We've come to expect a lot of things from the Grand National Roadster Show in its 57-year history. We know there will be debuts of great new rods and customs from top car builders in the Western U.S. It goes without saying that there will be heated competition for the coveted America's Most Beautiful Roadster award. And there's bound to be plenty of pomp and tradition considering that this is the longest-running indoor car show in the world.
Given such expectations, it can be difficult for the Grand National show to dish out surprises and innovations year after year. This could have been especially true this year. Few people expected any upsets in AMBR competition knowing that Ken Reister was bringing his Chip Foose-designed and built Impression roadster--the 2005 Ridler Award winner in Detroit--to contend for the big prize. (Indeed, the car did win.) Furthermore, with two successful years under its belt at the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona, the Grand National had already disproved theories of demise resulting from its move away from the San Francisco Bay area. So, could there really be any new news or features to capture the public's interest in 2006?
In a word, yes. Credit new show owner John Buck with thinking outside the box--or rather, outside the building--and hosting the first-ever (or at least the first we can remember) Grand National Saturday Drive-In. This "show within the show" allowed several hundred local custom and rod owners to participate in the Grand National event by displaying their street-driven rides outside between the show buildings. Additionally, there was an extra hall added this year, dubbed the Suede Palace, which displayed some of the area's coolest primered, down 'n' dirty hardcore rods and customs, and also hosted Saturday's Pinstripers Reunion. Both venues allowed many "average Joe" rodders to be part of an event that many of them have likely only dreamed of entering. Of course, roadsters of all shapes and sizes are a focus her
e, although there were plenty of cool customs filling the event's six show halls. Among these were several spectacular debuts, including J.F. Launier's '51 Kaiser, Keith Kaucher's '54 Ford, and Roger O'Dell's '57 Eldorado. Rather than tell you about all the cool cars, though, we're going to show you some of our favorite entries on the next few pages. Take a look and we think you'll agree that, after nearly six decades, the Grand National Roadster Show exhibits no signs of diminishing expectations.
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 You've seen Keith Kaucher's...  You've seen Keith Kaucher's artwork in these pages before; this is his personal '54 Ford, recently finished by Starlite Rod & Kustom. The extensive mods include a chopped and narrowed '65 Buick Wildcat roof, Camaro rear window, '52 Merc front clip, '54 Chevy grille, extended quarters, custom rear bumpers, reshaped wheel openings, and DuPont Purple Rhapsody paint. There's a triple-carb 390, four-speed, disc brakes, and Fatman spindles underneath. |
 Build a radically customized...  Build a radically customized '51 Kaiser and expect plenty of "what is it?" questions. Canadian J.F. Launier and his Desert Speed Shop crew enhanced the rare car's original lines by shortening it 7 inches... |
 ...chopping the top 5 inches,...  ...chopping the top 5 inches, flipping and reshaping the bumpers, and frenching Jeep Liberty headlights. The beautiful blue body is channeled over a custom frame with 20- and 22-inch Intro wheels and a Cad Northstar mill. |
 If you didn't know Cadillacs...  If you didn't know Cadillacs very well, you'd probably think the fins were original on Roger and Marie O'Dell's '57 Eldorado Seville... |
 ...They're actually from a...  ...They're actually from a '60 model, but fit so well they look natural. The rest of the car--with Sam Foose metalwork and Bobco paint--is equally slick and stunning. |
 Built by New Mexico's Hot...  Built by New Mexico's Hot Rod Haven, Lu Lu's Passion is owner William George's vision of a '58 Impala custom. A stunning fade paint job by Gene Winfield covers a body with shortened wheel openings, molded side pipes, shaved emblems, and a Corvette grille. There's a high-tech LS6 engine underhood, and Ron Mangus threads inside. |
 Performance West created one...  Performance West created one slick cruiser from a utilitarian '59 Chevy sedan delivery by employing some of the best parts in the aftermarket. This included Air Ride Technologies 'bags, Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation discs, a Turn Key Engine Supply LS2 with a Kenne Bell twin-screw supercharger, big-inch MC2 wheels, and PPG Platinum Metallic paint. |
 Tom Brennan had Speedway Customs...  Tom Brennan had Speedway Customs build a classically styled chopped Merc with decidedly modern twists. The DeSoto grille and Buick trim pay homage to tradition, while a '95 Lincoln Mark VIII engine, transmission, and rearend--plus solid Colorado Custom wheels--make the underside completely contemporary. |
 The television show "Overhaulin'"...  The television show "Overhaulin'" had several of its one-week wonders on display. One of our favorites was this lean, green, and clean mid-'60s Thunderbird. |
 Several historic customs that...  Several historic customs that had graced the lawn at Pebble Beach months earlier made their way to the Grand National show floor. It was a true treat to see, in person, the ex-Jack Calori '36 Ford (recently restored by Roy Brizio for Jorge Zaragoza) and the Valley Custom-built '40 Ford convertible, now owned by Tom Gloy. |
 The ever-present Gene Winfield...  The ever-present Gene Winfield was on hand with his latest chopped Merc, which is actually a somewhat updated recreation of the California Gold custom he built in the '50s. |
 Rob Gerring's radical '50...  Rob Gerring's radical '50 Chevy still looks great after more than two years of touring shows, magazine appearances (Rod & Custom, and the 2006 Custom Rodder calendar), and countless awards. |
 John Denich has owned this...  John Denich has owned this mild custom '51 Chevy since his high school days in the 1980s, but the car was originally built decades before that. It now wears House of Kolor Cinnamon Pearl paint, and is slated for some modern suspension upgrades soon. |
 The Grand National show opened...  The Grand National show opened up an entire new building this year that they dubbed the Suede Palace. Inside were plenty of primered, early-style rods and customs, including Gordy Brown's tasty '54 Ford Skyliner. |
 Another new feature for '06...  Another new feature for '06 was the Saturday-only Drive-In, an outdoor show that allowed hundreds of enthusiasts to participate in "The Grand Daddy of Them All." Custom Rodder awarded three "picks" from this group, including John Cesareo's '52 Buick, which was actually a Custom Rodder cover car back in 1993. |
 We found this neat green shoebox...  We found this neat green shoebox Ford outside, as well. It's such a mild custom it might be mistaken for a restoration, but is just as cool as some of the more radical cars. |