Goodguys names its first Top 12 winner with a 1955 VW Karmann Ghia

By AI, Created 10:30 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Goodguys Rod & Custom Association named Dennis Troggio’s 1955 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia as the 2026 Meguiar’s West Coast d’Elegance winner at the Del Mar Nationals in California. The win marks the first import to earn a Top 12 of the Year title as Goodguys continues rolling out its 2026 awards slate.

Why it matters: - Goodguys awarded its first-ever import a Top 12 of the Year presented by BASF title. - The win puts a 1955 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia at the center of Goodguys’ highest-style honors, showing the program now recognizes more than traditional American hot rods. - The award spotlights craftsmanship, design restraint and build quality as key standards for elite custom cars.

What happened: - Goodguys Rod & Custom Association named Dennis Troggio’s 1955 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia the 2026 Meguiar’s West Coast d’Elegance winner. - The announcement came during the 25th Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals presented by FiTech Fuel Injection. - The car was built by Type One Restorations in Tempe, Arizona. - The award goes to a vehicle originally produced before 1966 that shows sophisticated styling, excellent build quality and overall elegance.

The details: - The Karmann Ghia started as a fairly solid car and was kept close to its original form. - The build added subtle refinements throughout the body. - The fenders were restyled and the headlamps were slightly resculpted. - The quarters were widened and stretched to accept wider wheels. - The doors were reskinned. - The body lines were extended. - The finish work emphasized sharp edges, polished surfaces and chrome accents where paint was not used. - The interior was stitched by Recovery Room Interiors. - Custom machining runs through the cabin, from the pedals to the pulls. - The trunk opens with a modified emblem twist and carries the same level of workmanship. - The engine is a 2.3L air-cooled setup making about 245 horsepower. - Nitrous oxide adds another 50 horsepower. - Four 51mm carburetors feed air and fuel through 3D-printed intake runners. - Custom panels, tubing and fasteners surround the engine.

Between the lines: - The award underscores how far Goodguys has expanded its definition of standout performance and design. - The Karmann Ghia blends vintage West Coast VW styling, Italian influence and German roots with a hot-rodding approach. - Troggio partnered with Buddy Hale and the Type One Restorations team after working together on a previous project, which suggests the build was driven by an established trust between owner and shop.

What’s next: - Goodguys will continue naming vehicles to its 2026 Top 12 of the Year list. - Eleven more vehicles will be added, including the Tanks, Inc. Hot Rod of the Year. - That award will be presented May 16 during Goodguys’ first Legends of Hot Rodding in Nashville, held May 15-16.

The bottom line: - Goodguys is widening its top-tier awards, and Dennis Troggio’s 1955 VW Karmann Ghia is now the benchmark for the program’s first import winner.