Pomona, CA — From an outsider’s perspective, it’s easy to think that the Grand National Roadster Show has always been a Southern California institution. After all, it’s a celebration of the region’s diverse post-war automotive culture (hot rods, lead sledges, lowriders, etc.). But the show’s roots were in his NorCal in 1950 when Al his Sloona car and his hot his rod his club displayed custom his car at the Auckland Expo.
GNRS moved to Pomona, California in 2004. By then, GNRS had grown exponentially, with about a dozen car customization trends coming and going. But the show and its flagship award, America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Award, celebrate the American hot rod in its purest form, perhaps the first of these trends.
GNRS, now in its 73rd year, is America’s oldest indoor auto show. Each year we welcome 500 to 800 of his cars assembled into special themes such as Tri-Five Chevys and Volkswagen Bugs. This year’s show, held last weekend, had a special hall dedicated to his trucks, which were built from 1948 to his 1998 pickup. This includes mini trucks, groovy camper bed mods, and retro mods.
However, out of all the vehicles entered, only nine qualify for the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award. Winners will have their names engraved on a 9-foot tall permanent trophy. Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary, was the largest in the world when it debuted in 1950. Slonaker originally chose the word “roadster” because in 1950 “hot rod” had a slightly negative outlaw connotation. , touring cars — qualified, side windows cannot be rolled down. The car running for the Cup had not been seen anywhere else before its debut at the GNRS.
The contestants of this honor are essentially building cars to the platonic ideals of hot rods. This year’s honor went to Mr. Jack Chisenhall’s ‘Shan Deuce’ of San Antonio, Texas, 1932 his Ford Roadster. It is what you think of when you hear a hot rod, but the absolute essence is condensed.
Other standouts include ‘Green Eyes’, a two-tone green 1959 Chevy El Camino with a heavy bed of metal strips, 1964 Buick Riviera Lowrider ‘Blue Monday’, and my personal favorite purple. and black “Purple Rain”. 1951 Mercury.
Cars may have started as tools, but no show is as full of custom refrigerators as this one.The diversity of styles seen at GNRS is a reminder of how diverse and beautiful car culture can be. gave me
