2014 Barrett-Jackson Cup

Getting old is a bitch. And keeping old cars pristine? That's a bitch too.

The effort's worth it though, when you consider that the five finalists for the Barrett-Jackson Cup were all built before man walked on the moon. They are automotive masterpieces from another era.

No manufacturer today builds cars as beautiful as these. Each is hand crafted. Their body panels are sweetly shaped to remain recognisable among the anonymous daily drivers that sell in the thousands. Achieving a perfect level of fit and finish for the Barrett-Jackson finalists requires several thousand hours of hand work... flawless paint and stitching, ideal proportions and of course they all drive.

They may not be your idea of works of art or your vision of the perfect car, but they are masterpieces. We may share the passion for car crafting, but we don't always appreciate the effort and intensity that brings a top-quality car to life. And that says Steve Chryssos, VP of Marketing at Barrett-Jackson, "is the reason why we established the Barrett-Jackson Cup. It shows our appreciation for these cars and the guys who build them."

The Barrett-Jackson Cup is a unique prize with a rich purse totalling more than $110,000 in cash and equipment. The winner pockets $32,000, a Chevy Performance engine and transmission package, Waterloo tools and other goods that every shop needs.

The Cup does more than assist in paying the bills. It recognises the skills and genius of those car builders who transform something as bland and utilitarian as a 1957 Chevrolet pickup into pure visual impact that unconsciously draws gasps of awe.

One more refreshing point of the Cup is that it doesn't divide itself into categories. It is all about picking the best car/truck crafted each year. The Barrett-Jackson Cup is the richest prize for rodding and may quickly become the most prestigious.

Finalists
Judging starts with 25 finalists selected from the thousands of cars attending Hot August Nights at Reno, Nevada. Those 25 are scrutinised by a team of judges to yield a top five...

Fourth Runner-up: 1967 Chevrolet Nova
Owner: Steve Tornari
Builder: Miranda Built (Florida)
Other awards: 2014 Goodguys 2014 Street Machine of the Year
Prize money: $5300

A modern interior as technologically advanced as any BMW enclosed in the classic steel of a second-generation Nova. Simply gorgeous and able to unleash blunt force from a 355ci twin turbocharged small block built by Rick Hendrick's NASCAR engine works. Steve's owned the Nova for more than three decades and the loyalty shows.

Third Runner-up: 1964 Buick Riviera
Owner: JF Launier
Builder: JF Kustoms (British Columbia)
Other awards: 2014 Ridler Award
Prize money: $7400

My god, it's not a Chevy or a Ford but a Buick Riviera body shell taking a '64 nose blending to a '73 Riviera boat tail with big rear glass. If the yellin' yellow doesn't get your attention, the turbocharged Chevy LS late-model 6.2-litre V8 will excite your senses. A unique twist to the twin turbo setup, he's mounted the turbos in the boot with dual exhaust exiting between the tail lights. Does it drive? Watch the YouTube video.

Second Runner-up: 1935 Chevrolet Phaeton
Owner: Wes Rydell
Builder: Rad Rides by Troy (Illinois)
Other awards: 2014 Winner America's Most Beautiful Roadster
Prize money: $10,600

The build started with a Chip Foose rendering, and Troy Trepanier and his crew of talented fabricators finished it. The four-seat phaeton body style is almost forgotten by rodders and it's great to see the revival of a real driver almost 80 years after it rolled off the assembly line. And as we've seen from Troy in past, he fills his builds with unique technology disguised to look period correct. The 383ci small block looks to use an early 60s Corvette Rochester mechanical fuel injection system, but in fact the intake plenum houses a modern EFI setup. The Phaeton also carries a modern HVAC system but you won't see it unless you look closely. Trepanier has a deep knowledge and respect for rodding, and he continually gives you peeks into the past with his attention to detail.

First Runner-up: 1932 Ford Fordor
Owner: Don Smith
Builder: Jeff Kinsey (Texas)
Other awards: 2014 Goodguys Street Rod of the Year
Prize money: $19,000

Yes, it is chopped – two at the rear and 1½ at the front. The real genius of its design is the incredible detail. For example, take the 336ci Y-block V8 smoothed of all casting marks and detailed in two-tone paint as you'd want to see instead of side covers. The orange interior with dark brown leather and baseball glove stitching is as cool as it is classy. A Winter's quickchange sits in full view from behind. It pays homage and then takes your heartstrings hostage.

2014 Barrett-Jackson Cup Winner: 1957 Chevrolet Pickup
Owner: Alan Beers
Builder: Hot Rod Garage (Oklahoma)
Other awards: 2013 Goodguys Truck of the Year
Prize money: $32,000

If you decide to build a '57 Chevrolet (sedan or pickup) it better be good, and this truck is perfect from panel gaps to a 540ci big block to the redesigned instrument layout. The lines running from nose to tail are ruler straight and the paintwork is blemishless. It all counts down to hours, says Jason Smith, whose team at the Hot Rod Garage invested hours of tedious labour. "We invested about 9000 hours." The build started with concept drawings by Jimmy Smith from Phoenix, Arizona. Beyond the intensely sharp metal work, the '57 starts and drives. "It has to be a real car, a useable piece of art," says Jason. The key to its proportions is a three-inch chop and when you look closely you'll see flush fitting front and rear windscreens. If Chevy built a '57 tomorrow, it would look old in comparison.