Show Coverage: Variety Is Paramount At Goodguys’ Colorado Event

 

Never let it be said that rodders in Colorado are stuck on one variety of vehicle. Variety is the spice of life, after all, and there was plenty of it at the 19th Annual Goodguy’s Rod & Custom event held at The Ranch complex in Loveland, Colorado the weekend of September 9-11, 2016.

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The rods at the Goodguys Colorado event defied labels. This rod shook off labels like T-Bucket, Trackster, T-Tracker, Roadster, or whatever label anyone wanted to put on it. It was a hot rod and that was enough to make it stand out.

Variety, categories, labels and marques being what they are, if you were looking for a specific make and model, you definitely had to walk the grounds to find it, or cruise around while showing off your personal preference.

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There was a little bit of something for everyone.

Of course, if you were looking for certain makes, let’s say mid-‘60s muscle cars, the “Mighty Muscle” special parking area would be your go-to destination on Saturday.  Same with trucks – the “Trick Truck Corral” was nearly overflowing with gorgeous versions of the everyday hauler of nearly every make.

Nearly every model of 1932 Fords were being celebrated in the “Deuce Doin’s”  parking area and if you preferred 1940 Fords – the “40s Fords Forever” parking area held nearly every model of them.

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Inside the complex, on the cool grass, there were special parking areas for ‘Homebuilt Heaven,” for those home builders that personally built their own unique car and the “You Gotta Drive ‘Em” area for those participants that drove over 300 miles to get to the Colorado event and the special ‘Young Guys,’ parking area for the under 25 year-old exhibitors.

We can’t ever forget the fenced in area for the popular Autocross events – of course, there was variety in those vehicles too, ranging from sports cars to trucks to four-doors, but those guys were definitely not parking – they were busy trying to set personal daily records by literally flying around the coned course.

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As always, the Goodguys autocross event drew its fair share of attention.

That variety thing shows up in 99% of the participants that come to Colorado to show off their cars, what they can build and what others can build for them. The other 1% simply want to show off their driving skill, and there were plenty of cars and owners that wanted to take a quick whirl or two around the autocross track!

Let us not forget that Mother Nature smiled down on the event again this year with her variety. It’s a fact that any time after Labor Day in Colorado, the area can get cold and snow – fortunately the weather cooperated and the participants and the guys standing out in the swap meet peddling their extra parts, or even a lost interest project, enjoyed the climate. The event went off without a cloud in the sky.

Just a portion of the goodies available in the swap meet.

Just a portion of the goodies available in the swap meet.

Off to the side of the outside vendor area sat the “Nitro Thunderfest,” featuring ex-drag cars and a few new quarter-miler builds waited to light off their humongous ear-splitting engines for the cacklefest on Saturday. Inside the building, a live band was scheduled to play twice that afternoon. Something new this year was the Specialty Auto Auction, held in conjunction with the event.

If you want to see the variety at the Goodguy’s 19th in Colorado, make certain you check out the gallery below this article…variety is the spice of life!

Speaking of variety, here’s three of Rod Authority’s picks of the event:Unusual color is Chestnut Brown...a stock Ford color.

This unusual color is Chestnut Brown, a stock Ford color.

The 1963 Ford Galaxie of Dennis & Alan Soderstrom, Denver, Colorado.

Brothers Dennis and Alan Soderstrom are painters by trade. No, not car painters, although they do a great job of that with their personal cars, but they take on bigger projects than cars –they paint houses for a living in the Denver, Colorado area.  In their spare time, they build Fords. This 1963 Galaxie XL500 is their latest after finishing up a ’56 Ford F-100. The Galaxie was found locally, but it had been stored in a cellar for 37 years. It took some work to get it out and thanks to the owner’s second wife, she said it was time for it to go. Dennis and Alan were in the right place at the right time.

Left, the interior was changed to black. Right, the brother's decided to keep the 352 V8.

They spent two years redoing the Galaxie, finding that the 352” engine in a 500XL was rare and as a numbers matching vehicle, they decided to keep it as is. After overhauling the engine, they added a C-6 transmission and rebuilt the entire car in the process. The car was originally painted Chestnut Brown so the brothers opted to repaint the body the stock color after much block sanding.  The car had a Chestnut Brown interior but they decided to change it to all black to set off the exterior. They purchased the stock type kit from Dearborn Interiors.

Borhters Dennis and Alan pose beside their Galaxie

Brohters Dennis and Alan pose beside their Galaxie.

