The big award at the Grand National Roadster Show is America’s Most Beautiful Roadster. This year, 14 roadsters competed for that title and the 9-foot trophy that comes with it. Simultaneously, more than 500 participants were in consideration for ten Painless Performance/STREET RODDER Top 100 awards.
STREET RODDER and Painless Performance have teamed up on this award at the Grand National Roadster Show for many years. Unlike the AMBR award, every participating vehicle at the show is eligible to win Top 100, regardless of year and body type. As you’ll see, our picks from Pomona cover a 40-year span and include various makes, designs, and styles. And just like the street rods competing for the AMBR prize (there is some overlap), these rods are exceptional.
The Painless Performance/STREET RODDER Top 100 program will continue at the Sacramento Autorama in February where we will select ten more vehicles. For now, take a look at these 10 extraordinary winners from the 70th Annual Grand National Roadster Show.
1932 Ford Roadster
Jim Govro
Dripping Springs, TX
In the early Fifties, Jim Govro drove this channeled roadster to high school. He raced it at Bonnneville in 1954. In 1955, it was painted yellow and drag raced in Texas—and at the NHRA Nats in 1957 and 1958. He sold “Tweety” in 1962. Fifty years (to the month) later, he bought it back. Rex Rod & Chassis rebuilt it labor free on the condition that it be finished as close as possible to its earliest version. That includes a 1951 Cadillac 331 with dual 97s and Offy valve covers. The interior is upholstered in white Naugahyde replicating the early style. The gauges are 1940 Ford and the steering wheel is 1954 Olds. Skinny bias-ply whitewalls roll on 15-inch Ford wheels, with piecrust slicks on Oldsmobile wheels. Jim spent the weekend sharing vintage photos with hundreds of fans.
1954 Chevy 210 Custom
Roger Miret
Scottsdale, AZ
Roger Miret’s ’54 Chevy, built in traditional kustom style, was the first car we saw when entering the Suede Palace. Another build that started simple and snowballed, ”Morphine” was a shared effort by the Phoenix Rumblers Car Club. Its numerous sheetmetal mods include ’56 Chrysler taillights and three top chops to achieve the perfect proportions. Elaborate panel paint and seaweed flames, and an on-the-ground profile (provided by air bags and step-notched ’rails) make a huge first impression. The Chevy 235 Stovebolt with a Wayne head and dual Strombergs with helmet air cleaners continues the period-correct impression—carried further by a two-tone pleated upholstery. Roger’s kustom left the Suede Palace with a Best Custom win in addition to Top 100.
1958 Edsel Ranger
Kathy Lange
St. Louis, MO
It isn’t the first Edsel to earn a Top 100 award, but Kathy Lange’s ’58 Ranger doesn’t have many peers. Built by Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop, it started as an original Ranger, but Edsel fans might spot Pacer, and Citation components added to the mix. An Art Morrison chassis provides the modern platform for the car, rolling on 17- and 20-inch five-spokes, designed by Alloway’s and built by Billet Specialties. A 700hp supercharged Coyote engine, built by Roush Performance, is packed under the hood. A pair of ’64 Thunderbird seats were upholstered in Moore and Giles leather to match the custom maroon and silver paint. Edsel gauges were updated by Classic Instruments. Kathy’s unusual custom got a lot of attention when it appeared at the 2018 SEMA Show, and even more at GNRS.
1951 Oldsmobile Club Coupe
Rodney & Cheryl Palla
Bakersfield, CA
This resto rod Olds is named Sylvia, after Rodney’s grandmother who bought it new. The car stayed in the family, but went into a barn in 1977. When it was pulled out, the all-original car was intact and well-preserved. Rodney kept his promise that he would not cut up the car—the stock body retains all trim and hardware. Everything else has been redone, from the Roadster Shop chassis to the LS3 (disguised with Olds Rocket valve covers, appropriate green paint, and oil-bath air cleaner). Colorado Custom one-off wheels feature 1950-1953 Olds style hubcaps created in 18- and 19-inch diameters. The interior’s early Fifties flavor is updated with Vintage Air A/C, Dakota Digital custom gauges, and a Kicker strereo. Scott Laitinen and the SIC Chops crew did an amazing job.
