2013 AMBR Contenders – 7 Roadsters with a Chance
Winning “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” for 2013
Vote for your favorite below…
So much has been said here at MyRideisMe.com about the Grand National Roadster Show. In the fewest words, it’s the best of the west kicking off 2013. As we’ve said before… (and I haven’t heard any arguments.)
This year’s America’s Most Beautiful Roadster contenders, “AMBR Cars” (pronounced like “amber”) total 12 in all. I’ve got shots of all 12, but without throwing stones and certainly without criticizing, let’s be honest: Five of the contenders can’t win.
If you’ve been to GNRS before and seen what wins… you can narrow it to 7 and really, I think there’s only 4. (We couldn’t be happier they changed the AMBR judging rules 2 years ago)
So let’s get started! Here’s the four-with-a-chance plus the three long shots for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster:
For all pictures, click to see the full-size image.
America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Contender #1
This was the winner! Click here to open additional pictures.
Out of the shoot, here’s the 1927 Ford Roadster owned by John Mumford of Woodside, CA. Roy Brizio Street Rods is listed as putting the finishing touches on “Kelly Brown” this rolling masterpiece of rare and cool. Catching your eye first is the flathead running the ultra rare V8-60 Ardun heads. Trick details abound on this track nosed, Halibrad-rear’d roadster with interior by Sid Chavers. It’s a stunner, no doubt, and a front runner to win the AMBR title, but it has one big strike against it… Maybe just funny feeling, but the 2012 AMBR winner was also a 1927 Ford Roadster. Are they too similar?
America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Contender #2
Go ahead and call me a homer cause this hand made, 1932-based roadster hit the road thanks to fellow Arizonan and previous AMBR winner Doug Jerger at Squeeg’s Kustoms.
This one of a kind roadster is owned by Cole Wolfswinkel of Scottsdale, AZ. Cole has the distinction of being the luckiest 20 year old on the planet. Cole and his dad acquired a Holman and Moody Boss 429 of NASCAR heritage and sorta built a radical hot rod around it. Marcel made the from-scratch body riding on a custom Pinkee’s chassis, then Gabe’s did the interior. Jimmy Smith’s drawings kept everyone on track so later, tying everything together and laying down flawless paint, Doug could hide several tricks and details making this roadster a front runner for a second AMBR winning build. Look for a future feature on this car one way or the other!
America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Contender #3
Next up is the elegant 1933 Ford Roadster of Harold and Tracy Chapman of Andice, TX. With a Roush 427 IR backed by a Tremec TKO600 for motivation, there should be plenty of go with the show. The buttery-soft looking interior was stitched up by JJ’s Upholstery and from the show card, and all the killer detail parts, Greening Auto pitched in too. I wouldn’t be surprised if my man Jimmy Smith helped with the jaw-dropping wheel design and Greening machined them?
Who can argue this is the most “Beautiful” of the AMBR cars. I’d like to add more trick details, but I haven’t been able to catch up with the builder. Still, I’m concerned it’s too elegant and not enough hot rod? The Steve Moal built roadster shown here was the most elegant last year, but didn’t win. How much bad-ass hot rod do you need mixed in to win?
America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Contender #4
This 1932 Ford Roadster is owned by James Farley, Jr. who happens to be a cousin of the late Chris Farely. Jim’s an exec with Ford representing the Motor City here at GNRS.
James’ deuce sports the perfect eye-full of details everywhere you look thanks to builder Dave Simard from East Coast Custom. The original idea called for building the hot rod a mid-1950’s Indy racing crew chief would build. That theme set the tone for both design and execution. A fuel injected Ford four-cam 4.6L is customized to have the look at feel of a much earlier motor, possibly with custom made OHC heads. The generator (really an alternator) is spun by belts routed like they would be on a flathead. I totally dig the brushed and polished nickel used on the suspension parts where torsion bars set the ride feel and height. With a killer stance and the spirit of Indy behind them, this is one to watch for the AMBR.