In the process of putting the car back together, they stripped the anodizing off the aluminum parts and polished all of it themselves, making it look more like the chrome it should have been from the factory. To top off the looks, the car runs 17 inch Cragar Eliminator wheels front and rear. About the only thing the brothers argue about now that the car is done are the bumpers – Dennis wants them chromed, Alan likes the Euro look.

The 1958 Chevrolet Impala Of Leroy Pino From Cheyenne, Wyoming:

Larry Pino's all original '58 Impala.

Larry Pino’s all original ’58 Impala.

Leroy Pino of Cheyenne, Wyoming, wouldn’t exactly say how long he’s owned this ’58 Impala, but he did confess it was painted by his long-time pal Eddie Martinez 36 years ago. He didn’t say how old he is either, but did say he’s a construction foreman for the Union Pacific railroad. When asked if the engine was a stocker, he answered with an affirmative nod, adding it was the original 283 inch V8, complete with the two barrel carb and coupled to the stock Powerglide transmission.

Left-engine is bone stock 283" one of only three engines available in 1958. Right- not a popular color for an interior, it looks good in this '58.

The Snowcrest White on the body was an original color but Leroy wanted to add some small change so he had the top painted Jade Green, and added the visor and that really sets off the body. The interior was originally green but in sad condition when he bought the car, so he purchased a Ciadella interior kit in the same color, and installed it. He also bought the Continental kit from a Canadian supplier and added it and fender skirts to the car, makes it look a bit longer and lower that way.

The owner poses beside his all original '58 Impala.

The owner poses beside his all original ’58 Impala.

The car rolls on wide whitewalls and stock ’58 hubcaps with the optional three-bar spinners added. The pair of fifties icons – dual antennas are factory stock and it doesn’t get much more original than that.

The 1968 Pontiac LeMans Of Tom & Sandy Ulrich from Watkins, Colorado:

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The unusual paint combo adds to the sinister look of the Le Mans. Wheels and Lo-profile tires add to that look

Changing old habits can be hard, but Tom and Sandy Ulrich of Watkins, Colorado make it look easy. Tom built a ‘53 Chevy suburban in 1998, sold it and built a ’61 Chevy wagon. Tom sold that one and built a ’62 Mercury. Then changed habits. He found a ’59 Pontiac and restored it. The Pontiac bug hit hard and soon he had a ’61 Catalina four-door hardtop and a ’61 Ventura convertible, but his “daily” is an over-the-top ’68 LeMans. He found this one in 2010, pulled the anemic OHC 6 cylinder Pontiac engine and replaced it with a 2001 LS1. Behind that is a Tremec 6-speed running into a 9-inch Ford rearend with 4:56 gears.

Left-Powerful LS1 engine now makes the LeMans a real kick to drive. Right-the working end of the Tremec six-speed.

With the RideTech air suspension on all four corners,  tubular A-arms up front and adjustable shocks all around, Tom’s not afraid to wring the car around the Goodguy’s autocross. He set a personal best of 49.9 seconds around the course during Goodguy’s 19th annual event in Loveland, Colorado. The look of the car is outstanding as the body is two-toned in Light Olive and Satin Black with an orange pin-stripe separating the colors. Good friend Stu Waldron handled the spray gun while the stock bucket seats and rear seats were redone in black ultra-leather, stitched up by Cruisin’ Comfort of Watkins, Colorado.

Tom poses alongside his Pontiac. Unusual color combo makes the Le Mans stand out among a crowd.

Tom poses alongside this Pontiac. Unusual color combo make the Le Mans stand out among a crowd.

When Tom did his ’62 Mercury, one of the unique things he did was to use a fabric floral headliner, he did the same with this Pontiac  and for added measure, covered the package tray with it as well.  What’s next for Tom?  Hard to say, but he’s got a handle on changing habits.

In 2017, Goodguy’s will present their 20th in Colorado at the Ranch Complex in Loveland, save the date in September.

Photo gallery

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About the author

Roger Jetter

Roger’s interests in cars started at 14 with a ’40 Ford pick-up until he bought his first ’57 Chevy at age 16. That car is featured in the first two books he’s written about the 1960’s and growing up in the Midwest. He’s authored several more books as well and has built several cars over the years that have received major coverage in magazines and won plenty of awards. His current build is a 1948 Cadillac Sedanet, although his current 'driver' is a '55 Cadillac Coupe DeVille.
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