|
|
Trucks At The Grand National Roadster Show - The Grand National Roadster ShowDon't Let the Name Fool You-The Place is Packed With Trucks From the May, 2010 issue of Custom Classic Trucks By Tim Bernsau Photography by Eric Geisert, Ron Ceridono, Tim Bernsau
|
|
None of the trucks in this... None of the trucks in this story won the America's Most Beautiful Roadster trophy, the most coveted prize at the Grand National Roadster Show-but one tried and many others went home with awards in various pickup categories. With more than two dozen awards handed out in pickup, van, panel, and delivery categories, the Grand National Roadster Show is a truck-friendly event and, as you can see, the custom classic truck participation is excellent and diverse. At this year's 61st annual GNRS, many of the most impres-sive vehicles in the prestigious main hall were trucks. We don't really expect a pickup to win America's Most Beautiful Roadster, the top prize at the Grand National Roadster Show. Andy Brizio's "Instant T" was the last AMBR winner with a bed; that was 40 years ago. The George Barris-built "Ala Kart" pulled it off two years running, back in 1958 and 1959-and took another stab at winning the big trophy in 2008. This time, Don Smith's glowing gold, traditionally influenced '32 represented the truck segment by earning a well-deserved spot among the finalists for the AMBR trophy. In addition to Don's RPU, the most prominent truck-maybe the most prominent vehicle-in the main hall was George Poteet's jaw-dropping '32 Ford pickup, influenced by Harry Miller's early race cars. We didn't have to look far to find more great trucks in the Los Angeles County Fairplex's hallowed main hall, or in the eight other exhibit buildings that constitute the indoor portion of the GNRS. In addition to those participants, hundreds more showed up for the weekend to participate in the "Grand Daddy Drive In," the "show outside a show" that happens outdoors on the pavement between the buildings.  This '48 Ford F-1, built by...  This '48 Ford F-1, built by Tom Stephens at Nissens Hot Rod Garage, was featured in our March issue, when "Vendetta" was still in bare metal. Here's the finished version of the La-Salle-inspired Ford, complete with orange paint and 1,579 or 1,580 louvers.  This '35 Ford was Gene Winfield's...  This '35 Ford was Gene Winfield's shop truck almost 50 years ago, and has been revived after being hidden in a barn for many years. It was restored by owner Gary Hatfield at Hatfield Restorations in Texas, to its early '60s form. H&H Flatheads built the engine.  This flathead-powered roadster,...  This flathead-powered roadster, built for owner Don Smith by Roy's Body Shop, added a shot of tradition to the America's Most Beautiful Roadster competition. The gold '32 was a finalist for AMBR, and the winner of the Best Dressed Flathead prize, selected by H&H Flatheads.  Dean Murray's '55 Ford F-100...  Dean Murray's '55 Ford F-100 was in the "History of the Race Car" building, next to the Waters & Murray "Triple Nickel" fuel roadster raced by Murray and Mike Waters. A photo on the display sign shows the pickup as a tow vehicle for the roadster at Lions Drag Strip in 1956.  Barbara Baxter's beautiful...  Barbara Baxter's beautiful coal-black '56 F-100 was a longtime project by her husband Bob, who built it for her. The engine is a 312-inch Ford Y-block. Since it's been finished, it's been making the rounds at truck shows and other events.  Surrounded by AMBR cars, George...  Surrounded by AMBR cars, George Poteet's "Miller Hauler Special" still managed to be the center of attention, and win the Blackie Gejeian Award of Excellence. Brian Stinger at Stinger's Hot Rod Shop designed and built the eye-grabbing pickup. Troy Trepanier and crew at Rad Rides by Troy handled the paint, machining, and final assembly.  One of our favorite pickups...  One of our favorite pickups in the Suede Palace (the building dedicated to traditional rods and customs) was Scott Karuza's highly detailed '33 Ford pickup, finished with Tommy the Greek-style graphics on the firewall and roller coaster 'striping inside the cowl vent. The motor is a 327 with three deuces.  That's House of Kolor Tangelo...  