG Porsche Aetna Blue paint. The tidy and tasteful cockpit features blue leather upholstery by Recovery Room along with a traditional-style three-spoke steering wheel, Stewart Warner gauges, and square-weave carpet.
Marshall Gay – 1971 Plymouth ’Cuda – Salvaggio Design
The latest monster Mopar to come from the prolific Salvaggio Design shop is the “Barbarric” ’71 ’Cuda belonging to Marshall Gay. And like all the other muscle machines we’ve seen from this shop, this one combines brutal power, clean design, and subtle detail.
Based on design input from Ragle Design and Sean Smith Designs, the car is built on a custom chassis with Detroit Speed suspension components, Baer brakes, and HRE wheels modeled after OE steel rollers – complete with dog dish center caps. The centerpiece is the 1000-plus horsepower Hellephant engine, which is topped with a custom carbon fiber shaker hood scoop. Shifting is done with a Tremec 6060 six-speed transmission controlled by a pistol grip shifter.
The Hemi resides under a carbon fiber hood and is surrounded by custom carbon fiber inner fenders and other panels. The exterior of the body has been smoothed, massaged, and refined, while retaining most of its original character. The silver/blue BASF finish was applied by Adam Krause at the Refinery. Inside, Gabe’s Custom Auto Upholstery stitched tasteful brown leather upholstery, which is augmented with carbon fiber and CNC-machined parts and trim.
Angelo Vespi – 1987 Buick Grand National – Dutchboys Hot Rods
Angelo Vespi’s ’87 Buick Grand National wowed plenty of people two years ago at the SEMA Show when it appeared in bare metal. And the crowd this year was equally impressed when Paul Van Nus from Dutchboys Hot Rods pulled the cover off the finished beast this year.
Crafted over multiple years at the Michigan-based shop, the sinister street machine is based on a custom chassis with a Detroit Speed front subframe and Quadralink rear suspension, Baer brakes, and one-off 19- and 20-inch billet three-piece wheels from Greening Auto Company that are modeled after the originals. The original V6 has given way to a 427c.i. Mast Motorsports LS7 with a Nelson Racing Engines mirror-image twin turbo setup, Holley EFI management, and a Bowler 4L80E transmission.
The extensive metal magic by Dutchboys includes custom bumpers, wheel flares, front and rear spoilers, and hood, plus one-off billet vents in the hood and fenders and one-piece window trim. It’s all bathed in a deep, beautiful black BASF Glasurit finish that bolsters the badass vibe. The interior pays homage to the mid-’80s with gray leather and suede upholstery accented by orange stitching and striping.
Homer Zamora – 1957 Pontiac Safari – Kenny’s Rod Shop
Ready for a road trip? Hitting the highway is a lot more fun when you do it in classic style, just as Homer Zamora will do in this slick ’57 Pontiac Safari wagon. The cool two-door sport wagon was just finished by the talented team at Kenny’s Rod Shop in Idaho and debuted in the Speedway Motors booth.
Starting with a solid and complete original car, the KRS team began the transformation with a Scott’s Hotrods ’n Customs frame with modern suspension components, rack-and-pinion steering, and Wilwood disc brakes. The body was channeled over the frame, and things got rolling with a set of Raceline wheels. Power comes from a well-detailed LS3 backed by an overdrive automatic transmission.
Beyond the custom floor, the Pontiac body retains most of its original charm, though it has been massaged to the point where it’s straighter than ever, with clean, precise panel gaps. Regenerated Rides laid down the brilliant blue finish using custom-mixed PPG products. A ’55 Pontiac dash leads the way inside, while beautiful blue leather and cloth upholstery by Recovery Room covers bucket seats and other soft parts.
Steven Bailey – 1969 Ford Bronco – Vini’s Hot Rods
The popularity of vintage four-wheel-drive trucks and SUVs continues to be seen at SEMA, and one of the finest examples we saw this year was Steven Bailey’s ’69 Bronco built by Vini’s Hot Rods. It captures an excellent balance of refinement and ruggedness.
The old pony received a new foundation in the form of a Kincer chassis, which uses modern suspension design and shock technology to update ride quality, handling, and off-road capabilities. Disc brakes are found behind Fuel wheels wrapped in chunky Toyo tires. There’s plenty of power thanks to a 5.0-liter Gen III Coyote engine connected to a 10R80E automatic transmission.
The team at Vini’s is known for its metal-shaping skills, which can be seen in the custom engine bay panels and one-off bumpers tucked tight against the body. There’s a host of custom CNC-machined parts, including the grille, headlight bezels, taillights, bumper inserts, and cross bar. The body is finished in PPG Titan White paint, while inside there’s more custom metal work and machined parts, along with custom leather and suede upholstery from Built by Ricky.
Photos by Damon Lee
