The Suede Palace, for sure!   Take an Iowa "kid", ship him to hot rod mecca (in this case, the 2014 Grand National Roadster Show) and then ask him..."Well? Whadja like the best?" Aside from the pure California vibrations that set in just after stepping off the plane from the frigid Midwest, this hot rodder had a hard time sitting still over a two-day jaunt at the Pomona Fairplex where not only could your hot rod addiction be satiated, but you could easily overdose...all with a great big smile on your face.   The historic GNRS, celebrating 65 continuous years of car mania events, is everything and more, if you've heard any tales of what this show is all about. Let's see, the main building has all the potentials vying for 2014 America's Most Beautiful Roadster and they are surrounded by some of the finest custom and hot rod iron this car nut could ever imagine. Then there's oh, yes, five  more buildings filled full of chrome, speed and attitude only a fanatic could truly appreciate.     The Pomona complex is huge and the main building consumes hours...

2014 Grand National Roadster Show - Suede Palace Custom   The Grand National Roadster Show, now in its 65th year, has a different meaning to different people.   You've got the America's Most Beautiful Roadster fans who can't wait to see what the biggest imaginations, and yes, the biggest pocketbooks can build... but there are some who care more about YOU, the builder, what you and your pals have done to your own car , and when they'll see you burning up the streets with it! That's the key to success in the Suede Palace.   Fresno's Robert Collins is no stranger to building street worthy art. That's really the best description for the steeds he has put on the road in his lifetime including this ultra gorgeous '35 Dodge DU Coupe which languished in the back of the former owner's shop until Robert showed one day and took pity on the massive metal.     "I'd been watching for a real tail-dragger," he explained, "and this one fit the bill perfectly. I just loved the lines and decided this was going to be just what I needed." Robert...

2014 Grand National Roadster Show AMBR Winner The First Chevy to win? YES! See the complete list here: Grand National Roadster Show AMBR Winners 2014 America's Most Beautiful Roadster Winner: 1935 Chevrolet Phaeton owned by Wes Rydell After we started talking about Wes Rydell's 2014 rare Chevy, Mike Lynch got in touch and shared this info with us... From Mike: Most of the media coverage on early Chevrolets in the 1933—1935 era is on the coupes. Few people actually know much about them other than 1934-1935 standard series coupes that were made in glass and quite popular.   I have had my 35 standard series 3 window coupe since 1970.   The 1933 chevrolet line up involves the 107’ wheelbase STANDARD SERIES CC, of which only the 3 window coupe and a 2 door sedan were made and very little of these were sold. The other 1933 Chevrolet made was the MASTER SERIES CA 112” WHEELBASE. A lot of body styles were made… roadster , touring, cabriolet, 3 window coupes, 5 window coupes , 2 door sedans, 4 door sedans, sedan delivery. These outsold the standard series 10-1.   The...

2014 Grand National Roadster Show AMBR Winner Results are in!   2014 America's Most Beautiful Roadster Winner: 1935 Chevrolet Phaeton owned by Wes Rydell   As always, for any picture: Click to see the full-size image. 2014 America's Most Beautiful Roadster In MyRideisMe.com's 7th year at the Grand National Roadster Show, we successfully picked the winner again. (To see the other 2014 America's Most Beautiful Roadster Contenders click here) There's no doubt all 11 hot rods were great builds by passionate owners, but when looking for true beauty in a roadster, this 1935 Chevy Phaeton is another masterpiece!   It took about 30 years for Wes Rydell to finally put together his 1935 Chevy Standard Phaeton, a rare 4-door that has been around his Rydell Toy Shop in Grand Forks, North Dakota just waiting for the right touch. The 2014 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster got that touch not only from designer Chip Foose, but Rydell enlisted builder Troy Trepanier to complete the understated “driver” as he described the AMBR winner during last weekend’s 65th Annual Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California.       To see all Grand National...

Choosing "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" for 2014 Another year at the "Grand-daddy of all hot rod shows, the Grand National Roadster Show. MyRideisMe.com is proud to be here for our seventh year of coverage online. In case you've been sleeping these last 7 years, Grand National Roadster Show, sometimes referred to GNRS, is the best of the west, maybe in the USA (you can decide here) hot rod and custom car show. Every year, the "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" contenders assemble for 1000's of Southern California hot rod enthusiasts to enjoy, bench race and judge. Before most people make it to the show, MyRideisMe likes to give a little preview of who might win the "AMBR" (pronounced "amber") Award and show a few pictures so you can decide.   There are a total of 11 roadsters contending. There were 12, but a very unfortunate accident happened during setup and one car was lost. We were shocked to hear AMBR judge and all around nice guy Vic Cunnyngham was injured as well. BUT! Vic's on the mend already and show promoter John Buck announced he'll be back at the show on...

Hot Rods, Custom Cars, Land Speed Racers and Classics 2014 GNRS in Pomona, CA If you're looking for the "2014 America's Most Beautiful Roadster" contender pictures, click here For more Hot Rod and Custom Car Pictures from GNRS, click here   Welcome to 2014!   The 2014 Grand National Roadster Show should be designated the 8th wonder of the world or at least placed up there well in line with the Super Bowl or what's it called? Oh yeah, the World Series! For addicted car people, this grand daddy of car shows puts virtually every kind of vehicle right in front of you...most within touching distance AND you get to see the contenders for the prestigious "American's Most Beautiful Roadster"! Really now...can anything be better?   There's still time to enjoy the festivities as the show runs through Saturday and Sunday, January 26 and 27.   It's tough to roll out favorites because there's just so much to choose from but here's just a few from the hundreds that are awaiting the crowds expected to finish out this wild car weekend in the Pomona Fairplex. We've spent one very...

