All the 2014 AMBR Contenders

January 30, 2014
Story By
Gern Blanston

You already heard about the 65th Annual Grand National Roadster Show and seen the gallery… If you’re not one step closer to a trip next year, this will help push you over the top. Every year, the most coveted award of GNRS is one of the two best hot rod awards in the country: America’s Most Beautiful Roadster. (The other’s the Ridler Award from Detroit, but that’s not until March…) The rules for the AMBR Award are simple: Must be a roadster – no roll up windows – and judging includes how the car sounds! Oh, and it’s has to be “beautiful”. Sound simple? Well, among hot rodders, this is one of the most wildly debated awards. Up until the rules changed in 2011, excluding points-style judging, for my tastes, the winner was never my favorite. But for the past two years, I’ve picked’m and been happy with the choice. No doubt, it ain’t easy judging. Every roadster contending for AMBR is a winner at any show, but this is GNRS. Keep that in mind as you look at these top notch cars, of which only one can be a winner... someone’s got to lose.

Starting off at the top, Here’s your winner: Wes Rydell’s 1935 Chevy Phaeton. If you’re thinking your neighbor has one of these, nope! This is one of about 200 ever built. Rare is a gross understatement. So why take a piece of history such as this Phaeton and hot rod it? Cause you’re Wes Rydell! Wes told us, “This isn’t my first rodeo…” referring to his Ridler Award winning 1935 Chevy Master Sedan called “Grandmaster”. When Wes builds a hot rod, he gathers the best: Chip Foose penned the design then Rad Rides by Troy made it happen. When he’s done at the Detroit Autorama as part of Troy’s display, you’ll see this sucker on the road. Wes plans to drive it. So… like it or not, this is the 2014 AMBR winner. To me, this car was indeed the most beautiful roadster. My favorite of the show overall? Maybe… No. Probably not. But would I love a ride? Hell yes!!

Oh, and guess what? In the 65 year history of the show, this is the first Chevy ever to win! Rydell’s “Black Bowtie” certainly has made history! In the next three roadsters, you’ll get a sense of how tight the competition was. Any of these could have easily won the AMBR. Seen enough of this beauty yet?

Well, here’s a couple different angles to keep you drooling! Given that judging includes SOUND, how did Larry Maddox and Doug Dwyer’s 1932 Ford Roadster "Blue Steel" running a Ford 427 SOHC powered beast not win!? Have you heard a SOHC motor before? Through that exhaust, it’da brought a tear to any man’s eye! An even bigger surprise? It didn’t win best engine. SAY WHAT? The Ford Flathead in what I called, “Wet Terracotta” won. Please discuss. Debate. REBEL! Doug and Larry, it ain’t right.

This isn’t the wheel combo for me, but they look great here! Up next is another 1932 Ford Roadster owned by Debra and Ronnie Goodwin visiting from Smithville, Tennessee.

What’s not right about this roadster? Here’s a clue: Nothing! If judging included how friendly the owners are, here’s your winner. Debra welcomed us, "behind the rail” to take a few shots.

If I had to point out one flaw? The small block Chevy under the hood. The ubiquitous SBC is correct for a hot rod, looked flawless and strong, but as I keep mentioning, this is for the AMBR. I’m afraid it’d have to be a 9-cylinder SBC to win the big trophy. For some 1932 relief, here’s a 1927 Ford Modified Roadster owned by Charlie and Karen Matus.

You’re looking at the 1951 Flathead that won best engine in the AMBR category. Detailed, chromed to the max and perfect for this car… I just don’t see it. The blown flattie in the 1932 Ford Phaeton coming up was cooler…

The most unique color of the contenders, I wonder if it wasn’t part of why it didn’t win? Someone tell me: What color is that and why, why did you pick it? That said, this car showed beautifully with tons of highly polished chrome and nifty details. A close contender, no doubt. Here’s where you’ll start hating me: I don’t think the rest were all that close to winning. Am I wrong?

But what’s not to like about Paul Gommi’s 1932 Ford Phaeton? Well here’s a couple things: The display and the colors. The display, as you can see, included five big posterboards… about the engine! (The engine was unique.) The story continued, around front and back with (most likely) interesting details about the car. Great stuff… for the show book lying discretely next to some rare Flathead parts or any other period hot rod parts making up the display. Or something… Just anything except white posterboards. Then, yea… the colors. I’ll name them for you: Black, black and black, just as Henry would have wanted it, 100% traditional hot rod... But, in my eyes, the worst color combo to win the AMBR.

How about another 1932 Roadster? This one’s owned by Bill Grant out of Upland, CA.

Here’s another hot rod stacked with everything you’d need to win the AMBR award. I totally dug the color, stance and ultra-clean dash.

It’s awful of me to say it, but even with triple carbs, the small block Chevy didn’t do it for me. Then, the wheels were a miss too… Were they period correct? Good for you? Let’s hear ya. Next, I’d like to present… yep! Dan Van Auken’s 1932 Ford Roadster roaring into Pomona by way of the Bonneville Salt Flats and home in Lake Havasu City, AZ.

As a huge fan of Bonneville, this roadster is right on. The highly detailed Flathead is a winner in every traditional-styled handbook and there isn’t so much “I’M A SHOW CAR!!” on it to be distracting. That’s a good thing. Why didn’t it win? My only guess is the color. I bet many loved it. I couldn’t identify it… was it Army green or some kind of brown-green? Sorry friends… not beautiful. Now how about some different AMBR cars?! The Gerber Special Syclone Motorsports 1932 Ford running in C/STR (C-motor STreet Roadster) class at Bonneville.

You’re looking at what was clearly the FASTEST AMBR contender with buckets of perfect chrome from Advanced Plating to sparkle off the Bonneville salt. Great for 200mph plus records, a red hat and ear-to-ear grins, but a long shot for the AMBR award. Does this mean I can’t drive it? Easily winning a heartfelt pat on the back and a sincere thank you was Michigan’s Roseville High School’s 1931 Ford Roadster Pickup called "MadUSA".

The auto shop kids proudly let us know this build took about six months to put together. For an AMBR contender, that’s unbelievable. Our only other Chevrolet in the running was Richard Chiarenza’s 1934 Chevy Phaeton.

Now this is the type of paint you’d expect on an AMBR contender. Then, throw out that small block for a BIG block Chevy with a hefty dose of heavy breathing exiting “zoomie” style right out the fender. This is the 3rd Phaeton of the show. A new trend? With so much right on this Chevy, it was a little too “Street Rod” for what I think is more of a traditional-leaning hot rod show. At any other indoor show, this huffed beast wins plenty of awards. And finally, here’s Bill Enderson’s 1923 Ford Model T roadster. Called a “Tub for 2” I’m sure the ride’s cozy!

Down this far in the story, you might guess, this one’s not my favorite. A righteous hot rod and a welcome bit of diversity, but radial tires and a flathead? And I see that billet electric fan hiding in there too. As I’ve said, yes… I should be hated for saying it, but the competition’s tough. I bet Bill’s got a reliable car and he’s thrilled to be in the show. That’s all I’d need too. Which one's your favorite? Did you think the right car won? Leave a comment!

All the 2014 AMBR Contenders

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