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Roy Brizio Street Rods certainly... Roy Brizio Street Rods certainly knows how to build a roadster (plus an AMBR winner or two in the past) so it was no surprise Tom Gloy’s ’32 Ford roadster was a heavy favorite and a contender. The body featured a cowl and grille that had been narrowed 2 inches, 6-inch overall channel, and the rear wheelwells removed. Vintage Color Studio supplied the flawless paint, Sid Chavers the oxblood interior, and it was powered by an injected Paul Hasselgren–built Edelbrock 302 Ford motor. There were a couple of tasteful throwbacks to classic hot rod looks with Keith Christopherson’s ’28 Ford roadster and Eddie Baumann’s ’29 Ford roadster. Both cars were painted black, but Christopherson’s was ’40s-inspired with wire wheels and a Flattie, while Baumann’s had an injected Nailhead and Halibrand square-window wheels. Two more roadster that got tongues wagging were Tom Gloy’s understated Porsche blue ’32, which had its cowl narrowed and body channeled, and Paul Shaughnessy’s candy red ’32 (nicknamed Sylvester II), which was a restoration/update of a roadster that first appeared in the show back in 1962. But the winner of this year’s America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award went to Bill Lindig for his all-aluminum ’27 Ford roadster. Started as a project by Jackie Howerton two decades ago, the car went through several iterations before arriving at SO-CAL Speed Shop in Southern California where it spent the last four years being completed and fine-tuned. With its unique paint-and-polished aluminum design and hundreds of visible details inside and out, the most common comment overheard was “I can’t imagine the work that went into it.” There is also a Hall of Fame associated with the event, and a brunch on Saturday morning saw four more folks inducted into the fraternity, which now boasts 157 members. Two people, George Brancacio and Kathy Livingston, have long been associated with the show, with Brancacio having judged cars for 42 years and Livingston helping run the operation behind the scenes. Paul Shaughnessy’s ’32 Ford... Paul Shaughnessy’s ’32 Ford has a ’60s feel because that’s when it was originally built. In fact, it was entered in the 1962 National Roadster Show and, after being recently restored and updated by New Metal Kustomz and the owner, it debuted again as the “Sylvester II” 50 years later! Another AMBR contender, there was a lot to look at with this one, including a trick chain-driven throttle pedal, a Nailhead topped with six-twos, and a full tube frame supporting a body that had its doors welded shut. The other two, Dennis Varni and Art Chrisman, have long been proponents of drag and dry lakes racing (Varni has run 225 in his ’32 roadster at Bonneville, and you just can’t have a complete history of the drags without including Chrisman). Varni also won the AMBR award himself in 1992, and Chrisman helped build AMBR winners in 1982, 1992, and 1994. Besides the AMBR, there are many other highly coveted awards at the show, including The Bruce Meyer Hot Rod Restoration award, the Blackie Gejeian award, the Brizio Family award, the George Barris Kuston D’Elegance award, the Chip Foose Design of Excellence award, the Triple Gun Award of Excellence (awarded to the painter/builder of a car), and others. There are a lot of awards because the show brings out the highest caliber of custom and hot rod vehicles, and everyone knows it. If you can make a mark at the Grand National Roadster Show, then you’ve really accomplished something, and that national acclaim is what the show has been able to provide to builders and owners for more than 60 years.  You should have heard this...  You should have heard this one drive into the building. Don Smith owns this ’32 Ford, which is powered by an extremely rare Riley-equipped overhead valve Flathead Ford V-8, backed to another rare piece: a Riley overdriven five-speed trans. Aerodynamics abound, from mini wings fore and aft, to the leather-lined bomber seats, to the lightning holes everywhere, to a liberal use of rivets and polished aluminum. This AMBR contender definitely appealed to the youngster in all of us.  Most of the AMBR contenders...  Most of the AMBR contenders this year were subtle with their approach, including Dennis Varni’s Moal-built ’33 Ford roadster. Dan Brewer built the blown big-block engine, and builder Steve Moal utilized all of the tricks of the trade he’s learned over the years building Ridler contenders and past AMBR winners.  Judging for the AMBR trophy...  Judging for the AMBR trophy is different than in years past, as now participants have to drive their cars up in front of the panel of judges, who evaluate the aesthetics of the roadster before walking up to it and checking out the rest of the car. The result from judging the cars this way for the past couple of years has been a return to what most folks feel as a truer representation of what it means to be America’s Most Beautiful Roadster.  