Auto enthusiasts came out in droves to attend the 2021 Goodguys Rod and Custom Spring Nationals in Scottsdale, Ariz., this past weekend. It was a delightful experience after a year of lockdowns during the pandemic. “A lot of shops debuted their new rides now rather than wait for SEMA or the Grand National Roadster Show,” said Steve Bunker, associated editor for Goodguys.
The Goodguys AutoCross “Spring Shootout.”
There were more than 2,000 classics and hotrods on display. Special events and entertainment were non-stop. The list included the Goodguys AutoCross “Spring Shootout,” the Nitro Thunderfest Dragster Exhibition, and a burn-out competition.
Autocross is becoming wildly popular at Goodguys shows. That’s the competition in which drivers speed and slide through a twisty course laid out with cones on an asphalt parking lot. The fastest times - opens in new window or tab. were just over 40 seconds.
The winner is not always based on the most powerful car, but the driver who can most efficiently handle the twists and turns.
It was impossible to take in all of the 2,000-plus cars sprawled across asphalt and grass at Scottsdale’s WestWorld convention grounds. But here are a few of our favorites.
Our Show Favorites
Wes and Viv Rydell have put plenty of miles on this 1940 Oldsmobile.
We got a chance to visit again with Wes Rydell - opens in new window or tab., the noted collector and dealer. He brought out “Agnes,” his 1940 Oldsmobile 98. The car’s frame, provided by the Roadster Shop of Mundelein, Ill., packs a potent Chevy LS3 engine.
But his crew performed a clever set of engine mods to make the LS3 look very similar to an 1950 Olds 303 Rocket engine while delivering a lot more power. The Rochester "carburetor" sitting on top of the engine is actually the throttle body for the newer electronic fuel injection (EFI) engine. The "valve covers" slip over upgraded aluminum LS9 cylinder heads. They're painted a period-correct shade of green to complete the look.
The new LS3 look was tricked out to look very similar to an 1950 Olds 303 Rocket engine.
The Olds is no garage queen. Rydell has put more than 35,000 miles on the odometer since he restored the Oldsmobile 98 in 2016.
A Pilot Camaro and a Milk Truck Lowrider
Z28 pilot cars served a valuable purpose to help carmakers figure out the production process.
We also checked out a 1969 Camaro Z28, which is a living piece of Chevy history. It’s a beauty. But what makes it exceptional is its role as a “pilot car.” That's indicated by last digits of the VIN: 500003.
Pilot cars, which are produced by factories in advance of regular production models, are used to evaluate production output. At Goodguys, the owner showed off the modifications—like hand-cut holes in the firewall—applied to the 1969 Camaro when it served as a pilot.
This 1961 Divco was dropped down to the asphalt.
A few years ago, we wrote about a surviving 1947 Divco milk truck - opens in new window or tab. for sale on eBay. But that wasn’t nearly as wicked as the lowriding hotrod Divco we saw this weekend in Scottsdale. The owner spent seven years on the restoration. The extensive bodywork included chopping the top by 6.5 inches, sectioning out the middle by 7.5 inches, and making the vehicle 10.5 inches shorter.
The roof was pieced together from two VW vans. The builder modified the front to tilt forward with a one-piece front clip. The work truck was finished off with a striking white and orange paint job—and an air suspension allowing it to drop to the ground - opens in new window or tab..
Every Car Has a Story
Dad sold this 1970 Chevelle, but his son brought it back to Arizona 31 years later.
One of the most memorable stories we heard came from an Arizona native displaying his 1970 Chevelle SS-396. His dad, as a high-schooler, bought the Chevelle in 1983. When he sold the car five years later, the new owner took it away to Michigan, where the vehicle was upgraded with a rebuilt engine, new carpet, and fresh paint. In Michigan, it was primarily displayed as a show car for more than 30 years.
In a twist of fate, the son decades later was thinking about buying a classic Chevelle. Remarkably, he was able to locate the car his dad sold in 1988. It was still in Michigan with the same buyer. The parties struck a deal, and the 1970 Chevelle SS-396 returned home to the Arizona family.
Goodguys will return to Scottsdale for its 2021 season finale on November 19.
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