America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Contender #5
Mixed in with the AMBR cars, I always find what I think is, “Americas’ Most Bitch’n Roadster”. This is it.
John Gunsaulis of Greenacres, WA is the proud owner of the 1928 Ford track nose roadster pickup. Minus the pickup bed, but adding subtle, sweet touches all over, this roadster’s a beauty in black. The “Woodward Special” had design help from Jeff Allison but at this time, that’s about all I know about it, except… hey guys, where’s the windshield?
America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Contender #6
Unfortunately, I didn’t catch any details about this sinister looking roadster… I do know those fat HEMI heads mean business and the interior’s capped off by a leather aviation cap wearing skull dude that made me smile. I keep calling this one, “Slick Black” and it fits. I guess there’s an outside shot this’ll win, but really, with a fairly plain display and lacking any other info about the details, I can’t see this one winning the AMBR.
America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Contender #7
The last on my list of contenders is Joe Cane’s 1928 Model A ford roadster. Joe floated this “Tub” in all the way from Llandilo, NSW, Australia. With a chrome-everything 350 Chevy for power hooked to a 4-speed, better get used to shifting left handed because this baby’s right hand drive! Love the big, meaty slicks on it and all the cool details up front. Looking closely, is that a see-through floor? I’ll investigate and let you know.
There’s alot we don’t know from the official AMBR Award judging but we can pick our favorites!
WAIT! There’s more… Here’s the other 5 roadsters going for
2013 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster
Please leave a comment below and tell us which of these will win and why!
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I think you have it right ,there are 7 possibilities, but I’m betting on Mumford’s 27 T. A spectacular car , rare , historic and all the right preople have been involved with the build. Even though a 27 T won last year that would be like saying a 32 roadster won before. From bare metal in TRJ to the finish ,I dont think it could have been done any other way and its just “dead nuts on”
This is one of the first years I have not seen the cars in person ,so that makes it a lot more difficult, so I’m looking forward to the winner which is probably now, so I will go back to surfing the internet and see who won!
Hi Joe, you were right! I wonder if the traditional hot rod guys are satisfied this year. (and then maybe everyone else is pissed!)
-pikesan
OK AS A 2010 CONTENDER I THINK YOU HIT IT GOOD !!!
I LIKE THE 34 ITS CLASSY BUT THATS WHAT I LIKE !!
FARLEYS 32 IS COOL !! JUST ME BUT IM TIRED OF FORDS !!!
NOW THE TOP BUILDERS WANT THEM TO LOOK LIKE OLD RACE CAR,S ??
THIS WAS SUPPPPPOSED 2-B A BEAUTY CONTEST !~!
I DONT THINK ANY OF THESE CARS COULD WIN THE RIDDLER ???
Hey Gary, thanks for your comments and return visit. Back to the scene of the crime? haha… It’s funny you mentioned Farely’s 32, then said, “But I’m tired of Fords!” What else would you expect Farely to build? Dude’s a VP at Ford Motor Company!! (and a super nice guy to chat with)
-pikesan
nice little fords with after brands motors. Man this gets boring looking at fords and fibro kit cars. wheres the factory mopars and chevs ?
Adrian, “fibro kit cars”? Really? That’s one of the most false things you can say about AMBR cars.
– pikesan
WITH THE NEW JUDGING IT DONT MATTER IF ITS A KIT CAR ???
ITS A BEAUTY CONTEST OR IT USED TO BE !!!!!! YES ID LIKE TO SEE
SOME RULE CHANGES TO ENTER AS A == AMBER == CONTENDER !!!!!!
JUST FOR INFO ~~~~ WHO,S IDEA WAS IT TO CHANGE THE JUDGING
RULE,S ?????
Mumford’s 27 is the winner and it should be!! this car takes us to the next level !!! HE has all the right pieces and the detail is out of site. Roy always builds the right cars but this one is over the top congratulations to Roy and John. outstanding job.