Goodguys West Coast Nationals is a special event for several reasons; it marks the association’s last show of summer, on a broader scale, it is one of the West Coast’s last shows before the transition into fall, and of all Goodguys’ Pacific region shows this one represents the pinnacle gathering.

For the 28th year Goodguys Rod & Custom Association celebrated the tradition of California hot rodding and custom culture situated in their hometown of Pleasanton, CA. We have frequented the Alameda County Fairgrounds, the setting for each of Goodguys’ Pleasanton-based shows. In fact, it hasn’t been long since our last trip north from when we covered Goodguys Summer Get-Together, check out that event coverage here.

Though all this talk of summer’s end denotes a melancholy tone, the case is anything but. Goodguys West Coast Nationals is special for its ability to draw out the region’s (and beyond) many build styles and niches. 40s and 50s bombs, hot rods, street rods, musclecars, traditional kustoms, and customs all come out by the droves. What ends up each year is a magical affair–a grand ball of classic automobiles where notions are subdued through the binding pride that permeates the very words–West Coast Nationals.

This year’s event boasted some show-stopping rides and while we wish we could spotlight each and every one that peaked our interest, we’d probably still be walking the fairgrounds if that were the case. Below you’ll find our seven standouts. Each represents a clean and slick build in respect to a genre that they might be most closely associated with. It was and IS our pleasure to be in a region where the cars are as eclectic as the terrain.

The Standout Seven From West Coast Nationals

Be sure to follow up your read of the article with a comment and cast your vote as to which of the seven spotlights pulled on your throttle linkage most. Are you a fan of wide whitewalls and traditional kustoms, or new school street rods with some modern amenities and aftermarket flair? Check out the lineup below and let us know.

Chris Diaz’s Smooth 1940 Buick Cruiser

Chris’s ’40 was one of the first rides that caught our eyes at the show. Sitting atop a grassy knoll it oozed West Coast soul. From that slick look that only quarter skirts fully covering the rear tires can impart, rocker panels hugging the ground, to the the split visor and classic two-tone color scheme. Chris’s ’40 nails, to us, the definition of a traditional resto-mod–a majority of parts and accessories are kept true to the make, model, and era while it boasts a few modifications short of it being considered a mild-custom.

This South San Francisco native has a keen eye for a style. “Originally the car came out of the Valley in Visalia. A friend of mine purchased it, but didn’t do anything with it. I told him he had to sell that piece of…” Chris paused and laughed as he gave us some background.

Chris’s buddy eventually made an offer to him and he took it off his hands. He continued, “The thing basically came in five boxes, how’s that for an idea of its original condition?”

This Buick has definitely come a long way from the images that Chris conjured up for us. The powertrain is a 350 ci/400R4 combo and drivetrain is punctuated by a ’57 Buick rearend. It features a front disc break conversion, front and rear air suspension, functioning AC, and power rack and pinion–enough modern updates comprising the foundation to make it a breeze when it comes to hanging on today’s modern roads.

Al Clark’s Boutique 1932 BC Roadster

A lot of guys at shows speak ill of on-lookers who have a tendency of only noticing a vehicle’s paint job. In the defense of those who get beady-eyed by paint jobs and hurt a builder or enthusiast’s feelings by failing to notice the nuances that they’ve had hours and experience to become accustomed to, the paint job is one of the first and most blatant aspects of a vehicle that will be noticed, naturally.

There’s something to be said about, not only a master painter, but the owner of a vehicle with the harmonious and poignant palette of an artist.  Al Clark’s 1932 roadster was such an example. The tri-tone scheme denotes calm notions of vintage spring and a time when class and performance went hand in hand.

Hailing from Victoria, BC Al’s ’32 features an SBC outfitted with Fastburn heads, TREMEC five-speed transmission, and Winters Quickchange rearend combo. The chassis was custom-built by Street Rod shop, Deuces Northwest, out of Victoria, BC as well.

A Magnum five-inch dropped axle gives this fresh roadster some ground-hugging style. The tuck and roll coupled with the smart color options set this roadster apart in terms of its nostalgic class and performance look.

Linda & Larry Hanson’s Boss 1959 Cadillac

The prowess of a Cadillac cannot be ignored. What sets an old boss apart from an immortal cruiser is flavor. Linda and Larry Hanson’s 63 Series came down from Gig Harbor, WA to show us Californians how it’s done.

Purple is the color of royalty and Larry took full advantage of the association by giving this Cadillac the royal treatment. Under the hood is a gleaming 454 ci/4L60 transmission combo. This seven year build is marinated with traditional 60s soul.

Moving inside to the two-tone tuck and roll, driver and passengers are incased by quality stitch work. The purple that is boldly complimented by gorgeous wide whitewalls is again accented inside Larry’s ride.

When it comes to a Cadillac there’s really little a builder and/or owner has to do to bring out the design. Larry’s restoration is picture perfect and garnished with just the right amount of kool.

President’s Getaway – Dave Hall’s 1939 Ford

As we walked down the aisle of the Builder’s Choice area, Dave Hall’s ’39 shouted straight at our hearts and told us to come take a look. This Phoenix, AZ native had the pleasure of working with the talented builders from Steve’s Auto Restorations based in Portland, OR.

