The Goodguys 2026 Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year – John and Jennifer Fairleigh’s ’33 Ford Roadster Built by Big Creek Restoration
When John Fairleigh stopped riding motorcycles a few years ago, he quickly realized he missed the wind, the sound, and feeling of freedom from the open road. He shared that sense of longing while smoking cigars with his friend Mike Keller of Big Creek Restoration one evening, and the conversation soon turned to the open-air experience of hot rod roadsters.
“John said he always loved the ’33 Ford,” Mike recalls. “He told me it would need to have a lot of power and suggested a Boss 429 engine. I said, ‘heck, why not a 520?’ And John said, ‘better yet!’” This bright blue ’33 roadster is the result of that conversation, and it just secured the title of the Goodguys 2026 Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year!
John and Mike’s longtime friendship was the cornerstone of the roadster project and was bolstered by the collaboration of a very talented team at Big Creek, which includes John Kroeger, Michael Dinkel, Glyn Lindberg, Mark Dinkel, and Ty Wilson, plus numerous outside providers like Jason Smith at Hot Rod Garage. The project began with a steel American Speed body, a collection of frame and suspension parts, and a number of design ideas from artist Eric Black.
The Big Creek Restoration team built the chassis using modified frame rails with an extra-high kick in the rear and the fuel tank mounted flush into the rails. Wishbones from Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop locate the 5-inch drop front axle and 9-inch rearend, with JHRS Kinmont brakes on each corner behind Firestone-wrapped 17- and 18-inch knock-off wheels designed by Eric Black and whittled at Leading Edge Machine and Design.
The Kaase Boss 520 engine builds on the legendary Ford Boss 429 that ruled many forms of motorsports in the 1960s. The engine also informed the design direction of this roadster, with numerous details throughout the car inspired by ’60s-era Ford muscle cars and competition machines. Fed by Borla stack fuel injection, the big V8 makes 800 horsepower and wears rare magnesium valve covers and a host of custom-built brackets and components. The engine exhales through custom stainless headers and exhaust and sends power rearward through a Bowler-built 4L80 transmission.
The Speed 33 body received a lot of modifications from Big Creek’s John Kroeger, starting with the elimination of the side windows to make it a true roadster. One-off hood sides with custom louvers were built to fit the engine and the sectioned grille, while the rockers were modified to fit flush to the frame. The rear license plate slides up into the body, James Bond style, when the ignition is off. The custom-mixed PPG Kansa Blue finish is complemented with Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop headlights, ’37 Ford taillights, and trick custom side mirrors that double as door handles.
The cockpit continues the ’60s competition vibe with a custom dash insert and steering wheel machined by Leading Edge that use design cues from ’60s Fords. Ditto for the Classic Instruments gauges, pedals, and shift handle, in addition to the Comfortweave-style leather inserts used by Mark Lopez at Elegance Auto Interiors on the seats and door panels. There’s even an air conditioning system with hidden vents, plus tasteful stainless and chrome trim pieces.
Mike sums it up well when he says the roadster “has elements of hand-hewn quality with the period aesthetic of a race car and ’60s hot rod.” The car proved its abilities on the Reliability Run for the Tanks, Inc. Hot Rod of the Year competition at the Legends of Hot Rodding event in Nashville back in May and even performed an epic burnout at the drag strip, proving it can deliver hot rod performance to back up its street rod refinement. Given that balance of style, power, and attitude, we’re certain this roadster – the Goodguys 2026 Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year – will provide John and his wife Jennifer with a proper sense of freedom when they open it up for open-air cruising on the Kansas plains.
Photos by: Marc Gewertz, John Jackson, Damon Lee
