How to Win the America's Most Beautiful Roadster Award In case you haven't already heard, the 1934 Ford Roadster owned by Daryl Wolfswinkel's and built by Doug Jerger and crew at Squeeg's Kustoms in Chandler, AZ won the highly coveted "AMBR Award" or America's Most Beautiful Roadster Award. Those of you who've seen the story posted here at MyRideisMe.com about the 2008-2010 AMBR winners are SHOCKED! (but maybe tickled too!!)   Disagree? Here' your chance to Vote on the AMBR winner yourself!   At the Grand National Roadster Show on Saturday morning, I learned the judging criteria for the AMBR award changed. Guess who told me?  Ironically, it was my buddy Doug Jerger! (I'm in Chandler too) Sniffing a great story, I asked around and found Vic Cunnyngham, the judges coordinator for the 2011 America's Most Beautiful Roadster. (Yes, that's the correct spelling of his name...)   Vic, a long time hot rodder and hot rod builder set me straight on selecting the 2011 AMBR award winner. To sum it up in one, simple sentences, I'd say: It'll be the most beautiful roadster at the show. A quick clarification:...

Debuting at the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show Going to the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show? Besides the amazing roadsters, including the ones after the "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" award, there are other custom cars at GNRS that should never be missed. This Ford Econoline van is one. The purpose of this post is NOT to show or tell about the van, only to let you know to see it in person yourself at the show. I'll follow up with a detailed story and pictures... What you're seeing is "Van Go" the creation of artist and publisher Coby from Church Magazine. What started as a 1963 Ford Econoline van is now a one-off masterpiece of creativity and custom work. This van oozes cool from every polished and painted pore and I know it reflects a ton of work from Coby and from KA Custom, Tim Conder and Pablo Perez, who Coby says, "Are the 3 who truly made it happen..." Here's where this Econoline started: To say it doesn't impress says it correctly... that is, unless you're Velma or Daphne. With the stance drastically improved, the van already looked...

2011 Grand National Roadster Show From Rodshows.com the hosts of the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show, here's some info about a very special hall at the 62nd Grand National Roadster Show or you might have heard of the "GNRS" and the home of the "AMBR Award" or "America's Most Beautiful Roadster".  This is the show and it's not one you want to miss! 62nd Annual Kragen O’Reilly Grand National Roadster Show Customs: Then and Now Featured at this year’s Grand National Roadster Show will be a classic collection of the most notable and historic custom cars. Building 9 at the Fairplex in Pomona will be filled with over 75 different members of custom car royalty. It promises to be a room full of chopped up beauties, dripping with impeccable colors and intricate paint. Aesthetic detail and flowing body lines will please the eye as you stroll through the exhibit and feel the history of the cruisin’ custom days. This exhibit is sure to represent this car class with pride and will, without a doubt, bring you back to the days when the era began. Though it won’t take place...

7 Hot Rod Artist Pinstriping for Charity Bid to win this helmet on Ebay now: Pinstriped Lincoln Electric Welding Helmet I already showed you this brand new Lincoln Electric Viking Welding Helmets we'll auction on Ebay with the benefits going to our friends from Progeria Research. More about all that, and finished pinstriping pictures here. So who did the pinstriping? Enter Von Hot Rod's Pinstriping Circus.  Pictured above, Von Hot Rod is a man of many talents. His pinstriping work is a style of it's own developed from years of striping at just about every car show including those outside this continent! Von's also been known to host the Sunday service at event's he attends. Von Hot Rod is also the man behind the Pinstriping Reunion held at the Grand National Roadster Show every year. In 2009, they raise a cool $14 g's for charity. So when I asked Von and his Pinstriping Circus for help, I knew he'd do it. The picture above shows Von pinstriping on the welding helmet. Having these photos showing where the helmet came from has got to add to it's collectible provenance, right?...

There are a lot of famous street rod builders out there. Guys like  Chip Foose get a lot of the press, but out of one quiet shop in the corner of Phoenix, Arizona, Rick Dore has been building some of the cleanest rides in the country. It’s not like his name is unheard of. Rick is in 6 hall of fames, has won tons of awards at the prestigious Oakland Rod & Custom show, and has even been on TV a few times. The man is huge in the hot rod world, having built dozens of immaculate vehicles over the years, even before he opened his shop. For the past 10 years he’s been building head-turning rods, customs and trucks. For 9 months out of the year, Rick and his crew of customizers are building customs for customers. High profile people such as rock stars, athletes and others come to him when they require that one-off look. And then, for a three-month span, the shop shuts down to regular customers and becomes a factory for SEMA cars and trucks. Rick does a lot of image work for major manufacturers...

May & June's Freebies... Well, they ain't totally free. I hope you didn't stop reading there because this time, I'm asking you to GIVE a little to win one of TWO Optima Batteries. You'll be giving to charity and you'll be glad you did. The charity is for Progeria. Any donation of $1 or more will enter you to win. Please donate here. Progeria is a heart breaking genetic condition that makes kids age 7-10 times more rapidly than normal. Children with Progeria rarely live past 16 years old. This is a very rare but fatal condition. The picture on the left is Kristian from Kristian's Page. The picture is labeled "PreSchool 2005" when Kristian was 3 years old. Kristian died on March 23, 2006. Why Progreria? I met Terry Foose, the mother of famed hot rod designer Chip Foose at the Grand National Roadster Show in 2008. Terry was raising money for Progeria when I talked to her. Terry's daughter and Chip's younger sister died of Progeria, but there's no doubt, she lived courageously. Her story warmed my heart as I'm sure it will for you.  Please take...

