Featured Hot Rods 2025 GNRS Contenders

@ALLDONE , very few of us will kick any of them out of our garage. They are all masterpieces of design, construction and detail.
However, we all have our own peculiar tastes. Also, these are all out in public competing for the Most Beautiful. Just like the Olympics or international beauty pageants, we can have opinions on those that compete on a higher level than we ourselves can achieve.
I can't lay down paint or sew or fabricate at that level, but can spot a flaw or have an opinion on a component or design choice. This is not sour grapes or bad mouthing the local car guy's best efforts. It is hopefully a healthy discussion of the relative merits of the best of the best.
If I pick on a minor detail on a car, it's a given that everything around that minor quibble is to the highest standard and beyond reproach. If any were to show up at a local gathering, they would be the center of attention, just like a pro level athlete at the local field.

 

If the 36 doesn't win, I'd be very surprised.

 

My vote is any of the 36's the last one is is killer. Troy and his guys hit out the park every time very cool to say the least on his build.

 

Rod pretty much nails it here. I know two of the judges picking the AMBR. Yes, of course they are following the guidelines, but we also need to remember that the award is for the "MOST BEAUTIFUL", and those words are very subjective, aren't they? ... 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' ...
The judges have a monumental task and they take this effort very seriously. Our opinions here really don't (and shouldn't) matter in who the winner will be.

 

Thank you for sharing your pics, Looking forward to more detail shots of the contenders. Troy is hands down the winner but looking at the rest, I sure like the roadster pick up. What a kool build...

 

Like I said, I'm differant... I look at cars the same as the owners.... I say something or pick something good to say first... kinda biblical raised so I take the log out of my eye before try to get a spec out of someone elses...I can't build a show winner roadster, I'm a hack, farm repair guy...So...bu the time I post the good about these cars no time for the spec to point out...

 

I agree with what @Special Ed and @RodStRace both have said. I can't remember if I said this in this thread or another, but I don't care much for any of the '36s at all, not my style. RRBT will probably win with their entry. BUT, and I look at each tree, not the forest, the attention to detail, creativity and craftsmanship, all the contestants get my utmost respect!

 

For F sakes! You gotta love that RPU!

 

I understand what this show is about..but would hate to have to pick one thats better than all the rest...pretty sure personal preferences will play a bigger role at the end of this...and there will be a lot of upset people.... it needs to be the worlds most beautiful ROADSTERS, WERE THEY ALL WIN BY BEING INVITED..

 

Look up Modern Rodding on Facebook or Instagram, they have 4-5 photos of every entry. No detailed chassis shots yet.

 

Why would a retractable top be a requirement? I'm pretty sure the top on the Ala Kart isn't retractable.

The top on the '32 RPU is not retractable, but it could be run sans-top.

 

Is this one yours?

 

America's most beautiful convertible?

 

Limefire was repainted orange? Not knocking it, pretty classic hot rod stuff there.

I get the feeling (and I may have read this here about last years non-entrants) some of the top builders saw what RRbT was building for this years show and decided to wait until next year, so to speak. I'm sure all of the other entries are top notch builds, but this one stands out as a no-expenses spared type project, and that's fine. It's art, an investment for the owner.

The lower 1/4 of the grille painted black really takes away some of the uniqueness of the grill design, however. Not sure why that was done. It looks to me like the front and rear tires are two different diameters, just not exaggerated as usually seen. The front and rear wheels appear to have slightly different offsets, too?

Agree about the top angle on the two phaetons and the uber-slated windshield on the orange '32... odd, but, not my ride.

The '32 RPU has some odd proportions with all that rear overhang. I think a shortened bed or the rear axle and fenders moved rearward would have helped things. I didn't realize it WASN'T all black until viewing that last pics of it. That paintwork is gorgeous, though.

 

The owner and the shop that built the 32 RPU knew that they were going up against Troy this year and pulled the trigger anyway instead of waiting for next year. The work put into all of the contestants is as always amazing. Wish I could see them all in person.

 

Sure seems like with all this expert knowledge, the members here could build an AMBR car in their sleep. Or at least be judges. Funny that nobody here was asked to judge.

