America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, the AMBR Award, pronounced “amber,” will be presented this coming weekend, January 23-26, 2015, at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, Californa. The show started in 1950 and is the oldest indoor auto show in the world.
The winner of the AMBR award is honored with an inscribed plaque, which joins the past winners at the pedestal of the six-foot tall trophy. Awarded to an “open” hot rod, the vehicle must be a roadster - a two seated convertible.
Roger Rohrdanz describes the judging process:
In recent years, “changes were made that effect the judging of roadsters entering the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster category, or AMBR. They must have never been shown at any show prior to the Grand National Roadster Show. While this is a common practice at the Autorama in Detroit and other shows around the country, it was new for this show. Another change was that the owner or authorized driver will drive the car a short distance in front of the judges who will observe the roadster in action. Then the driver will stop in front of a viewing screen. The judges will approach the vehicle and circle the roadster from all angles, viewing how well the car and the driver fit. The judges will check out every detail on the car from all angles. Then the owner or driver will be given an opportunity to point out the features on the car that he/she feels sets the vehicle apart from other roadsters. The judges will review the “build book.” The roadster is then scored in these categories: visual design detail, engineering, interior, engine, paint, and undercarriage… [The] Award is given to the most beautiful roadster and is open to all United States built roadsters, roadster pickups and touring vehicles built in 1937 or earlier, with most of the cars centered on the famous ’32 Deuce. Standing next to the monstrously large trophy, one is grasped by the tradition of the AMBR award. No matter what our views, tastes and ideals are, or how we argue our opinions, the history and heritage of the show and past recipients of the award give us all a little shiver as we view the cars vying for the [2015] AMBR award.” Read more of Roger’s GNRS coverage in the links below.
Read more about this weekend's events here and the pinup contest here. If you are wandering around the show, come see us at booth 4-830 and say hello!
Recent Winners
2014: 1935 Chevy Phaeton, “The Black Bowtie,” owned by Wes Rydell. Read more here.
2013: 1927 Ford Track Nose Roadster “Kelly Brown” owned by John Mumford, built by Roy Brizio Street Rods. Read more about here and GNRS AMBR coverage by Roger Rohrdanz here.
2012: 1927 Ford Roadster owned by Bill Lindig, built by SoCal Speed Shop. Read more about the car here and click here to read Roger Rohrdanz’s coverage from 2012 and see more photos of the AMBR winner.
2011: 1934 Ford Roadster owned by Daryl Woldswinkel, built by Doug Jerger of Squeeg’s Kustoms. Click here to read more about the winner and read Roger Rohrdanz and Richard Parks’ event coverage here.
We can't wait to see what contestants the 66th Grand National Roadster Show will bring this weekend! Keep an eye on our News section for coverage and our Car Shows for photos from our Roving Reporters.
All Photos from Hotrodhotline Roving Reporters.