The Grand Return – Grand National Roadster Show is Back in 2022!
There’s always something big happening in Los Angeles and this weekend the biggest happenin’ is the return of the Grand National Roadster Show – the 72nd annual to be exact – after having to cancel the 2021 event due to COVID and the local California guidelines in place at that time. So, when we heard it was approved and moving forward for 2022, we jumped at the opportunity to attend and support the event knowing the difficulties the Rod Shows promoters have faced the past two years.
Plus, we were eager to see the debut vehicles contending for the prestigious America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMRB) title as well as the Al Slonaker Memorial Award presented by ARP…and both fields did not disappoint our expectations after nearly two years of build-up.
The AMBR title is one of the most famed awards in the show car world and eleven roadsters entered the competition this year vying for the title at the end of the day on Sunday. The field was filled with a lot of variety and included a handful of early Fords but also a Chevrolet, Dodge, a Coachbuilt ’33 Ford, and a unique ’34 Ford Model 40 Speedster. Check out all the contenders in this gallery below.
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- John Mumford’s Brizio-built “Sapphire ’33” features some serious metalwork to achieve its unexpected, but gorgeous proportions. Also unexpected is the Aston Martin V12 under that long hood.
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- Roger Burman and his Lakeside Rods & Rides team revealed their latest ’35 Ford, this incredible roadster known as “Sage,” built for by Joe Faso. Streamlined and reshaped in almost every way possible, it features a ’34-style grille, a custom Roadster Shop chassis with RideTech components, big-inch billet wheels, and a beautiful green finish.
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- Reigning 2020 AMBR Winner
Much like the AMBR competition, the Slonaker Award presented by ARP was also stacked with high quality and great variety. From early Ford Hot Rods and Street Rods to a handful of classic trucks, some mid 1950’s-60’s rides, two impressive VW’s, an aggressive Street Machine Camaro, and a bitchin’ Buick custom we know one thing for sure – the judges have their work cut out for them this weekend. Just look at the quality, final fit & finish, paint work, and stance of these contenders!
There’s much more to the Grand National Roadster Show. In fact five more buildings chock-full of classic cars & trucks, vendors just about everywhere you look both inside and out, hundreds of drive-in show cars displayed outdoors, and for 2022 there are two special gatherings – one building full of Volkswagen’s in every shape, style, and size sponsored by Hot VW Magazine and EMPI, as well as a special 90th celebration of the iconic 1932 Ford hosted by So-Cal Speed Shop as part of the outdoor drive-in show with 300-500 Deuce’s anticipated to arrive on Saturday.
We prowled the grounds on Thursday and Friday to gather an extensive gallery of cool rides that caught our attention for those that couldn’t make it out to the show. For more, be sure to stay tuned to our @FuelCurve Instagram page as we will continue posting more coverage throughout the weekend. Check back right here on FuelCurve.com on Monday for full-features on both the 2022 AMBR winner as well as the 2022 Slonaker winner.
2022 Grand National Roadster Show Photo Extra!
Photos by Steven Bunker
