Congratulations to Roy Pigford for taking home the 2005 Goodguys Street Machine of the Year award with his 1966 Chevy Nova. What makes Roy's car so special is that he did a claimed 99% of the work himself, after buying the car as a very mild custom from Boyd Coddington's shop. Roy chopped the top by 2 inches, flush-mounted the windshield, and, most striking of all, moved the front axle forward by 2" and the rear by 3". Ponder the size of that task for a moment. About the only fault I find with the car is that Roy chose an LT1 stroked to 383 cubes; 396 CID is possible from that mill with just a bit more stroke and is a much more appropriate displacement for an old Bowtie. It's a forgivable oversight, though, especially since it's so cool to see a guy doing his own work and winning one of the most prestigious custom-car awards in the nation.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dinger @ Dec 18th 2005 10:25PM
I remember seeing that car at the show this year (I am lucky enough to live about 1/2 a mile from the show's location) and I laughed at it. Why? No windshield wipers.
It's like ones willing suspension of disbelief when watching a movie, I'll except quite a bit but once you cross that line, like a band of "evil" ninjas and a dragon defeating the combined military might of all the nations on Earth, and the bubble pops it's all over.
For me cars are to be driven, period. As such certain accommodation need to be made to the gods of practicality. Cars need things to make them fully functional on the road; radiators, brakes and even wipers.
That the car looks good I won't deny but so do clay design concepts and while his car may still be more practical than a lump of shaped clay without wipers it's just not a real car.
rollie demay @ Dec 18th 2005 10:25PM
Not to be critical, but "99% of the work after buying it as a mild custom from Boyd Coddington's shop"???? To be sure, a lot of work has been done to modify the car to what it is now, but I would have been much more impressed if you had said he built it from a $1500.00 rustbucket. I am doing that now with a '66 duce, and can assure you my job would be incredibly easier without rust, dents, and missing parts, (like an engine and a rear end for instance.) I would have killed to "start" where Boyd Coddington left off.
CJ @ Dec 18th 2005 10:25PM
I agree with Dinger, the lack of wipers is odd, there should be some function to the car... but since it is probably a "show" car only, I guess it's forgivable.
But, forgive me, I don't know a lot about hot rods, or custom work... but can anyone tell me how these lowered cars turn? I never see any pics with the front wheels turned and it always looks like they would hit the wheel well.
J ron @ Dec 18th 2005 10:25PM
How does it turn? left and right of course.
For regular driving he must jack the car back up. I think the suspension that is mentioned in the article is adjustable.
Eric Bryant @ Dec 18th 2005 10:25PM
Yea, the car is "bagged", meaning that it's fitted with air suspension. It's not all that rare to see such a vehicle with no inner fenders, but even when going to that extreme, they're usually not drivable when fully lowered. With the amount of custom work done on this car, it may be an exception.
Rollie,
I totally agree that Roy started with a far nicer car than most of us get to work with, but even at that, you can't ignore the amount of his own work that went into the vehicle. I mean, relocating the axles as he did? That's a huge undertaking, and dare I say far tougher than turning a rustbucket into a clean vehicle. Regardless, you make a good point. Please send us some pics of your vehicle when it's done!
sr20de @ Dec 18th 2005 10:25PM
Cars are meant to be driven. This stuff is eye candy, but of no real interest to me.
salguod @ Dec 18th 2005 10:25PM
I don't remember that car from the show (I'm from Columbus too). While I'm sure it was very well done, it's certainly not unique, repositioned axles notwithstanding. After the '32-'35 Fords, the fat fendered '36-'40 Fords and the '55-57 Chevy's, this generation of Nova's are one the most popular cars to rod.
There were some sweet wagons there including a '62 Rambler and a similar year Nova with a huge fabric sunroof. There was a coach built Bentley from the 40's or 50's (one of 2 left od 400 from this coach builder) with a Viper V-10. An absolutely gorgeous '62-ish Thunderbird with a faded shades of orange paint job. A sweet yellow '37 Zephyr coupe that was long and chopped ridiculously low.
My point is with 6,000 cars and so much unique iron, this seems like a real bland, safe choice.
LilR @ Dec 18th 2005 10:25PM
First things first, as anyone heard of rain-x??? Sure wipers make the car seem more like a real car, but the car still drives without them. It also seems like no one has no idea how much actually went into this car. First, notice any drip rails?? Or even the flush mount front and back windshields?? There is more to this nova than meets the eye. Yes it can make turns, and yes it is driven. Down the road, and not just off the trailer. When was a ‘37 Zephyr considered a street machine?? Last time I looked it was a street rod!! I would consider this car very unique. It is now a 2 seater, it has a custom hand built dash, chopped top, 4 wheel independent suspension, and the list goes on…
GRJONES @ Dec 18th 2005 10:25PM
I have seen several cars done by this builder and from what I understand coddington is a very good contact of his. I am sure he didn't get the car completely done and then just make a couple of adjustments probably just got a good deal on a good vehicle that was what he wanted to start with. There is more critical people on this page than I have ever seen, every nut and bolt on this car has been done with the utmost respect care and altered to fit his "vision" everything on this ride is custom and in 1966 only just over 10 or 12,000 of these bad boys came off the line I believe making it hardly "common" or a "safe choice". Professional people make these award choices and I trust their opinion and support it.
GRJONES @ Dec 18th 2005 10:25PM
ohhhh and by the way... motorcycles don't have windshield wipers and we see them everyday and have officers of the law on them... what a foolish comment!!