Last weekend was the 64th annual Grand National Roadster show at the Fairplex in Pomona. That continues the streak of being the longest running indoor car show in the world.
There is no other car show where concours quality cars meets modern customization like the Grand National roadster show. This show has high quality restorations, top notch custom cars, fabricated cars, in progress rat rods, lowriders and really the most beautiful classic yet modern looking custom roadsters of any car show.
In the Suede Palace and outdoors are the project cars, rat rods and cars that would win awards at other shows but are not up to the standards of the awards at the roadster show. This is where the vendors are selling flannel shirts, pin-up clothes, 50's art, and pinstriped objects.
Since this years theme was Aloha, there was a building devoted entirely to that. A huge collection of wood paneled cars. Most look like they were done a week ago with the wood looking pearlescent in the lights and shining more than the paint. Light woods and dark woods, burly or burnt, and all beautiful.
1932 Fords dominated the altered street categories. There was also a graceful Zephyr, some Mercurys that really stood out, a Kaiser with blue and white fog paint job by Gene Winfield, some beautiful copper paint jobs on old cars and some multicolor flaked out lowriders.
The interiors were meticulous as well with matching upholstery, redone steering wheels and some that were done by Ron Mangus looked like they should come that way.
A lot of the cars here are hand built and there is no way to tell because they are just seamless.
The booths here are also famous because they included Alloway's hot rod shop whose owner won the Builder of the Year award, Windfield's Custom Shop, Ron Mangus interiors, House of Kolor, So Cal Speed shop, Mooneyes, specialty hot rod part makers, and local custom shops.
There is also live music, a charity auction, and attendees can bring items to get pinstriped by the best.
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