Gil Losi’s garage recently...  Gil Losi’s garage recently burned down, but he was able to save his collection of hot rods, including this super-slippery ’49 Oldsmobile Super 88, which was entered in the Semi hardtop class. The car was built by Poor Boys Hot Rods and American Hot Rods and featured a 455 Olds engine from McBride Performance.  Lots of great cars can be...  Lots of great cars can be found in Canada, including Ty Tuppers ’33 Ford roadster from Aurora, Ontario. The chassis came from Lobeck’s, the engine is a 350 with Fast Burn aluminum heads and an Inglese eight-stack injection system, and the paint came from Greg Dutton and American Speed Company, who also did the interior and top on the car.  Dave Lane of FastLane Rod...  Dave Lane of FastLane Rod Shop has been busy! Besides building several award-winning cars for Phil Becker, George Poteet, and many others, Dave was named the show’s Builder of the Year for 2012. Becker’s coupe, Poteet’s sedan delivery, and Alan Button’s red ’32 coupe were on display at this year’s show.  George Poteet had three cars...  George Poteet had three cars in the show, including this super-sano ’56 Chevy, which was designed by Eric Brockmeyer and built at Kemp’s Rod & Restoration. Curtis Speed wheels lets you know this ride is a little different than most, and inside you’ll find a rollcage, upholstery from Rad Ride by Troy, and nickel plating from Sherm’s Plating all over the car.  Ever seen a ’32 Ford four-door...  Ever seen a ’32 Ford four-door Vicky? Of course not—Ford never built one. But that didn’t stop Roy Brizio and the guys at Marcel’s Custom Metal from creating one for Eric Clapton. With a slight chop, a filled roof, and the steering wheel on the right side of the dash, this one has to be one of the most looked-at rods in the show. The car’s innovation is what helped it receive the Al Slonaker Award for engineering and craftsmanship. Photo by Churck Vranas.  John Saltsman from Rialto,...  John Saltsman from Rialto, CA, entered his ’49 Studebakler truck in the radical pickup class, and it won the George Barris Kustom D’Elegance award. Called the “Atomitron,” the pickup featured bodywork (4.5-inch chop, 15.5-inch channel) by Bob Saltsman, Bill Hines, Keith Dean, Merc John, and Brad Masterson with paint by Keith Dean.  Look close and you’ll see...  Look close and you’ll see half of this Bob Drake repro ’40 coupe is fresh metal while the other side is primed. That’s because it’s the STREET RODDER Road Tour car for 2012, which is being built at Troy Ladd’s Hollywood Hot Rods. It showcases the metal fabrication work Ladd is doing to the car before its debut in June.  In the radical Custom Rod...  In the radical Custom Rod Sedan category you could find Brian Penna’s ’40 Ford Deluxe four-door, which featured paint and custom bodywork from Eightball Speedshop and a white with gold accent interior from Westminster Auto Upholstery.  The gang at Hot Rods & Hobbies...  The gang at Hot Rods & Hobbies had another great project in preview mode: Chip Israel’s ’40 Willys, which used to be a four-door and was converted into a two-door wagon. Kugel IFS/IRS was installed, and the Willys will be powered by a supercharged LS9.  Scott Roberts’ ’40 Ford pickup...  Scott Roberts’ ’40 Ford pickup was featured at the end of the Hot Rods and Custom Stuff booth, and the special gold paint just drew people to it. Wide whites with caps ’n’ rings always looks classy, as did the all-white interior.  Customizer Rick Dore has built...  Customizer Rick Dore has built a car for James Hetfield before, but this VooDoo Priest ’37 Lincoln Zephyr is the latest. Keith Dean did the metalwork while Darryl Hollenbeck’s Vintage Color Studio did the exquisite Candy Apple over Raspberry paint. The V-12 flathead is painted and polished, too.  Squeeg’s Kustoms, who built...  Squeeg’s Kustoms, who built last year’s AMBR winner, recently finished up this American Speed ’33 for Richard Walpole from Gilbert, AZ. The flattie motor came from H&H Flathead while the chassis came from Terry Palmer. All of the fabrication, paint and body, and assembly was done at Squeeg’s Kustoms in Chandler, AZ.  Looking like it had just rolled...  Looking like it had just rolled in from the Salt Flats, Dick DeLuna’s ’34 five-window is an original Ford body massaged by Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop that is bolted to a reworked chassis on a 114-inch wheelbase. A 284 Flathead is under the louvered hood.  Pueblo, Colorado’s Bobby Hull...  Pueblo, Colorado’s Bobby Hull rolled into town with his ’27 Ford roadster that had a definite oval racer feel with the kidney bean wheels wrapped in dirt track tires, plus the color-matched Flathead motor is cool, too.
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