1936 Ford Coupe
Amadeo & Teri Angelo
Drummond, MT
When they first bought the car two years ago, Ami and Teri drove it as it was—stock with a mohair interior and Offy Flathead. Then Ami took the coupe to Ben York and his team at Roseville Rod & Custom for some hot rodding. The Cloud Mist Grey coupe now packs a Don Ferguson/Ardun Enterprises 296ci topped with a S.Co.T. blower, Autotrend EFI 48 injection (disguised as deuce carbs), and oil bath-themed air cleaner. The front fenders and custom-louvered hood have been reshaped to fit the engine, and one inch was chopped from the top. One-off Evod wheels and bias-ply Diamond Back rubber fill the fenders. The coupe sits on a Roadster Shop chassis. Inside the fully modified interior, a pair of custom buckets are covered in brown leather.
1924 Buick 24-6-45 Touring
Ryan Rivers
Fullerton, CA
Ryan River’s outstanding Buick proves that a mid-budget, homebuilt, non-Ford street rod can compete for the AMBR award. The red and black phaeton was first modified in the Fifties, but like others on this list, sat neglected for decades. Ryan studied art books to create the art deco and art nouveau elements found throughout the car. The top was chopped 11 inches and a REO cloth top was added. The 18-inch custom wheels are modeled after the solid covers found on coachbuilt cars of the Twenties and Thirties; other elegant details conform to the same theme. For example, the hemispherical trim pieces found around the car were made from stainless soup ladles, 22 in all. Buick power comes from a 1952 straight-8 with twin Stromberg 97 carbs.
1931 Ford Model A Coupe
Mike Collman
Portland, OR
The Suede Palace holds its awards ceremony on Saturday. That’s when they announced Mike Collman’s Sixties show rod influenced Model A as Best Hot Rod. Mike didn’t plan on taking the coupe this far—but the talent of his builder and friend Tony Wilson helped take it to this level. The body has been chopped 3 inches, channeled 4 inches, given suicide doors, and finished with ice blue paint with pinstripes from Mitch Kim. The 322ci Buick Nailhad features six 97s with frog’s mouth scoops plus Offenhauser valve covers. Firestone piecrust whitewalls and Radir cheater slicks are mounted on 15-inch Rocket Racing drag-style wheels. Inside, a Schroder sprint car wheel, ’51 Ford gauges, mirrored dash, and diamond-tuck upholstery all over validate every award won.
1930 Ford Model A Coupe
Peter Georgeades
Newark, CA
Here’s another Model A with early Sixties flavor. Peter Georgeades worked with Ron Cambra at Cambra Speed Shop to turn a stock coupe into a custom show rod. Peter found the car in an old man’s shop. He changed the plugs, hand cranked the 4-barrel Flathead, and the car came to life. The 4-banger has been replaced with a 383 stroker Chevy small-block with a 6-71 blower and triple Rochester carbs. Body mods include a 4 1/2-inch chop, bobbed rearend, and raised wheel wells, plus a sweet candy red panel paint job. Wheel Smith contributed the 15-inch chrome reverse wheels, wrapped in bias-ply skinnies and grooved slicks. Handmade race bucket seats and Classic Instruments gauges in a custom dash set apart the interior. A Pinkees Rod Shop chassis carries the Model A.
1962 Chevrolet Bel Air
Kent Matranga
Laguna Hills, CA
This 1962 Chevy bubbletop, built by Andy Leach at CAL Auto Creations, won tons of awards in 2015, including the Barrett-Jackson Cup. Its appearance in Pomona was our chance to add Top 100 to its list of honors. Owned by Randy Wilcox then, and Kent Matranga now, the Magnesium Silver Chevy underwent countless subtle body mods. The engine cover tops the supercharged Corvette LS9 engine. It sits on an Art Morrison frame with a C6 Corvette front suspension and 4-link in back. Billet Specialties created wheels for this car and now sells them as the Grinder model. Recovery Room wrapped custom seats in dark red leather. Cars this nice sometimes disappear after a few years of glory, but we’ve been told that Matranga drives his ’62 whenever he can
1932 Lincoln Victoria
Larry Carter
Los Gatos, CA
You’d never expect that Larry Carter’s restored two-tone maroon ’32 Lincoln is powered by a Coyote engine. The rare Vicky, one of seven known remaining, was found in a Southern California wrecking yard in the late Sixties. Larry bought it in 2014 and delivered to Roy Brizio Street Rods, requesting an original-looking car with modern components. Updated parts include the Art Morrison independent front suspension and Heidts independent rear. Wilwood brakes are mounted behind the 18-inch custom Lincoln wheels by Don Sommers, rolling on classic Bedford tires. The leather-covered interior blends original pieces like the ’32 Lincon steering wheel with modern elements like the seats, Classic Instruments gauges, Vintage Air A/C, and SiriusXM audio.
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