PPG Automotive Refinish announced that an Alloway-built car won the 2015 Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year award at the 18th annual PPG Goodguys Nationals held July 10-12 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. The car, a 1937 Chevy coupe owned by Chuck Rowe of Millington, Tenn., featured Alloway’s signature deep black PPG finish and rakish stance. Celebrated as “the master of black,” Alloway almost always paints his custom builds black.
The Chevy was built at Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop, where he uses PPG products exclusively. The car wore its DELTRON DBU 9700 Basecoat and DCU 2002 CONCEPT Clearcoat finish beautifully. It was Alloway’s third time winning the award; in 2001 he took the honors with a ’33 Ford and in 2012 with a ’32 Ford. But multiple wins don’t make the experience any easier.
“The whole thing is nerve-wracking,” said Alloway. “It’s an honor to win, but you’re competing with the top builders in the world, so you can’t relax or get overconfident. You do the best you can, make the car look great and hope the judges recognize your work. I’m thankful they did.”
Alloway has been building street rods since 1978, and his shop in Louisville, Tenn., has consistently produced award-winning vehicles. He is well respected for cars that sport an aggressive presence obtained through a blend of color, proportion and pure power – in this case an all-aluminum McLaren Chevrolet Big Block V8.
In addition to the Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year awards, Alloway’s honors include the Goodguys Street Machine of the Year, America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, Autorama Builder of the Year and the Don Ridler Memorial Award. Earlier this year, the Chevy was named Best Hot Rod at the 2015 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, Calif. In recognition of his work, Alloway was inducted into the Grand National Roadster Hall of Fame this year and the Rod & Custom Hall of Fame in 2004.