The following description of the convertible was printed and handed out to those wanting to know more: “Subtle sophistication best describes this 1939 Ford Convertible…It is said that less is more, but to achieve ‘less’ and have it look ‘right,’ often times more is involved…the entire rear portion of this convertible has been reshaped to convert it from a rumble seat to a trunk model. Other body modifications…tucked front and rear bumpers, Lincoln taillights, and a handsome 1 1/2-inch chop.” Handsome indeed!

A blown and injected 284 ci Flathead dishes out some performance quality for those who aren’t satisfied by styling alone.

Chrome plated 16-inch artillery wheels wrapped in a set of wide whitewalls finish off the country-estate feel of this beautiful build. We’re not sure why, but something about this masterpiece makes us want to take a kennel of Terriers out for some badger hunting.

That aside, we loved the look of this ’39. Low profile wheels and aftermarket wheels just wouldn’t have translated into the same air of class that Dave’s ’39 permeates. Rod Authority extends major props to Steve’s Auto Restorations for creating such a masterpiece and giving this Ford new life.

Danny Hernandez’s Ice-Cold 1962 Impala

Catching sight of this aquatic Impala was bittersweet, while we’re glad we caught site of it, we weren’t so lucky reeling in the owner for an interview the entire weekend! We’d left a business card in hopeful anticipation that he’d reach out post-show, and we’re still crossing our fingers.

The triple turquoise color scheme burst out at every bystander and it hypnotized us as well. Complimented by a chromed engine bay and all the accompanying trim, it definitely resembled the beautiful Pacific Ocean that was only a short drive from where we were at.

Danny really set off the flavor of this car by adding subtle flake panels that can be found on the rear end, dashboard, steering wheel, and wheel lips. It’s common to see large panel and flake jobs taking precedence and being the center of attention, but Danny took a fine risk that paid off by reversing the roles with the turquoise.

Johny Alvarez’s Slammed 1958 Nomad

Johnny’s ’58 is a different take on a Nomad. We typically see Nomads, Country Squires, and Safari’s lovingly restored to their factory specifications, or otherwise, street rodded. This ’58 is a work in progress and the South San Francisco native is working hard walking the path of turning it into a slammed California cruiser.

Johnny picked up the Nomad from a friend of a friend. It already featured the two-tone paint job that you see on it today. Little by little, Johnny is making the Nomad his own. He’s gone through the entire drivetrain restoring the 283 ci, TH350 transmission, and rearend. A disc brake conversion in the front gives his ’58 a bump up in modern safety. The crux of this Nomad’s style comes from that stylish air suspension conversion that California is known for.

Looking towards the future, Johnny still has quite a bit to go before he’s happy with his Nomad. Changing out the windows for some new glass, new rubber moulding, and getting the rest of the ’58’s chrome trim on the car top his immediate to-do list.

We loved this Nomad for being built around the slammed aesthetic, which is not something we see at a lot of the shows we cover when we run into wagons. Rod Authority wishes Johnny the best of luck, and we hope to run into him and his Nomad down the road to see the progress that he’s made.

Hardtop Hooligan – Jerry Logan’s 1950 Kustom

Jerry Logan’s ’50 was one of the most standout traditional show-kustoms that we saw at the event. When he pulled in, around all the roadsters and street rods, people stopped what they were doing in order to admire some real wild class from the past.

Jerry brought his ’50 hardtop kustom down from Hilsboro, OR and we’re glad he did! Although we weren’t able to catch up with the man himself we still paid our respects to the car by snapping a few shots and doing a couple, plus a couple more, walk arounds to see what it was all about.

The 350 ci/TH350 powered ’50 houses the powerplant inside of a beautiful bay–not as pretentious as a shaved and smoothed Ridler bay, but tidy, consistent, and with some real soul. The kind of soul from a driver that knows a thing or two about living fast, but looking presentable. The mirrored firewall and matching gold/chrome finned beauty kit tie everything together.

Frenched headlights, reshaped fenders, and a floating grille are all fundamental and executed with reserved confidence. The cream/gold color combo is reminiscent of a puff pastry that registered at Kool Skool for some AP classes on 60s West Coast flavor.

On the inside, gold piping and cream seats keep the whole build in line. The dashboard was extended downward to house a modern AC/heating unit that looks like it was designed in the 50s. There’s nothing out of time about Jerry’s kustom and it’s always a pleasure seeing traditional rides like this at Goodguys.

While we wish that we’d gotten comments from folks like Jerry on his ’50 and David on his ’62 Impala, the beauty of this culture is that we know that we’ll see these guys and their standout rides down the line. While we wind down towards the beautiful change that Fall will bring, Goodguys 28th West Coast Nationals was a picture perfect representation of the eclectic mix of talent that enthusiasts are showing examples of and the sort of flavor that this side of the nation is inspiring.

Be sure to check out Rod Authority’s exclusive gallery from the West Coast Nationals below and don’t forget to comment on which of the seven rides stood out most to you!