Few events capture the spirit of hot rodding quite like the Grand National Roadster Show, and the 76th annual GNRS, presented by Meguiar’s, proved once again why Pomona remains a must-stop destination for builders, enthusiasts, and automotive history lovers alike.
America's Most Beautiful Roadster 2026 Goes To . . .
Above: The lead photo and the one just above is of the Grand National Roadster Show 2026 America's Most Beautiful Roadster Show winner - a 1932 Ford Roadster, owned by Nicole Baird, that was built by Squeeg's Kustoms.
Above and below: The 1936 Ford Roadster that earned the AMBR award in 2025.
Held at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, this year’s show brought together some of the country’s most impressive roadsters, hot rods, customs, and historically significant machines—culminating in Sunday’s awards ceremony and the presentation of two of the most prestigious honors in the custom car world: America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) and the Al Slonaker Memorial Award.
Above and below: A 1933 Ford Roadster, owned by Beth Myers, was a strong 2026 America's Most Beautiful Roadster contender. Roy Brizio Street Rods built the '33, which was inspired by Jack Morgan's 1934 Roadster - the famous street rod that graced the cover of the April 1951 Hot Rod magazine.
In the world of hot rodding, there are awards—and then there’s AMBR.
This year’s America’s Most Beautiful Roadster title went to a stunning 1932 Ford Roadster owned by Nicole Baird and built by Squeeg’s Kustoms, rising above eight other elite contenders to claim the AMBR title and the $12,500 prize sponsored by ARP Fasteners.
Above: 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle, owned by Brian O'keefe, of Orange, CA
Beyond the check, AMBR winners earn something even more lasting: a permanent place on the 9.5-foot-tall perpetual trophy, joining a list of 75 past winners that reads like a hall of fame—George Barris, Andy Brizio, Chip Foose, and many more.
Above and below: The Little Deuce Coupe - created by those below and also made famous by The Beach Boys - 'Little Deuce Coupe' and Hot Rod magazine
Baird, a descendant of the Ford Motor Co. family, presented a roadster that was equal parts classic and contemporary—meticulously finished in metallic blue pearl with white scallops and detailed refinement from bumper to tail.
Above and below: Eugene and Patti Bothello are the proud owners of a 1959 Chevrolet Impala that is a superb restomod build - crafted by BBT Fabrications, of Mahomet, IL. The details are just below.
The paintwork was completed by Tracy and Terry Weaver, with the visual impact elevated even further by extensive chrome work from Jon Wright & Ogden and polishing by Russell’s Custom Polish. Under the hood sits a Buick Nailhead V-8 built by Roger Beckman, while the interior was crafted by Recovery Room, completing a build that looked as perfect up close as it did under the lights.
Above and below: The orangey sweet details on this Dodge AA100 dragster are just below.
The Al Slonaker Memorial Award: A VW Karmann Ghia Steals the Spotlight
Above and below: 1933 Ford Roadster - 2026 America's Most Beautiful Roadster contender - owned by John and Jennifer Farleigh of Scott City, KS-this contender's display included cool and detailed signage, which you can see some of here.
Above: 1973 Chevy Blazer 2WD pro-touring, owner by Darrin Smith, of Huntington Beach, CA
While roadsters dominate the GNRS headlines, the show’s heart has always included the broader custom world - and that’s exactly what the Al Slonaker Memorial Award represents.
Above and below: 1932 Ford Roadster - 2026 America's Most Beautiful Roadster contender - owned by Stanley Chavik, of Orange, CA
This year’s honor went to Dennis Troggio’s 1955 VW Karmann Ghia, built by Type One Restoration, standing out in a diverse field of 12 contenders that included a 1958 Chevrolet Corvette, 1956 Plymouth Roadrunner, and 1951 Studebaker Champion.
Above and below: 1932 Ford Roadster America's Most Beautiful Roadster contender 2026 - Owned by Shawna and David Pillado - Read the signage just below to learn why this black beauty's named '3rd Times a Charm.'