Custom 1959 Cadillac from D'Agostino The Grand National Roadster Show is truly the "Grand-daddy of them all" when it comes to hot rod and custom car shows. Where else would you find two super-custom 1959 Caddy's?  Finished to near perfection, take your pick of the "Custom Restoration" '59 Cadillac (story here) or this latest 1959 Cadillac custom from D'Agostino.  Put your hands together for "Elvis II" built for David E. Walters. Unlike the custom-restoration 1959, this is a true Biarritz. The full name is a mouthful: 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible. Deserving the long name, the Biarritz marked the top of what was already a very expensive ($7401 in 1959) and extremely luxurious ride. With the 3x2, 345 horse Q-code Cad motor standard for the Eldorado, the options separating the Series 62 from the El-do include a host of cosmetic tricks in the grille, taillights and interior, but also include air ride from way back in the 50's! What's old is new as just about every custom you see these days is on air. Even with it's superbo-delux-ness right from the General and limited 1320 production, I'm glad to...

Custom 1959 Cadillac Photos by Paul "Swanee" Swanson I think I just coined a new term for cars: Custom Restoration.  Why? I guess we could just say "custom" because this 59's been customized front to back. On the other hand, the builder's shop, Xtreme Restorations out of Rhode Island, suggests his specialty is "restoration".  So somewhere between full custom, resto-mod and restoration, I introduce to you: Custom Restoration. What better start than a 1959 Cadillac!? Standing back, trying to take in the 225.0 in (5715 mm) length that is 1959 Cadillac, the first nod to "restoration" over pure customization has to go to the color choice.  Not a factory color, but also not the typical red or black; PPG supplied a Soft Yellow and Vanilla Shake to gracefully compliment the flowing lines of the Cad. I think it works perfectly and gives a taste of understated modesty to a car that makes a quite a statement! Back to a custom nod then, check out this interior! Bold yes, but as you can see it works! As outrageous as you might think it is, it's a factory ORIGINAL color on Cadillacs in...

The first thing I picture when I hear the words “chrome car” is my childhood Barbie car that I outfitted with reflective chrome tape. This 1932 Ford Roadster is no Barbie car, that’s for sure. Let’s begin by taking a look at the Platinum Bomb. This 1932 Ford Roadster was designed and built by owner Zach Norman along with the Troy Ladd and his crew at Hollywood Hot Rods with a WWII airplane in mind. (Get more about this car in A Roadster That Can Fly?) So when it came to paint, he wanted a polished aluminum looking body. Those of you who have worked on 30s-era cars know that finding a rust-free body to do this with naturally would be impossible. What else is there to do but give it a chrome-like paint job? Simple right? Hardly! When painter Tom Prewitt chuckled and told me, “We just followed directions,” I knew there was more to the story. How did the Platinum Bomb get to be so shiny? (Speaking of shine...the picture of Tom below shows the car's body before clear coat is put on. As you can see...

It's been too long since I rambled on about Hot Rods and Customs, I mean Kustoms.  My crazy car brain has gone down the path of  "Mild Customs".  I'll say it right now, the car that really got me started digging Customs was Nick Hoesing's ex-Ford Galaxie I scoped at Bonneville last year.   Peep it below... Then I picked up a Rodders Journal that featured Kirk Jones' 1960 Ford Starliner.  Kirk's a member at MyRideisMe.com, see his Garage Here for more pics.  Our camera man Swanee grabbed this first pic at last years Grand National Roadster Show.  This 'Liner blew me away!!!  I pulled that TRJ #45 out again last night to re-read the story and stare at the rad photography.  Man, this kustom is mad rad!  Ok, so it may be categorized as a Mild Custom, but this thing is Wild!  That paint (better pics in the Rodders Journal, you're just gonna have to go buy a copy) is nutty!  The interior is grade A.  This Ford oozes style and stance.  Can you imagine the hours spent building this car.  I bought this magazine when we were staying in the hospital for the...

At the Grand National Roadster Show, one exhibition hall, #9 I think, always has a theme.  Last year, it was former America's Most Beautiful Roadster winners. The hall was filled with with AMBR winning roadsters from back when the show was still in Oakland, CA. This year, the theme hall was the "History of the Race Car". I just published another story about the Drag Race cars in this hall, but this one's just about this 1969 Corvette named, "Revolution" and owned by the late Mike Mitchell. In a hall filled with wild race cars, this one, as you can see stands out. The paint is fantastic!  The "Fastest Hippie" theme is carried out throughout the car with the psychedelic rainbow patterns on the side then the jumbo hookah on the hood and the zig-zag man near the cockpit. I bet Mike was alot of fun! (click on these pics to see them full size) Researching for this story, I found a bit more info about Mike Mitchell, and about his passing in 2000. The story's written by Phil Elliot at our friend Draglist.com.  The story's called, "Farewell to...

You can almost smell the tires burning cruising through the "History of the Race Car" hall at the 2010 Grand National Roadster Show.  The exhibit, of course featured drag racer from the way-back-machine, especially my favorite: Nose in the air gassers! Getting up-close and personal with the "Outer Limits" Mopar, I'm reminded of a buddy who saw his first altered wheelbase A/FX'r and asked, "Who'd do that?!"  That's exactly why I love them! Make noise, look near ridiculous and have more fun than anyone! I want one, and some day I'll get it.  I might have to build my 61 Rambler American wagon as a gasser. Low-buck, fast and loud = funner-mostess. Continuing my stroll, I found the, "Fastest un-blown Ford V-8 powered dragster running in National Nostalgia Drag Racing." ...and it's driven by a woman named Kathy Lloyd out of Castro Valley, CA. According to their show card, the car was built in 1969, then restored in '85, then back-halfed in 1996, no doubt to return to racing. Safety rules have changed, juuuuussst a little since 1969. Running on a cocktail of 85% Nitro and 15% methanol, this...