HPX 2025 Award Winners
June 13, 2025
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
THE CHIEF OF NEW JERSEY
Native American Russell Youngblood is a man you’d love to powwow with. Bloomfield, New Jersey is the home and base camp for one of the coolest late-model classic Chevys you’ll ever see. Many feel that the 1994-1996 Impala SS models are to today what the 1955-1957 models were to the ’50s. Youngblood will certainly agree. His dark green-gray metallic is custom from stem to stern—so much so that we’d consider it one of a kind.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Ford fans will willingly tell you that the Mustang is the No. 1 muscle car built in America, but its style, affordability and performance has earned this popularity title all by itself. The 2005 Mustang GT is a prime example of Ford’s success, and it seems to only be evolving to an even higher level of popularity today. Some say the Mustang was getting long in the tooth and was becoming boring in recent years, but believe it or not, Ford addressed it just at the right time with its new retro-style pony. Maybe the Mustang was evolving too far away from its muscle car roots and Ford decided to bring it back to tighten its focus; then again, perhaps it was just a coincidence of timing.
BACK IN BLACK: Jamie Musselman’s ’33 Ford Roadster
Forty-four years have passed since Musselman teamed with Boyd Coddington in creating one of the most amazing rods of its day, an excetpional car that took its place in history as the Oakland Roadster Show’s “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” in 1982. This was also due, in part, to the efforts of many top fabricators including Lil’ John Buttera, Dan Fink, Steve Davis, Thom Taylor who designed the car.
Spotlighter
Remembering Angelo Giampetroni: The Bridge Between Detroit Speed Shops and Ford Motorsport
The Loss of an Industry Titan
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photography by Scott Killeen
Gratiot Roadster photo courtesy of Jason Lubken, Museum of American Speed
The Loss of an Industry Titan
The automotive and motorsports world has lost one of its most influential figures with the passing of Angelo “Junior” Giampetroni. A pioneer, promoter, and passionate builder, Angelo helped shape the hot rodding and drag racing scenes from the postwar boom through the modern era. His impact can be felt not just in Detroit, but across the globe—from gritty speed shops to high-level factory performance programs. Angelo wasn’t just part of the culture—he connected it all together.
From Sweeping Floors to Shaping a Movement
Angelo’s journey began at age 12, sweeping floors and stocking shelves at Gratiot Auto Supply in Detroit. That early exposure to performance parts and customer needs planted the seed for a lifetime of innovation. As soon as he could, he bought a 1932 Ford five-window coupe powered by a 292 C.I. flathead, outfitted with Grancor heads and an Isky cam. It doubled as his daily driver and weekend race car, running over 120 mph at Motor City Dragway and Detroit Dragway. Even then, he wasn’t just building cars—he was living the culture.
Gratiot Auto Supply: Grassroots Powerhouse
By the 1950s, Angelo had become instrumental in transforming Gratiot Auto Supply from a small local shop into a national force. Working alongside founder Bill Toia, he helped expand it to nine Detroit-area locations and a booming mail-order business. In 1969, Angelo launched Detroit Hi Performance, which evolved into Gratiot Auto Mail Order—shipping parts worldwide. He was one of the first in the industry to use TV commercials, print ads, and car show appearances to market speed parts. To bring attention to the brand, he even brought on Linda Vaughn, Miss Hurst, as a national spokesperson. Angelo made sure that no matter where you were in the country—or the world—you could feel a piece of Detroit in your garage.
Iconic Cars and Cultural Reach
Angelo didn’t just sell parts—he helped define an era of performance innovation. He sponsored and developed iconic cars like:
Lil Billy: A rear-engine 1920 T Roadster with a 480 C.I. Buick, clocking 168+ mph and running a 9.30-second ET.
Aggravation: A Hemi-powered bantam dragster built by Al Bergler.
Chevoom: A mid-engine ’66 Chevelle, created with Maynard Rupp.
Both Aggravation and Chevoom earned Riddler Awards at the Detroit Autorama, showcasing Angelo’s eye for performance and presentation. His catalog business shipped performance parts around the world and carried legendary brands like Holley, Edelbrock, Isky, and Hooker.
Bridging the Gap: Angelo at Ford SVO
In the 1980s, Angelo made a pivotal move—joining Ford Motor Company’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) as Marketing Director. With his deep aftermarket roots and street-level credibility, he became the perfect bridge between Ford’s corporate engineering and the performance-hungry enthusiast community. At Ford SVO, Angelo played a key role in helping Ford Motorsport Operations (FMO) stay visible, relevant, and respected among racers, builders, and weekend warriors. He brought the authenticity of Detroit speed shops into the boardrooms of Dearborn, ensuring that Ford’s performance parts stayed connected to real-world drivers.
Supporting the Scene and Giving Back
Angelo remained committed to racers and rodders throughout his life. He sponsored legendary teams like Mancini Racing, led by 2018 MMSHoF inductee Ron Mancini. With the Gratiot Auto Supply name emblazoned on cars across the country, Angelo’s influence stretched far beyond the Detroit city limits. He also became a fixture in hot rod media—most famously appearing on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine with Linda Vaughn and the Sprint T roadster.
A Life That United a Culture
Angelo Giampetroni wasn’t just a hot rodder, a businessman, or a marketing mind—he was a connector. From a 12-year-old shop helper to a leader inside Ford, he served as the living bridge between two worlds: grassroots hot rodding and corporate performance. His legacy isn’t just in catalogs or quarter-mile times—it’s in the culture he helped grow, the people he championed, and the brands he brought together. His story is a reminder that true impact comes from passion, vision, and the ability to bring others along for the ride.
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