 Hot Rods, Cold Weather... Now We're Talkin'!   John Wells definitely lives a life of danger. Putting together a first-time indoor hot rod show in the midst of a Midwest winter is bordering on madness, but watching Wells work, you know there's just a bit of madness lurking in that fast moving director of organized mayhem.   Retro Rewind 2014 is now in the history books, an event only Wells could conceive, plan and implement as a sibling event to his already successful TorqueFest and Iron Invasion gatherings. Retro Rewind brought together an amazing collection of traditional hot rods, custom cars, vintage bikes and go karts, classic guitars, pinstripers, pinups, hot rod films, high jammin' rock and roll, food, art... hey, you could even get yourself a super cool haircut by a real barber! Wells thought of everything and the packed event center in Dubuque, Iowa was diggin' it.     Of course it was the cars that headlined the event and there was enough diversity that anyone with a pulse of any kind could appreciate the mix of good old school, flat out cool hot rods and custom...

Barn Find Hot Rods and Muscle Cars from MCACN   Yup...They're Still Out There!! Bob Ashton, who directed the 2013 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals event, not only looked high and low for rare or unique super cars, concept vehicles and one owners, but he must have looked under rocks and hay bales to track down the 22 “barn finds” that were displayed at the annual show held in Rosemont, Illinois in November. Barn finds are another relatively “new” car show entry with more and more cars and trucks turning up from storage units, sheds, long sealed garages and, of course, barns.   The “finds” are also running the gamut of rarity, some having a brief history as a family driver or as a quarter miler that someone decided to stash away, maybe when the money ran out. Whatever the reason, these relics are interesting to view and the MCACN show allowed spectators to not only see but touch the goods. You got to take a bit of the dirt and grime home with you!     We received a comment from the owner of this one of a...

1987 GMC Jimmy "Square Peg" at 2013 SEMA Show   This is the 7th installment of Best of SEMA Show 2013... One more custom truck that might be the cleanest Jimmy you've ever seen!     Laid out in the Painless Performance booth, feast your eyes on Mike and Sarah Losh's "Square Peg" Jimmy. To really appreciate this truck, look back on where it came from. How about starting with a 1987 GMC JIMMY 4x4, then with tons of patience and help from a few SEMA sponsors converting that into a 2WD, frame laying out on the ground LS powered custom hauler!   Here's the before pictures:     A solid old truck to start with, but the transformation is IMPRESSIVE!!   As beautiful as this truck is from the outside, the inside was a plush work of art... nothing less for Mike's beautiful bride, right? I especially like how the plaid interior fabric's a throwback to the original interior found in the 4x4. Those kinds of subtle-cool touches set this truck apart. That's a Painless Performance compact fuse panel hiding in the glove box.     Square Peg. Yes, in...

1954 COE with 450HP Cummins at 2013 SEMA Show   This is the 6th installment of Best of SEMA Show 2013... Why not something totally unexpected?     First of all, what the heck is this? Well, if you're not familiar with Welderup, then this custom 1954 GMC COE (stands for cab over engine) might come as a bit of a shock. Then again, if this is shocking to you... you probably haven't ever been to SEMA!   Trucks like this... Yes TRUCKS... hammered on the ground rocking engines with grunt-enough to to rip your neighbor's Dodge a brand-new-one... That's really what SEMA showcases most! Filthy as the VIP salon of "Glitter's" in Las Vegas, over-the-top power and excess. Yep. WE LOVE THAT!     Plus, COE's are just cool. My buddy Rob built a long bed COE shown here in a keyless ignition how-to. I rode in Rob's COE. It cruises low and comfortable on air, A/C on, with plenty of power from a gutsy small block Chevy. Rob's COE turns heads like this one does, even without the bright green Cummins diesel out back!     Here it is... a...

1923 Track T Hot Rod Roadster at 2013 SEMA Show   This is the 4th installment of Hot Rods at SEMA Show 2013. This ones so cool, I had to show it!     In case you didn't know, I have a 1927 Ford Roadster. It's built in the style of a "modified" roadster. In my wildest dreams, my hot rod roadster would look this great! I guess besides being old Ford Roadsters, they're not much alike...   Unlike the 4-banger in my roadster, this one's running a Chevrolet IMSA Spec LS3. What does that mean besides, "TONS of go in a small, lightweight car". According to the show card, this is 1 of 2 prototypes built using a monocoque frame. Careful design including a handmade steel body with an aluminum track nose and hood results in a featherweight 1600 lbs dry.   Look at that silhouette!   The builder is listed as Track Master Products. I looked and didn't find a website, but these guys killed it. I want to fold up my legs, forget ever having a full size man as a passenger and go for a long, but high...

Custom and Deadly 1940 Ford Truck at 2013 SEMA Show   Another SEMA 2013 Hot Rod and this one's KOSMIC!   Looks like I'm on a 1940 Ford Hot Rod kick for SEMA Show 2013. Picking some of my favorite hot rods, it just so happens that one's the 1940 Ford from Chaotic Customs (and #2 in my best of) and the other's the "Kosmic Outcast" 1940 Ford Pickup, aka: "Intergalactic Weapon of Destruction!"  (at least that's what the show card said!!)     I didn't get a chance to talk with the owners or builders on this terrific custom hot rod, but I had to post pictures... if you can stand out in the shadow of the HUGE Ford display, then you've really stepped up, don't you think? Hats off to the builders at Hot Rod Chassis and Cycle!     Luckily, the show card tells part of the story... Besides proclaiming this the Intergalactic Weapon of Destruction, we learned the blown beast up front is a 1959 Oldsmobile 371 Rocket. And no, it's not hooked to an old lady's automatic... it's hooked to a 5 speed TKO600! I totally dig...