Sad news coming from Arizona as Gary Meadors has passed away at his home in Arizona this morning. He was 76 years old. Gary Meadors was the founder and Chairman of the Board of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. Their press release announcing Meadors’ passing can be viewed by clicking here.
Growing up in Dinuba, California, a small central valley farming community, Meadors was attracted to hot rods at an early age. He built up his first hot rod at the age of 14, taking a 1947 Plymouth and installing a modified flathead Chrysler Six engine and then lowering the suspension until the car nearly scraped the ground. This became a Meadors rodding trademark with every rod he built.
He accomplished several milestones in his hot rodding career including membership in the prestigious Bonneville 200 mph club driving the Dozier and Hegarty blown flathead Chrysler 8 powered streamliner to a record speed of 223.220 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1994.
In 1995, Gary was given the Street Rodder magazine Lifetime Achievement award. He was inducted into the Street Rod Marketing Alliance Hall of Fame in 1998 and at the 2004 SEMAshow in Las Vegas.
Meadors received the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) “Lifetime Achievement” award for his contributions to the world of hot rods and customs.
His son Marc Meadors currently serves as company president of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. No word has been released from the family or the company. Further news pending.