The award—presented since 1974 to the show’s best non-roadster vehicle—honors Al and Mary Slonaker, founders of the Grand National Roadster Show in 1950. Troggio also received a $12,500 prize courtesy of ARP Fasteners and a billet trophy.
Above and below: 1935 Ford Roadster named 'Davester' - 2026 America's Most Beautiful Roadster contender - owned by Dave and Rebecca Gonzales, of Murrieta, CA
Built over approximately four years, this Ghia wasn’t simply restored - it was reinvented. The car was extensively reengineered with reshaped body panels throughout, including restyled fenders, doors, hood, and decklid, along with modified wheel openings and stretched quarter-panels to properly fit wider tires.
Finished in a custom dark green over olive green paint scheme, the Karmann Ghia also showcased next-level craftsmanship in the details, from bespoke fasteners with custom-machined bolt heads to brake rotors machined from solid 90-pound blocks of cast iron.
Above and below: 1932 Ford Phaeton - in contention for the 2026 America's Most Beautiful Roadster - owned by Brandie Laird, of Bear, DE - The signage below provides the great details.
Power comes from a 2.4-liter air-cooled flat-four, backed by a reinforced transmission and limited-slip differential—built not just for show, but to handle serious output.
A Show That Keeps Raising the Bar
As the awards wrapped, John Buck, owner of Rod Shows and producer of GNRS, summed up what many of us felt walking the Fairplex:
“The 76th annual Grand National Roadster Show demonstrated that the world of hot rodding and custom cars is as innovative and popular as ever. We were honored to have so many industry legends, historic cars and ground-breaking builds fill the Fairplex this year. It was the perfect way to celebrate more than seven decades of this incredible show.”
“Fat Attack” and Builder of the Year Highlights
Beyond the trophy cars, GNRS is always packed with displays that bring history and craftsmanship into the spotlight.
This year included the special “Fat Attack” display, showcasing what may be one of the largest collections of fat fender cars and trucks (1935–48) ever assembled in one place. Standouts included the “Project 40” 1940 Ford Sedan, “Big John” Mazmanian’s 1940 Willys Gasser, and John D’Agostino’s 1940 Merc Kustom “Stardust”—along with cars tied to legendary names like Chip Foose, Boyd Coddington, and Gene Winfield.
Above and below: 1937 Ford Roadster named 'Kapone' - in contention for the 2026 America's Most Beautiful Roadster - owned by Cory Kozlowski - The signage below provides the great details.
GNRS also recognized Russell Zulim and Double Z Hot Rods as the 2026 GNRS Builder of the Year, supported by a special display honoring their work.
Grand Daddy Drive-In & Giving Back
The outdoor side of GNRS continues to grow into a show of its own. The 20th annual Grand Daddy Drive-In hosted more than 1,500 vehicles, ranging from traditional hot rods to modern customs, turning the Fairplex grounds into an all-day cruise-in atmosphere.
And as always, GNRS made room for community impact: the show’s popular pinstriper auctions raised more than $70,000 for the Every ONE Free Foundation.
Mark Your Calendars: GNRS Returns in 2027
The 77th Grand National Roadster Show returns to the Pomona Fairplex on Feb. 5–7, 2027.
For more information and the complete list of 2026 award winners, visit rodshows.com/gnrs.
Classic Industries Will Be There - GNRS 2027!
As you might imagine, the Classic Industries' booth at the 2026 Grand National Roadster Show, the home of the America's Most Beautiful Roadster and the Al Slonaker award are won/earned each year, was packed throughout the show. Show goers grabbed up all the free Classic Industries' Parts and Accessories Catalogs, as well as the Flatline Barriers' heat and sound insulation samples, and left the CI crew with just the display to pack and haul back to Surf City U.S.A.! No worries! You can order a free catalog by clicking the button below. The crew of Classic Industries looks forward to seeing you at the 2027 Grand National Roadster Show!
