Stunning blown Model A wins Goodguys 2014 Tank’s Hot Rod of the Year Award.
Lombardi’s A-Bone, built by Hilton’s Hot Rods, was more than up to the task having already been driven from Ohio to Texas earlier this year. Not only did the potent little coupe handle the drive with ease, it blasted down Lucas Oil Raceway @ Indianapolis with an elapsed time of 9.316 seconds – the third quickest ET of the day.
Painted PPG Mandarin Maroon with black steel wheels, ’40 Ford hubcaps, finned drums and a healthy dropped axle rake, the coupe plays on the heartstrings of traditional hot rod aficionados. The 4 ½-inch chopped steel body looks right at home sitting atop a ’32 Ford frame.
What really grabs your attention is the 371-inch blown Olds Rocket 88 engine, built in- house by Lombardi’s Ross Racing engines. It features a Dyer’s 4-71 blower atop a Cragar intake with 94-series two-barrel carbs. With no hood or hood sides on the car, the motor just reaches out and commands attention. A Tremec T-5 transmission and Winter’s quick-change rear insure a sporty drive and spirited stoplight sprints.
The black leather interior suits the car perfectly. Stitched by Mike Sholly, the cabin is comfortable yet all business with a custom bench seat. The dash (out of a Pierce-Arrow) neatly houses the Stewart-Warner gauges. At the ready is a Hurst shifter and Schroeder steering wheel.
Lombardi named the car “Little Miss Che-Vious” after his 15-year-old daughter Julia – a straight-A student. She was his trusty passenger on the car’s 3,000-mile maiden voyage
earlier this spring.
For winning the Hot Rod of the Year award, not only does Lombardi get yearly bragging rights, he’ll be one of the Top 12 featured cars of the Goodguys event season. He’ll receive a custom toolbox from Snap-on as well as travel accommodations to the season-ending Goodguys 17th Southwest Nationals November 14-16 at Westworld, Scottsdale, AZ.
For more information about Goodguys events, please visit https://www.good-guys.com/