The longest-running indoor car show celebrated another birthday this past January at the Pomona Fairplex in Southern California. The Grand National Roadster Show is now in its 58th year, with no signs of slowing. It seems the move from the show's longtime home in the Bay Area to Pomona a few years ago hasn't hurt it like everyone thought it would, judging by how packed the grounds were with both cars and spectators. Every year the buzz at the show has always been about who was going to win the coveted America's Most Beautiful Roadster trophy, and while there is always stiff competition for the nine-foot giant and the third annual America's Most Beautiful Motorcycle, there are plenty of other awards to be had, even for regular Joes. In addition to the indoor show and its awards, there was also a show outside between the buildings on Saturday and Sunday that the public was welcome to enter.
This year was also the 75th anniversary of the infamous 1932 Ford, for which the Ford Motor Company was proud to present a whole building dedicated to the 75 most influential Fords of all time. It's hard to go to a car show in any part of the country and not see a '32 Ford of some type, but to have 75 historical and important Deuces in one spot was almost an emotional experience for any true-blooded hot rodder of any brand orientation. It took those in charge a full year to organize the exhibit and get all those '32s in one place. For vehicle guidelines and entry forms for the indoor show or for general information and an update on the '08 show, go to www.hotrodshows.com.
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 Tom Pagano from Rancho Cordova,...  Tom Pagano from Rancho Cordova, CA, and his heavily massaged '56 F-100 went up against Gary Coe's unbeatable F-157 and took home a respectable 2nd place in the Radical Custom Pickup class. Not too many vehicles benefit from sectioning, but this Effie looks mean along with a chopped top and a pancaked hood. Nice work, Tom! |
 This five-window '63 Ford...  This five-window '63 Ford Econoline took 1st in the Mild Compact Pickup class. Owner Antonio Villasenos of Garden Grove, CA, took the opposite route that most do and turned the unibody into a tail-dragger with wide whites, chrome wheels, molded seams, and cool blue paint. |
 Angelo Mazzei originally built...  Angelo Mazzei originally built this '34 Ford truck into a hot rod back in '64 and still owns it, and after 40 years of ownership he figured it was time to restore it back to its original glory when it was featured in both Rod & Custom and Hot Rod in the '60s. The '63 Caddy Firemist Green was sprayed last year by Mason Designs in Bakersfield, CA, and the pickup still sports its '61 Vette motor complete with a Duntov cam and solid lifters, BorgWarner T-10, '54 Merc wagon rearend, and Ansen slotted mags. Glad to see it restored instead of "updated!" |
 Possibly my favorite cars...  Possibly my favorite cars of the show, Edsel Ford's own Ford factory custom-built '32 and '34, were in the Deuce building amongst all the hot rods. Edsel's father, Henry, frowned on Edsel's need for speed, so these were built without much fanfare. However, being the boss's son didn't give Edsel free reign, as he was always required to pay for his cars; the all-aluminum '34 reportedly cost him $100,000 back in '34! These are great cars and are worth poking around the Internet to learn more. |
 Again this year, there was...  Again this year, there was a whole building known as the Suede Palace sponsored by the Shifters Car Club and featuring, as you might expect, lots of satin paint. There were vendors, bands, and a gaggle of people inside all weekend, which was a nice change of pace. There were even awards for the lucky inhabitants of the Suede Palace. Be sure to check it out next year. |