"America’s Most Beautiful Roadster" or (AMBR) is an award presented annually at the Grand National Roadster Show. It was created by promoter Al Slonaker to recognize the best roadster in-show. The winner's name is engraved on a 9-foot "mega-trophy" that is maintain by the event's promoter, Rod Shows Inc. At that time of its creation, the AMBR Award trophy was the biggest in the world.
The AMBR is considered among the two "Crown Jewel" awards for professional show car builders in North America, the other being the Detroit Autorama's Don Ridler Memorial Award.
List of winners
| Year | Vehicle | Owner | Builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1929 Ford Roadster | William Niekamp | |
| 1951 | 1923 Ford Roadster | Rico Squaglia | |
| 1952 | 1925 Ford Roadster | Bud Crackbon | |
| 1953 | 1927 Ford Roadster | Dick Williams | |
| 1954 | 1927 Ford Roadster | Frank Rose | |
| 1955 | 1927 Ford Roadster (Shishkabob) | Michael Gejeian | |
| 1927 Ford Roadster | Ray Anderegg | ||
| 1956 | 1932 Ford Roadster | Eddie Bosio | |
| 1957 | 1929 Ford Roadster | Jerry Woodward | |
| 1958 | 1929 Ford roadster pickup (Ala Kart) | Richard Peters | George Barris |
| 1959 | 1929 Ford roadster pickup (Ala Kart) | Richard Peters | George Barris |
| 1960 | 1929 Ford Roadster (The Emperor) | Chuck Kirkorian | |
| 1961 | 1929 Ford Roadster | Rich Guasco | |
| 1962 | 1927 T-Roadster (Twister-T) | George Barris | |
| 1963 | 1927 Ford Roadster (XR-6) | LeRoi "Tex" Smith | |
| 1964 | 1914 King-T | Don Tognotti | |
| 1965 | Custom body (Casper's Ghost) | Carl Casper | |
| 1966 | 1927 Ford roadster pickup | Don Lokey | |
| 1967 | Custom body (Invader) | Bob Reisner | |
| 1968 | Custom body (Invader) | Bob Reisner | |
| Custom Body (Wild Dream) | Joe Wilhelm | ||
| 1969 | (Alien) | Art Himsl | |
| 1970 | 1923 Ford roadster pickup (Instant T) | Andy Brizio | | |
| 1971 | 1923 Ford roadster pickup | Lonnie Gilbertson | |
| 1972 | 1930 Ford roadster | John Corno | |
| 1973 | 1923 Ford roadster | Chuck Corsello | |
| 1974 | 1914 Ford Touring | Jim Vasser | |
| 1975 | 1923 Ford roadster pickup | Lonnie Gilbertson | |
| 1976 | 1923 Ford Touring | Bob Sbarbaro | |
| 1977 | 1923 Ford roadster pickup (Candy Man) | Jim Molino | |
| 1978 | 1932 Ford Roadster | Phil Cool | |
| 1979 | 1932 Ford Roadster (Deucari) | Brian Burnett | Magoo |
| 1980 | 1929 Ford Roadster | John Corno | John Buttera |
| 1981 | 1932 Ford Roadster | John Siroonian | |
| 1982 | 1933 Ford Roadster | Jamie Musselman | |
| 1983 | 1932 Ford Roadster | Chuck Lombardo | |
| 1984 | 1927 Ford Roadster (California Star) | Don Varner | |
| 1985 | 1933 Ford Phaeton | Larry & Judi Murray | |
| 1986 | 1933 Ford Roadster (Mere Image) | Jim McNamara | |
| 1987 | 1932 Ford Roadster | James Ells | |
| 1988 | 1932 Ford Roadster (Orange Twist) | Ermie Immerso | |
| 1989 | 1925 Ford Roadster (Golden Star) | Ermie Immerso | |
| 1990 | 1932 Ford Roadster (Passion) | Butch Martino | |
| 1991 | 1925 Ford Roadster (Golden Star) | Ermie Immerso | |
| 1992 | 1929 Ford Roadster | Dennis Varni | |
| 1993 | 1932 Ford Roadster (Blu Steel) | Don Raible | |
| 1994 | 1929 Ford Roadster (Infinity Flyer) | Joe MacPherson | |
| 1995 | 1937 Ford Roadster (Smoothster') | Fred Warren | |
| 1996 | 1932 Ford Roadster (Boydster) | Boyd Coddington | Boyd Coddington |
| 1997 | 1932 Ford Roadster (Youngster) | Bob Young | |
| 1998 | 1932 Ford Roadster (Revolver) | Dave Emery | |
| 1999 | 1933 Ford Roadster (Shockwave) | Fred Warren | |
| 2000 | 1932 Ford Roadster (0032) | Chuck Svatos | Chip Foose |
| 2001 | 1933 Ford Roadster (Impact) | Richard Berg | |
| 2002 | 1932 Ford Roadster | Paul Trussell | |
| 2003 | 1932 Ford Roadster | George Lange | |
| 2004 | 1936 Ford Roadster | Charlie Lambetecchio | Larry Ruth |
| 2005 | 1932 Ford Roadster (Sedeuced) | Paul & Erik Hanson | Steve Moal |
| 2006 | 1936 Ford Roadster (Impression) | Ken Reister | Chip Foose |
| 2007 | 1936 Ford Roadster (Radster) | Kevin and Karen Alstott | Roger Burman @ Lakeside Rods & Rides |
| 2008 | 1932 Ford Roadster (Undisputed) | Rudy Necoechea | Scott’s Hot Rods and Customs |
| 2009 | 1932 Ford Roadster | Harry Willet | |
| 2010 | 1933 Ford Roadster (Possessed) | Mike Dingman | Scott's Hot Rods and Customs |
| 2011 | 1934 Ford Roadster | Daryl Wolfswinkel | Squeeg's Kustoms |
| 2012 | 1927 Ford Roadster | Bill Lindig | SO-CAL Speed Shop |
| 2013 | 1927 Ford Roadster | John Mumford | Roy Brizio Street Rods |
