The Goodguys Rod and Custom Association began its 2015 show season back in March at WestWorld of Scottsdale and 20-something events later has returned to conclude the year with its their 18th Southwest Nationals. On the eve of each show weekend, Goodguys puts together a one-day driving tour, conveniently scheduled in-between rush-hour times with stops all over the Valley of the Sun.
The first stop was in north Scottsdale at Browns Classic Autos, a concierge service for enthusiasts looking to buy, sell or service a classic car. Browns provided tour participants with bagels, coffee, and an open door to look through the shop and see some of the vehicles for sale. With vintage neon signs hung above the bright-colored muscle cars and with memorabilia littered around the shop, some participants felt nostalgic and could be overheard sharing stories of their youth brought to life by the sight of a sign or an old car on a lift.
Leaving Browns, tour participants made their way down the road to the Hubbard Auto Center, a collector car dealership originating in Indiana but with a branch in Scottsdale. Due to the nature of the high-end inventory and rare cars, the dealerships hours of operation are by appointment only. But being a part of the tour, hundreds of car enthusiasts were able to take a peak inside and see a number of Lamborghinis, Hummers, Packards, Porsche Speedsters, Jaguars, and a Saleen S7.
The third stop took participants to Fountain Hills and Mods for Rods. This location has the biggest parking lot, but the smallest shop. Coffee, donuts, and other breakfast items awaited tour participants while shop mechanics were egar to talk about some of the past and current projects going on in the shop, including everything from a 1923 Ford T-Bucket to a 1953 Cadillac convertible Series 62 and a 1956 Chevrolet Nomad.
Lunch was provided by Zane’s Rod and Custom located in Mesa. According to owner Zane Beach, the shop was established in 2001 with mechanical expertise as well as body and paint craftsmen and has progressed into a shop that does it all repair work and maintains daily street vehicles, services business vehicles, and works with insurance companies to perform collision work.
Following the lunch break the tour visited AMP Performance in south Phoenix and concluded ,at Chucks Speed and RV center and Arizona Differential, which are next to one another on the west side of Phoenix. Highlights included stock and sprint cars.
Photography by Nicole James