Sure, taste is a factor. Funny though, there are a lot of boomers whose masculinity is still hurt by the pink car from last year. Also, a lot of the discussions seem to devolve to how the show organizers should change the award criteria, how the judges can't possibly be unbiased, "why does that car have black wheels, I'll never own a car with black wheels", "that car hurt my feelings", "why aren't all the entries H.A.M.B. legal, etc. The award has been handed out since 1950 and they have 11 solid entries this year, I think they're doing just fine.

Yes, there are intelligent arguments made in some cases about design or a pick about minor details, but whether it's this award or some guy at a car show, there's lots of "should have done this" by guys who are sitting on their duff not building stuff.

There are things design wise I noticed that I don't think flow well. For instance the orange 32 with the air cleaners through the hood, the car is orange with black interior and accents and a little bit of off-white striping. The engine and blower are black, but the off-white grille and firewall look to me like the car is a bit confused in the under hood shots. Just doesn't flow. However, the car isn't my vision. I can choose to bitch about why they didn't do it a certain way, or I can reflect on what they were trying to do and appreciate it for being a bit different. The beauty is we get to choose which way we want to behave

That roadster pickup sure nailed a classy look with a killer hot rod stance. I'm digging it too.

 

That's the detail that I think makes these old trucks so cool. Sure, you could bob it and streamline it, but that rear overhang is the character of the truck and they chose to leave it and make it look classy with it. To be honest I find the bobbed beds look weirder than the overhang. Then again I like unusual vehicles.

 

Built at home by an 80+ year old hot rodder.

 

Where was this picture taken? Kennedy Bros.?

 

Err, I can see a HAMBer judge standing next to the contestants in a few of those pics at the banner. And I’m sure he has good taste and understanding.

 

Kenny G's garage, in the basement of his home in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Made them along with the air cleaners, tail light bezels, license plate frame.

 

In my mind I just assumed that it was. They are so big on drivability, how the owner fits in the car, easy of ingress/egress, it has to run and drive across the platform...I took it a step too far thinking that you would have to put the top down (if so equipped) without getting some friends to help unbolt the top and set it safely aside. And I can recall several roadsters that had no top that won for that matter.

I tend to overanalyze things. But, all that being said, I do love the brightwork around the top on the green 36. Amazing detail.

 

I'm with ya, that green machine is wicked cool, but I think the rear could benefit from a bigger WHEEL and a smaller TIRE, but, it's still a stunner.

 

In deference to 55snopro440: The following is merely an opinion and is of no significance whatsoever.
All of the contenders display a level of detail and perfection that I could never attain in a million years.
It’s probably blasphemy to say this as a HAMB member, but I just don’t care for four bangers and the monochrome or semi-monochrome look (and the all black RPU is just that), even if some parts are (edit) green. And it’s too shiny for the style.
I’m not a phaeton fan. The RRBT ‘36 is amazing but kind of in a class by itself. I’m amazed and impressed by the roadster built at home by the 80 yo owner, he has my undying admiration.
My AMBR judging criteria: which car has the true Hot Rod vibe and would need the fewest changes to make it perfect in my eyes. This year, my finalists are: two of the orange ‘32s and the blue roadster with the green wheels.
My favorite, the ‘32 with the cammer. Knock the shiny off of the valve covers and the wheels and it’s pure hot rod. All the rest are awesome in their own right but competition orange and a big engine does it for me.

 

Potential new award category! Must have roll-up/down windows. Let those cabriolets and convertible sedans shine.

 

Tis a nice one, for sure won't be calling it a "cookie cutter" car.
One thing though.......Now, I'm all about stance, the RPU has it nailed, but, is it me or does the bed look like it has more stance than the rest of the car, my eyes were drawn to that first.

 

In my way of thinking the bed needs to be on the same plane as the running boards and lines of the cab.
I see too many frame swap Chevy AD trucks with the bed slanting towards the rear to in the builder's mind lower the rear of the truck.

Back to that RP that is one slick little truck and outside of the 36 a top runner for the AMBR in my book but plain usually doesn't win no matter how well turned out it is.

 

I meant of the commenters spewing their ideas about what should win and how it should be judged on the threads about AMBR cars, and obviously I don't know what 99.99% of the members here look like.

 

Crap, I get excited about old log trucks

I’d drive em all even the ones you guys don’t care for

maybe I should start an award for AMBLT