History Ever See The AMBR Winner from 1957? No?

Ask most rodders who won the AMBR in 1957 and in most cases you'll get "I don't know" or you might get "Jerry Woodward won that year". Very few people can actually describe this rod as few have seen it and those that do know it would rather forget it. It is the most Fugly AMBR winner of the 50s

America's Most Beautiful Roadster for 1957, Jerry Woodward's A roadster.

 

So it won with the quad headlights? A few pics it doesnt have them. Looks better without...

 

It made sort of a splash because, if I remember correctly, it was the first non-California roadster to win the AMBR...and yes it won with the quad headlights.

 

WOW Jimmy, you're right I have never seen that before. How can I unsee it now?

 

less is more.

 

Wonder where it is now and what it looks like

 

First time I ever saw it for sure. All I can say it's different but I would have to change the rear if I owned it.

 

Wonder what the competition looked like?

 

not nearly enough headlights, and he needs TWO 'connie' kits at the rear - like the old MG TCs.

Shame on the AMBR committee of 1957. I, too wonder how ugly the competition must have been. What a forgettable 'car'.

dj

 

I think Woodward still has it!
If I remember correctly, when they were setting up the big display of previous winners about 10 years ago, he was invited to bring it back out for it, but chose not to.

 

That's not real bad...at least it looks like a true roadster. I think Tex Smith's 1963 XR-POS-Whatever was the ugliest ever to win...it wasn't a "roadster," it was an abortion...

R-

 

It must be traditional for the judges to pick the wrong car.......

 

That was here locally in Phoenix for awhile within the last couple of decades. I remember almost tripping over it out at the Pavillions in Scottsdale at on point. I was the only one in my crew that knew what it was. After telling everybody, I later had to prove it! Musta' been an off year at GNRS!!!

 

I knda like it. But what is that collar around the plate off of?

 

Wasn't that the year with dual winners and his name was taken off the big trophy at some point?

 

I agree that certainly they should have been able to pick a much more deserving car, but I'd take it over any of the r__t rod junk out there today. It looks to be a well built car that's a little lacking in the looks department. With a few mods here an there it'd probably look alright. Just getting rid of the quads would do a lot for it.

 

If I remember right, that car got redone at some point.

And it looked much worse than that.

( or even worse than that...)

I've been searching for pics, but couldnt find any.

 

Truer words were never spoken....

 

That looks like it was built in Australia. Jimmy, are you sure Jerry wasn't from down under ?

 

I estimate that $900 in 1957 would equal about $15,000 in today's dollars. (I would imagine there is a website for this calculation but I can not locate it). I would like to see a car with $15k in outside work win the AMBR again, but I am not holding my breath.

 

Last I heard of it, Woodward still owned it, and had added twin McCullough superchargers. I think it was for sale for $60,000.

I like it's weirdness... and would like the "back story" as to why Woodward's name was later removed from the trophy (and his name from the list of winners), and then how he was chosen to do a special build for the show a few years later.

I believe "The Glass Slipper" won the Competition category that year, too.

 

Over head shot ...... isn't too bad....

 

I second the vote for XR6 as ugliest ever....WTF those judges smoke in the back room?

 

That hurts to think about, bet the negatives were burned.

 

You can put me down for that too. YIKES! One of the few Hot Rod covers where whats in the background looks better than the car!

 

Thats true!!----For the record---Ol' Leroy never did finish any of his projects!!!
As for the '57 winner, at least it was a ROADSTER!!----Later, never could figure out why they let in coupes,sedans,customs,& motorcycles to participate in a GNRS, starting in Oakland,Ca.---They need to just call it a "Car show" & be done with it, like it or not, thats exactly what it is!!!

Same thing for the Portland roadster show!---At least I had the pleasure of telling one of the promoters the same thing described above!---His answer was: Oh well, the "NAME" has been around for so long, they (Promoters) decided to leave it intact to draw more people to the show!!
READ: MONEY in promoters pockets!

Don't even get me started on "Rat rods".

 

This was the year before all the major manufacturers went to dual headlights. It was a gaudy era for sure. Back then and today, there are rods that don't meet everyones criteria. Like it or not, this was tradition.
I would remove a few things and have a neat little summer driver.

 

$600.00 in 57, is $6,983.97 now.. with the rate of inflation @ 676.0%

 

Most of you unbeliver's need to remember, 1957 was a life time ago, what is traditional
today, was still being defined. I was there,taste and style were a whole lot different.
If you take a look back in 50 years you may be suprised.

Jack