THE GRAND NATIONAL ROADSTER SHOW – FAIRPLEX, POMONA , CA, January 27-29,2017.
After a very wet January in southern California, for the week-end of Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) the weather turned typical California – sunny, clear and warm. Standing on the Fairplex grounds what a remarkable site it was to see the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains, skirted by the blue sky, together with several hundred of the most amazing cars to be found anywhere.
Bruce Wanta’s 1936 Packard Roadster became America’s Most Beautiful Roadster 2017. There was heavy competition this year with 13 AMBR contenders which can be seen in the gallery below.
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This year the GNRS saluted the 1955, 1956 and 1957 Chevys which have become known as the tri-five Chevys. When the GM design team lead by Harley Earl developed the ’55 Chevy it was an all new car. For this new body style Ed Cole designed a new overhead valve V8 engine, and Harley Earl, just returned from Europe, incorporated a Ferrari style grill. These changes aimed at a more youthful market created a ’55 that was a dramatically different car than the 1954 Chevy. The 1956 and 1957 Chevys share many components with the 1955, including much of the same sheet metal. In 1958 Chevy again brought out a different car. The tri-fives have become an iconic symbol of America’s car culture and are considered by some to be the best of that era. Although the ’57 Chevy is now 60 years old, the tri-fives have retained their iconic status. For more than 60 years the tri-five Chevys have been popular on the street, at the shows
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and on the drag strip.
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All of the Fairplex buildings were full of cars and one housed the customs.
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On both Saturday and Sunday the GNRS hosted a drive-in. In addition to the outstanding cars in the building, any could be found outside parked between and around the buildings.
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Everywhere you looked you saw a nice car.
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On Friday and Saturday a whole lot of very talented pinstipers were busy creating interesting things to be auctioned off. The auction proceeds will benefit Teen Challenge.
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On display was a restoration of Ed Roth’s 1956 F100.
Below are two of the many hot rods built by Pete Chapouris over his half-century career. Chapouris passed away on January 6, 2017. Below are the California Kid, a 1934 coupe, and Limefire, a 1932 Roadster. The California Kid was the star of a 1974 made for tv movie.
Again this year the GNRS offered a spectacular variety of vehicles to look at – including motorcycles
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bicycles
and pedal cars.
Galpin Auto Sports brought a few cars from it’s collection including the infamous Obitron.
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The GNRS is always a great way to spend a week-end and we look forward to the 2018 GNRS.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017
AMERICA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL ROADSTER a 1936 Packard Roadster owned by Bruce Wanta.
Below is the remarkable AMBR trophy. Bruce Wanta’s name will be added to the base of this trophy, where it will be in some impressive company.
More photos from the show along with an article will be posted tomorrow evening.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2017
The photos below are the four bikes in contention for America’s Most Beautiful Motorcycle.
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We will be back at the GNRS tomorrow and will have an article with a lot of photos post on line Monday night.
Friday, January 27, 2017
This year the number of contenders for the title of America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) vastly exceeded recent years. There are 13 AMBR contenders. Take a look at these 13 magnificent roadsters:
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There are four contenders for America’s Most Beautiful Motorcycle and we’ll have photos of those tomorrow. This year the Grand National Roadster Show salutes the Tri-Five Chevy. One entire building is full of outstanding Tri-Fives. We’ll have those photos soon.
The Grand National Roadster Show is being held in Pomona, CA Jan. 27, 28, 29. The show will open Friday at 12:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 am. Over 500 vehicles will be in the Fairplex buildings with several hundred more cars taking part in the drive-in on Saturday and Sunday. Below is a photo of the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster 2016. We will have photos of the 2017 contenders posted tomorrow night.
