The award was presented during the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) reception at the 2023 SEMA Show in Las Vegas on Nov. 1.
The Goodguys Trendsetter Award is given to rising builders in the hot rod and custom car industry, the organization said. Earlier this year, Ganahl and his team at South City also won the Goodguys Tanks, Inc. Hot Rod of the Year title with a 1934 Ford Coupe know as St. Christopher, as well as the Scott’s Hotrods Truck of the Year Early honor with a classic 1940 Ford pickup, which won the title World’s Most Beautiful Truck in September.
As a teen, Ganahl dabbled in hot rods in part thanks to his editor-father Pat Ganahl, who wrote for Street Rodder Magazine, Hot Rod and the Rodder’s Journal, among other publications, the builder said. He studied English Literature and finished his graduate degree only to follow his passion for hot rodding by working with Brizio Street Rods.
In 2013, Ganahl opened South City Rod and Custom and scored the Goodguys Custom of the Year Top 12 title with a chopped 1951 Mercury, along with the Custom d’Elegance Award at the Sacramento Autorama. More recently, the South City shop scored the Goodguys Truck of the Year Late title in 2022 with a 1965 Chevy C10.
“Whether pushing the boundaries of hot rodding or refining tradition, South City’s builds always seem to capture the true essence of the hot rodding and custom car charisma thanks to Bill’s passion and vision,” the organization said in a statement announcing the award. “The entire team at Goodguys is proud to name Bill Ganahl as their 2023 Trendsetter Award recipient.”
