lordairgtar Posted January 28, 2015 Posted January 28, 2015 Whats so special about it? Pure basic unadulterated hot rod.
cobraman Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 Not all hot rods appeal to everyone equally, and in the absence of real originality and outstanding design, quality of workmanship is often the factor that determines a winner. Originally known as The Oakland Roadster Show more than 60 years back, the Grand National Roadster Show has given the overall winner's title "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" to some incredible cars, and some so-sos. This year's winner also instantly made me think "topless California kid", and looks nice, but doesn't do much for me in the "wow" area. The Ardun-headded V8-60 powered '27 track-nose car of a few years back is, to me, the high point of recent winners, and is the epitome of what the AMBR title meant in the early years. Problem is, once it's all been done 100 dozen times, it's really tough to be original. This is beautiful .
Custom Hearse Posted January 29, 2015 Author Posted January 29, 2015 This one is so cool. That is a really classy car Miles. It epitomizes the true hot rod that started it all! Thanks for posting that picture!!!
Fat Brian Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 None of those were particularly inspired but the black 27 W-409 posted, the pewter-goldish 32 truck, and the gold 27 with the Hilborn hemi were all better choices than the winner to me. The winner doesn't stand out or have any degree of special styling, it looks like totally off the shelf parts painted and assembled. Its got no personality.
southpier Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 it's a conflict to me. on one hand i can appreciate the thoughtfulness and details that go into building all "styles" in the same manner i can understand tuner enthusiasts and model T fiends: we're all car guys at base level. but about half of the cars shown, including the winner, are just too contemporary for my inner gow-job.
unclescott58 Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 The winner looks okay. Just okay though. It doesn't really do much for me. Scott
chunkypeanutbutter Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 (edited) I wish that they had driven them to the show. It's neo-hot-rodding here. The very essence of hot rodding is driving them on the street, and not having a trailer-baby, may I say "wannabe hot-rod." Edited January 29, 2015 by chunkypeanutbutter
Ace-Garageguy Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 I wish that they had driven them to the show. It's neo-hot-rodding here. The very essence of hot rodding is driving them on the street, and not having a trailer-baby, may I say "wannabe hot-rod." Yeah, the Beach Boys had a song called "No Go Showboat".
chunkypeanutbutter Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 Yeah, the Beach Boys had a song called "No Go Showboat". I'd never heard that song before. Just listened to it, and it is perfect in describing those!
1930fordpickup Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 This one is so cool. I liked this car Miles. It had a custom frame and a Model A drivetrain .
Ace-Garageguy Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 (edited) The very essence of hot rodding is driving them... The First AMBR winner from 1950 was Bill Niekamp's blue track-nose roadster. This is it restored. And this is it as it appeared on the dry lakes shortly after it was built. Not a trailer-queen, but a real, go-fast hot-rod. Dick Williams won with this little T in '53...with an early use of "chrome reverse" wheels... George Barris' Ala Kart won in both '58 and '59. A full-on showcar, it had heavy detailing even underneath. The 1963 winner was Tex Smith's XR6, built as a Hot Rod Magazine project car to explore new ideas on the traditional proportions. Powered by a Chrysler slant-6 with Weber carbs, with VW Bug independent front suspension and an early 4-link rear end setup, it had an all hand-formed body too. It was also driven extensively. Edited January 29, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy
unclescott58 Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 I like Niekamp's restored roadster. Now that's cool. Scott
PARTSMARTY Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 (edited) I am as big of a hot rod lover as there is.If you really want to know I love them all because they define the word "HOT ROD " from different angles of that word.As that's said how could you notl ove them all .-really.That's what's cool about hot rod's -it's not one style or another that makes it a hot rod-it's thecar itself.You can't take that kind of car and not love them all .. Let's get real here !!! p.s. My favorites are the first two-lol Edited January 29, 2015 by PARTSMARTY
John Goschke Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 The edge of the flames meeting the edge of the fender at a more or less perpendicular angle sticks out like a sore thumb. At this level of competition one would expect a better design solution.
Draggon Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 That thing is just one of many big wheeled style-less street rods out there. Meh. An Ala-Kart it isnt.
jbwelda Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 maybe there is more to that car in person but from the pictures all it looks like to me is another rich man over billeted over done tasteless waste of money. and that paint job sucks. beautiful roadsters just aren't what they used to be evidently. jb
Mike_G Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 AMBR33.jpg The edge of the flames meeting the edge of the fender at a more or less perpendicular angle sticks out like a sore thumb. At this level of competition one would expect a better design solution. That doesn't bother me as much as the lack of shading I do like the layout of the flames though
1930fordpickup Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 Eye of the beholder is what it all comes down to at this point . The builder is a big time builder but all his stuff tends to look the same (not a bad thing). Most of his show cars are Black with huge wheels that they have designed in house.
Ace-Garageguy Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) I think this Tom Sapp design, done as a roadster, would have been WAY cooler. Maybe with a chopped Carson top. Edited January 30, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy
JTalmage Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 Everything is better with whitewall pie crust slicks
1930fordpickup Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 Bill i like the drawing you posted just no flames for me. I rarely like flames on anything, it is funny because a friend of mine is drawn to them like a moth to a light. When we are walking around a show she will take a picture of every car with them while saying I know you do not like flames. LOL
Mike_G Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 I saw a hotrod here recently that was painted competition orange with lime-green flames and it was fantastic. I would not have thought of that color combination.
Ace-Garageguy Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 Bill i like the drawing you posted just no flames for me. I just put it up in keeping with the black /flamed '34 theme of the winner. I think a fenderless car is more pure "hot-rod" and the flame treatment is quite different from what we've seen done over and over and over. A well-proportioned Carson top could give it even more individuality, and add some classic lakes-style touches like a heavily louvered rolled rear pan. Put a 3-carb '57 Olds J3 under the hood (or maybe a non-polished 4-71 blower on the Olds) and you'd be getting far away from just another cookie-cutter expensive car. It would also be fast, drivable, and reliable as a brick.
1930fordpickup Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 Good idea Bill, now if I could only win the lottery. LOL
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