Each year throughout the course of their events, Goodguys picks the best of the best in twelve different categories. These cars and trucks represent the best in their class, and it takes a lot to earn these coveted and prestigious awards.

Goodguys recently released the list of their top twelve cars of the year for 2012 and we’ve highlighted some of these cars here as they were named throughout the year. But here’s an overall look at all twelve top award winners in each class.

America’s Most Beautiful Street Rod

Taking this coveted award is the 1940 Chevrolet Coupe of Gary and Dania Crawford from El Dorado, Kansas. The couple won the award back in August at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals. In September we featured the car on Rod Authority in more detail. This beautiful coupe was built by Mike Keller at his shop, Big Creek Restorations, in Ellis, Kansas. The LS3 engine provides the power for the Art Morrison chassis’d ride and the gorgeous color combo comes courtesy PPG Cinnamon Candy, sprayed over a copper base all hovering over the custom Foose wheels.

Custom Rod of the Year

This award goes to Dwayne Peace’s 1955 Ford Thunderbird. This car is no stranger to racking up awards and accolades as it captured the coveted Riddler award for 2012. The T-bird features many modern twists on this classic favorite of many Ford enthusiasts. The interior was Ferrari inspired, and the engine is a twin turbo LS from Gale Banks making upwards of 1150 horsepower.

Hot Rod of the Year

Taking the coveted Hot Rod of the Year award is the ’32 High Boy of Tom Glory. Built by Roy Brizio, the car features a Brizio Chassis and stunning old school treatments. Power comes from a Hillborn injected 302 Ford. Suspension is also all Brizio, done with torsion beams. Glory received the award at the Goodguys Speedway Nationals this past September.

Kustom of the Year and West Coast Custom of the Year

You don’t often see one car take up two categories. This is why there are only eleven cars featured in this year’s top twelve. One car did take the spotlight in two places this year though. That car is the 1937 Lincoln Zephyr owned by none other than heavy metal rocker James Hetfield of Metallica. Rick Dore, a friend of Hetfield’s was resposnsible for the build. The car still utilizes it’s original Lincoln flat head V12, rebuilt by H&H Flatheads. The car was dubbed Voodoo Priest, and rides on custom sixteen inch artillery wheels with hand lettered hub caps.

Street Rod d’Elegance

Packing as much go as it has show is the ’37 Ford of John Coenen from Del Mar, California. Coenen’s Ford, named “Laid Back” has a host of custom features throughout that make it a top notch ride. These include laying back the A pillars nearly three inches, pancaking the hood, wedge cutting the body, and laying the back of the car forward four inches. The car rides on a Morrison chassis, and is powered by a Ford SVT Lightning 5.4L supercharged engine.

Street Rod of the Year

Taking home the honors for Street Rod of the Year is Miss Vicky, Dave Walsh’s ’32 Ford Victoria. We’ve featured stories on this beautiful rod here on Rod Authority numerous times. Miss Vicky is an all steel ’32 with tons of custom features throughout. The car is powered by a 502 Cubic inch big-block Chevy which transfers power to a quick-change rear differential via a Tremec five speed transmission. What gets even more attention on this car though might be the exquisite interior, which is quite possibly one of the most beautiful we’ve ever seen.

Truck of the Year (Early)

With over eighty body modifications it’s easy to see why the ’48 Chevy pickup of Frank and Mary Lawrence would capture this award. The longer you look at the Chev, the more it stands out, for instance the chopped top and lengthened doors. The truck was constructed by Rodger Lee’s Ironworks in Bakersfield, California. It rides on a custom chassis with Schott wheels, and is powered by a Magnuson supercharged LSX engine.

Truck of the Year (Late)

Out of Texas, and riding on a Torq’d Design chassis is Amy Melton’s beautiful ’55 Chevy. The two tone truck features loads of handmade and custom details. The bed for instance, is all hand-built and features Nomad taillights. The cab has been extended and sectioned and suspension components come from Ridetech and Heidts. This truck thunders courtesy a big-block Chevy Performance 502 with Street and Performance headers.

Musclecar of the Year

For the first time ever, a Pontiac managed to claim this title. That might be because this rare example is one of only seventy three 1970 GTO Judge’s ever built. This Judge is loaded with all the right goodies as well. Featuring the coveted Ram Air IV engine, TH400 transmission, and ten-bolt rearend with 4.33 gears. We’re sure owner Norm Vos of Pella, Iowa is proud of both his ride and this award.

Muscle Machine of the Year

We’ve seen and even heard rumors of The ProfeSSsor. This car set out with the goal of winning shows and turning heads. This completely custom ’71 Camaro belongs to Dave Leisinger of Wall Lake, South Dakota.

Details on The ProfeSSor include a fully custom body which includes a chopped and reskinned top. The car gets it’s name from the Warrent Johnson built five hundred cubic inch LSR engine under the hood. Interior is completely custom as well with amazing looking one-of-a-kind gauges built by Dakota Digital as well as a host of other treatments.

With such an incredible line up in Twenty Twelve, we’re even more excited to see what the coming year has to offer. These fine examples of exempleary craftsmanship, detail, design, and passion all deserve the hardware they’ve been awarded – and more! Check back here often for the first look at award winners and stories on deserving competitors throughout the coming year.