That's House of Kolor Tangelo Pearl paint on Joe Luken's '55 Ford F-100. Joe powers his floor-scraping Ford with a Ford 351 Windsor plus a C4 trans. The headlights are from a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and the taillights are '31 Ford pieces.  We don't know how he did it,...  We don't know how he did it, but Rob McKeown drove down from Castaic, California, with two Blue Oval pickups-his "good twin" two-tone '65 and his "evil twin" black, flamed '67.  All the work that went into...  All the work that went into Robert Kurhajian's incredible '59 Chevy Stepside paid off with an award in the Radical Pickup 1957-1972 class.  Here's a slightly different...  Here's a slightly different approach to a late '40s, early '50s Chevy. This blue beauty has been treated to frenched headlights and a healthy chop, not to mention getting most of the brightwork shaved.  One of the best features added...  One of the best features added to the GNRS since its relocation to Los Angeles has been the "Grand Daddy Drive In." Just show up, park outside in the sun, and you're part of the GNRS. This nice post-war Chevy was there on Saturday.  Mike and Kelly Jones made...  Mike and Kelly Jones made sure nobody could ignore their flamed '41 Ford pickup. The 'rails were stretched 9 inches; the cab was stretched 6 inches and chopped 3 inches in front and 21/2 in the rear. The whole thing rides on an Art Morrison chassis. Power is provided by a 350 Ram Jet, and the seats are finished in leather.  This lowered '49 Ford F-1...  This lowered '49 Ford F-1 looks like it earned its patina the old-fashioned way: with time. Marlon Marquez uses the Flathead-powered Chino Valley Compost shop truck as his daily driver.  The copper paint really glows...  The copper paint really glows in the sunshine, but we were wondering why Craig and Cindy Speir's ZZ4-powered '49 Chevy, rolling on 18- and 20-inch Billet Specialties rims, wasn't sitting in one of the indoor buildings, where it would've fit right in.  The pearl green metallic paint...  The pearl green metallic paint was one of our favorite features on James Austin's '55 Chevy 3100. The Stepside was shaved and nosed, and loaded with a Chevy 350 small-block. It won Second Place in the Full Pickup 1953-1956 Except GM (1955-1956) class.  Elvin Scalise from Los Angeles...  Elvin Scalise from Los Angeles paid $300 for this '39 GMC a few years ago, and got busy with a radical rebuild that includes some front and rear fender skirts and a complete custom bed. The open hood reveals a small-block Chevy engine.  John Devine's '55 Ford F-100...  John Devine's '55 Ford F-100 seems super simple and clean, but the attention to detail starts becoming obvious the more time you spend with it. The truck was built at So-Cal Speed Shop and runs a 460ci Ford SVO Cobra Jet engine. The seafoam green paint is contrasted with black on top and down the back of the cab.  Andy and Patty Heintzelman...  Andy and Patty Heintzelman gave the '50s custom treatment to their '55 Ford. Custom elements include the tube grille, spots, '54 Buick headlights, and '50 Pontiac taillights, not to mention the wide whites and spinners.  Back at the Suede Palace,...  Back at the Suede Palace, Glenn Kramer was advertising his automotive upholstery shop with the graphics on his '32 Ford. The body sits on a custom frame, and the 305 Chevy engine is topped with an Offy intake and triple Rochester two-barrels.  We like '46 Fords to begin...  We like '46 Fords to begin with, but the custom grille, shaved sheetmetal, Americans, cool stance, and plum- colored paint on Ran Walk's pickup really got our attention.  Eric Steinbrecher's drab-green...  Eric Steinbrecher's drab-green "Second Chance" '67 Chevy is built in the popular style of World War II inspired vehicles-but in a highly stylized way. Check out all those rivets in the bare-metal interior. The bomber theme carries over to the bed, complete with faux cargo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Thinker??? - Haul Monitor
Ryan talks about the friendly badgering that goes on around the shop and overcoming obstacles that seemly pop up out of nowhere during a project....
more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|