Phoenix, Arizona based hot rodder Joe Schott along with brother's Mike and Randy Way of All Ways Hot Rod shop rolled into the Goodguys 22nd West Coast Nationals in Pleasanton with their eye on one prize - the Goodguys 2008 America's Most Beautiful Street Rod presented by Hushpower. Thanks to their stunning blue three-window coupe, they got their wish, taking home the AMBSR honors at a special award ceremony Saturday night, August 23rd.
Four years ago, Schott, a hot rodder since he was 18, commissioned the Way brothers to build his dream car, a'32 Ford three-window coupe. The project started with a rendering from Jimmy Smith (also of Phoenix) and a rare Dearborn Deuce coupe (one of only five ever made). A chassis from the late Boyd Coddington was then massaged and upgraded with inboard coilover suspension. Under the hood, the Ways installed a painted and polished LS-1 mated to a 4L60 transmission with cruise control. All engine and chassis components were then meticulously polished and chromed taking the coupe to the "next level".
The body and paint duties were performed in house by the All Ways team. The body was massaged and prepped along with subtly fabricated modifications and additions such as the custom hood side "blisters" wrapped with stainless accents and a stainless wire mesh. The entire grille insert was fitted with matching stainless wire mesh. The paint chosen for the coupe is an electrifying House of Kolor mix called "Oriental Blue".
The coupe's Camel leather interior was stitched by Phoenix based Lux Interiors. Three on board cameras feed into an LED video screen in lieu of rearview and side view mirrors. A DVD player and surround sound stereo system is also featured. The polished billet wheels, 18's in front and 20's out back are one off designs also from the late Boyd Coddington.
The coupe, which Schott calls "My Girl", has only been shown twice since being finished. It was a top five finalist for the Goodguys 2008 Street Rod d'Elegance earlier this spring in Del Mar before taking home all the marbles here in Pleasanton. It will be featured along with all other "Terrific 12" award winners at the season-ending Goodguys Southwest Nationals at Westworld of Scottsdale November 14-16.
The top five finalists for the 2008 Goodguys America's Most Beautiful Street Rod were Al Oppio of Sparks, Nevada ('41 Willys roadster), Steve Nowotny of Vacaville, California ('37 Ford), winner Joe Schott of Phoenix ('32 Ford 3 Window Coupe), Mitch Henderson of McKiney, Texas ('37 Ford roadster), and Don Smith of Mansfield, Texas ('32 Ford 3 Window Coupe).
The America's Most Beautiful Street Rod award Presented by Hushpower is presented annually at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals in Pleasanton, California. Street Rods through 1948 are eligible. The award criterion calls for a superbly crafted street rod that exudes beauty and style. For more information, visit www.good-guys.com.