| No matter if you build it yourself or you have someone else build it for you-you've gotta know what you're doing! John Boyce, a retired businessman from Omaha, Nebraska, knew what he was doing when he commissioned old friend Dale Boesch to build his first-ever street rod. Boyce was all too familiar with Boesch's talents as a skilled body and fabrication artist. After all, Boyce had spent many years hanging out at Boesch Auto Body in tiny Humphry, Nebraska. When Boyce and his wife Elaine were ready for their dream car, they turned to their old friend. The end result was a stunning black 1938 Chevy coupe, which took home the coveted Goodguys/Eagle One Street Rod of the Year award. Boesch called on all of his years of experience to turn out the radical coupe. Body mods and tricks include a wedge chop to the top (2 1/2 inches in front, one inch in the rear), a 2-inch pancaked roof, a wedge-sectioned body, and 4-inch stretched doors. The A-pillar was laid back 2 1/2 inches, the C-pillar leaned forward an inch . . . and the C-pillar laid forward and inch and a half. The entire cab of the coupe was moved three inches to the rear, creating a look the most skilled European coach builder would salivate over. The Boesch-designed stainless grille-a masterpiece in itself-was brought to life by Grille Art of Idaho. Underneath the master metalwork lies a full tube chassis with Corvette C5 suspension, which also carries Air Ride Technologies' Shockwave bags. A hefty Magnuson supercharger rests atop a shiny LS1, which feeds a 6-speed manual transaxle. Custom one-off wheels are courtesy of Intro. Boesch designed an interior that features "cigar" shade Italian leather and other tasty accents, including stainless steel seat inserts and a modified 1957 Caddy steering wheel. The "Recovery Room" in Plattsmith, Neb., stitched all the trim. When Boyce was interviewed during the special Street Rod of the Year award ceremony, and praise was being laid upon him, he humbly joked, "Not bad for a washed up old motorcycle racer." He was right. Not bad at all. When lined up against the competition, the '38 coupe shined like a diamond. To capture the Street Rod of the Year crown, Boyce's coupe beat out a top flight group of finalists including Young Gun Jessie Greening's red '32 Ford hiboy roadster, Jack Sheppard's swoopy silver '32 Speedstar coupe, Michael Bunch's tasteful Tennessee-based '32 Ford Dearborn Deuce convertible and George Saab's radical '41 Willys roadster. The Goodguys/Eagle One Street Rod of the Year is the oldest and most traditional award offered by Goodguys. Open to all 1948 and earlier street rods, it was first presented in 1991. The award is presented annually at the Goodguys Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. |   John Boyce's '38 Chevy coupe, winner of Goodguys/Eagle One Street Rod Of The Year for 2006.
 From any angle, it's a winner! Wheels are one-off Intros. Dale Boesch's master metalcrafting turned a vintage Stovebolt into the show-stopper you see here.
 How's this for beginner's luck? John Boyce took home Street Rod Of The Year Honors from the Goodguys' big Columbus weekend with his first street rod!
 Not only did Dale Boesch make John Boyce's '38 Chevy a stunning looker on the outside, he did likewise to the cabin. Steering wheel is a modified '57 Caddy item.
 This Magnuson-blown LS1 took the OEM Stovebolt Six's place under the hood.
 'Cigar' shade leather and stainless-steel inserts add to the interior's rich look. The Recovery Room in Plattsmith, Neb., stitched the seats, door panels and other inside surfaces.
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