| 2014 | 1935 Chevy Phaeton | Wes Rydell | Rad Rods By Troy |
| 2015 | 1933 Ford Roadster | Larry Olson | Bobby Alloway |
| 2016 | 1932 Ford Roadster | Darryl Hollenbeck | |
| 2017 | 1936 Packard (Mulholland Speedster) | Bruce Wanta | Hollywood Hot Rods |
| 2018 | 1931 Ford Roadster | Dave Martin | Scott Bonowski |
| 2019 | 1936 Ford Roadster | George Poteet | Pinkee's Rod Shop |
| 2020 | 1932 Muroc Roadster | Monty Belsham | Squeeg's Kustoms |
| 2021* | |||
| 2022 | 1934 Chevrolet Roadster | Jeff Breault | Devlin Rod and Custom |
| 2023 | 1932 Ford Roadster | Jack Chisenhall | |
| 2024 | 1932 Ford Phaeton | Beth Myers | Roy Brizio Street Rods |
*2021 show was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
See also
References
- Doeden, Matt (2007). Custom Cars. LernerClassroom. p. 28. ISBN 978-0822590125.
- Vaughn, Mark (January 29, 2016). "Who's going to win the 2016 Grand National Roadster Show?". AutoWeek.
- Bertilsson, Bo (1999). Classic Hot Rods. MotorBooks International. pp. 95–96. ISBN 9781610608824.
- Breitenstein, Jeff (2004). Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary: A-Bombs to Zoomies. MotorBooks International. p. 24. ISBN 9781610592352.
- Detroit: The City of Hot Rods and Muscle Cars". Directed by Keith Famie, Visionalist Media, 2023.
- ^ Kimball, Ron (Dec 13, 2004). "Paul and Erik Hansen's Seductive '32 Ford Roadster; A Lakes Roadster Goes Uptown". Hot Rod Network.
- ^ "The History of the Grand National Roadster Show". Grand National Roadster Show. Archived from the original on 2018-10-25. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
- ^ Bertilsson, Bo (1999). Classic Hot Rods. MotorBooks International. p. 96. ISBN 9781610608824.
- Breitenstein, Jeff (2004). Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary: A-Bombs to Zoomies. MotorBooks International. p. 15. ISBN 9781610592352.
- Gingerelli, Dain (2004). Hot Rods Field Guide: American Icons 1930s-present. Krause Publications. p. 217. ISBN 9780896891302.
- ^ Bertilsson, Bo (1999). Classic Hot Rods. MotorBooks International. p. 97. ISBN 9781610608824.
- Alig, Joseph; Kilmer, Stephan (2012). East Vs. West Showdown: Rods, Customs & Rails. CarTech Inc. p. 76. ISBN 9781934709757.
- Hot Rod staff writers. "The History Of Hot Rodding – 1970s", written 29 August 2013, at Hot Rod Network (retrieved 19 June 2017)
- Geisert, Eric. "Ron Whiteside's Ridler Winner", in Street Rodder, July 2003, p.80.
- Geisert, Eric (May 4, 2004). "Grand National Roadster Show 2004-Granddad turns 55 and moves south". Hot Rod Network.
- Style, Cruisin' (2006-08-24). "Chip Foose Wins America's Most Beautiful Roadster Award 7th Time". Hagerty Media. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- "Radster takes America's Most Beautiful Roadster Award". www.hemmings.com. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ "GNRS gets less showy with America's Most Beautiful Roadster pick". www.hemmings.com. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- "2008 America's Most Beautiful Roadster at GNRS | MyRideisMe.com". Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- "Possessed 1933 Ford Roadster 2010 AMBR Winner". Scotts Hotrods. 2013-08-08. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ "Grand National Roadster Show Award Winners". Grand National Roadster Show. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
- "2012 AMBR Winner Revealed- America's Most Beautiful Roadster | MyRideisMe.com". Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- Staff Writer (Jan 27, 2013). "The 2013 America's Most Beautiful Roadster Winner". Hot Rod Network.
- "14 Pictures of 2014 America's Most Beautiful Roadster Winner | MyRideisMe.com". Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- Taylor, Thom (Jan 25, 2015). "America's Most Beautiful Roadster 2015 AMBR". Hot Rod Network.
- Hoving, Rik (2017-01-30). "Americas Most Beautiful Roadster 2017". Custom Car Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- "2018 AMBR Award Winner | Hotrod Hotline". www.hotrodhotline.com. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ SciortinoDesign (2021-01-12). "Rod Shows Cancellation Release". Rod Shows. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
- Bernsau, Tim (February 5, 2024). "A Deuce Phaeton Loaded with Traditional Hot Rod Style Is the 2024 America's Most Beautiful Roadster". Hot Rod Network.
External links
- History page Archived 2018-10-25 at the Wayback Machine at Grand National Roadster Show website