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Some hot rods win a trophy and disappear into a garage. This one won the biggest title in traditional rodding, landed on two magazine covers, and then drove 3,000 miles. The 2017 Goodguys Hot Rod of the Year, a supercharged, Hemi-powered 1930 Ford Model A Tudor built by Hilton Hot Rods, is now offered by RK Motors in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it's one of the most accomplished traditional hot rods you'll find for sale anywhere.
A Resume Few Hot Rods Can Match
Goodguys Hot Rod of the Year is about as prestigious as it gets for a traditional build, and this Tudor has kept collecting honors since. It picked up a 2026 NSRA Pro's Pick, and it has appeared on the covers of both the Goodguys Gazette and Cruisin' Times magazine. The awards and copies of both magazines come with the car, so the next owner gets the paper trail along with the hardware.
Chopped Steel and a Show-Stopping Paint Job
The foundation is an all-steel Model A Tudor body with a 3-inch top chop and a pronounced forward rake that gives it a hunkered-down, ready-to-pounce stance. The paint is the real showstopper: layered pearl teal and blue panels, fades, contrasting outlines and fine white pinstriping inspired by the panel-paint customs of the 1960s. It's intricate without being gaudy, and it traces every curve of the body.
The fenderless look, painted windshield visor, compact headlights and body-color 1932 Ford-style grille shell all keep the early hot rod vibe front and center. A removable snap-in vinyl roof insert opens up nearly the entire center of the roof, and chrome-plated 16-inch steel wheels on staggered Stahl Sport radials (5.50R16 front, 7.50R16 rear) nail the classic big-and-little rake with modern rubber.
Blown Early Hemi Power
Lift your eyes to the exposed engine bay and you'll find a 354ci Chrysler Hemi V8 built by Ross Racing Engines, crowned with a polished 4-71 supercharger. There's something special about a blown early Hemi in a Model A, and fans of builds like this Hemi-powered 1927 Ford Model T will know exactly what we mean.
Here's the clever part: those twin carburetors aren't carburetors at all. They're dual Autotrend electronic fuel-injection units styled to look like vintage Stromberg 97s, so you get period looks with modern drivability. Driveshaft-style headers with capped lakes-style outlets feed a polished stainless dual exhaust, and a World Class T5 five-speed manual sends power to a Winters quick-change rear end.
Traditional Chassis, Done Right
Underneath, the Tudor rides on pinched 1932 Ford-style frame rails with a dropped original Ford I-beam front axle, wishbones and spindles, transverse leaf springs and 1936 Ford-style rear radius rods. Schroeder steering and hydraulic drum brakes round out the old-school recipe, and the chrome and body-color detailing carry all the way through the undercarriage. This is a car that looks as good on a lift as it does on the lawn.
A Cabin by Mikey Seats
Mikey Seats of New Jersey stitched up the two-tone interior, pairing black leather with turquoise patterned cloth inserts across the seats and door panels, finished with black Daytona carpet and silver piping. A Bell-style four-spoke wheel, a tall floor shifter and vintage Stewart-Warner gauges in an engine-turned bezel keep things traditional. Even the fuel tank got the full treatment: it sits in the upholstered rear cargo area, painted and pinstriped to match the exterior.
Built to Be Driven
Here's what really sets this Model A apart. Soon after it was finished, the Hilton Hot Rods crew drove it roughly 3,000 miles round trip from Virginia to the Lone Star Round Up in Texas. That's proof this award winner was built to be enjoyed on the road, not just parked under show lights. Today it shows 4,913 miles.
If you love seeing serious hot rods put to use, check out this 600-HP 1923 T-Bucket and this supercharged ZZ502 1955 Chevrolet 210 sedan.
The Bottom Line
Offered at $74,900, this 1930 Ford Model A brings together Hilton Hot Rods craftsmanship, Ross Racing Hemi power, national awards, magazine fame and real road miles. For a build with this pedigree, that's a compelling way into top-tier traditional hot rodding. See the full photo gallery and details at RK Motors.
