I'll bet the attention to detail on every one is outta this world yet I never feel bad using a critical eye. Could I do that level of work? Does it matter? Am I a dick because I can? This show is an orgy of attention foisted upon cars of all stripes (no pun intended). It's an automotive wet Tshirt contest, clearly we don't prefer silicone. Nuff said...
Add me to the list of people who would pick the '34 out as my favorite. The RPU isn't bad either, although I'd prefer different wheels, and if I were to drive it, I'd need a taller windshield to avoid the gorilla-in-a-teacup look. That would just be for me though.
Back to page one and the photos of the 9 cars that are competing for the AMBR 2024. How and when were they selected? If anyone won the Lottery and decided they wanted to build a car or have it built to compete in a future AMBR what are the steps evolved? It is a great event, happy to have been there twice, just wondering how the cars get there. Judging is a totally different topic. Bob
Ref the pink roadster. I believe the gal is the owner. I gather she for some years (she's about 18 now?) has a pink based 'brand' (merching t shirts etc) and the car is an extension of that. Read into that what you wish. I do like Alan Johnsons stuff usually. I'm sure the car is beautifully built. Chris
Very few cars will look good in a straight on side shot under convention center lighting against a white background. Those first photos don't do the cars any favours.
Looks to me like that 32RPU is hiding some trick details. Looks like Navarro heads and maybe a blower when I zoom in... Otherwise #3 is my pick.
I'd like to see all of them with the tops down/off. The roofs really throw off many (all) of them especially the Chevy.
It's not even close for me the 34 gets my vote that's just me I'll pick a 33 or 34 all day every day.
Yeah I think these photos we always get first are to check how the driver looks in the car with the roof if it has one up. super low contrast, bad lighting and a bad angle. and every year that’s our first look. I’d think the fix would be as soon as the pull off they pull into a spot with an actual car photographer with a little staged area with back drop/ lighting etc for a quick photo of two before they go get set up for the weekend would give us a much better look. just looking at @Tom davison photos from this show already show some of these cars in a. waaaaaaaaay more flattering way
https://www.facebook.com/GreaseMonkeyPrincess/ Yes, she is the owner of the car. She is daughter of one of my car club (Cincy Street Rods) members. Car was built by Johnson's Hot Rod Shop.
I got the photos off the Grand National Roadster Shows Instagram page. I would guess they are not overly concerned with providing good photos for the internet as they want people at their show spending money.
I know where they came from, you’d just think they’d want the first look photos of “americas most beautiful roadster” to not make them look terrible. the same profile shots are always what gets circulated to the media and their website. From a money making point of view showing the “beautiful “ cars in a more flattering light would probably make me want to go check it out more if I were local.
Every year I have gone the place has been packed. Haven't been since covid so maybe their numbers are down but before that they had no need to entice more people to show up.
IMHO those wheels and the Flathead engine belong on/in 2 different cars! If I had to choose, I’d say the 32.5 flamed tub.
I have very little interest in most all of these this year. I'll go elsewhere to check out the classic gathering of fat tire cars I grew up with. Glad I appreciate more than one style of build. Later...
Well of all of these cars I actually think the Chev is the best - if you replace those ridiculous wheels with 30s size/style wires. It has a very strong 30s custom feel about it, it's what someone who'd have wanted a Duesenberg Murphy roadster but could not afford the $$$$$ might have built. No idea what's under the hood but a hotted up GMC would be in order... But then I'm weird, so.
My (yawn) choice with closer shots/different perspective. and the rest of them: https://inthegaragemedia.com/2024-grand-national-roadster-show-first-look-at-ambr-competition/
I've seen a few angles of that Chevy, and it misses on every angle for me, mostly because of the roof.
I need to see more pics of it but that kind of roof was seen on more than one 30s roadster. It's not the "most beautiful roadster" for sure but to me it could represent 30s trends in the 30s which is what I like about it (again, without those wheels)
Thanks for the better photos, Joe Blow. The flamed Tub is still my pick. It picked an era, and it looks like all the components match.
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