Built by Pinkee’s Rod Shop, the 1936 Ford earned the most prestigious award in hot rodding, besting 13 other contenders to win the historic title. In addition to AMBR, over 500 other awards were given out recognizing outstanding vehicles of all kinds that participated in the show.
Pomona, Calif. (January 27, 2019) – The 1936 Ford named the “3-Penny Roadster” owned by George Poteet of Memphis, Tennessee and built by Pinkee’s Rod Shop in Windsor, Colorado earned the coveted “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” title in a highly-anticipated announcement made during the closing ceremonies of the 70th annual Grand National Roadster Show at the Fairplex in Pomona on January 27, 2019. Other major awards presented during the ceremony included the Al Slonaker Memorial Award which was given to Johnny Martin’s 1957 Chevrolet 150 Hardtop “Imagine,” while John Mumford’s 1929 Ford Model A “Ala Kart,” originally built by iconic hot rod builder George Barris and winner of the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster title in 1958 and 1959, won the Bruce Meyer Hot Rod Preservation Award.
More than 500 individual awards were presented during the closing ceremonies of the Grand National Roadster Show, which earned its reputation as “The Grand Daddy of Them All” by showcasing more than 1,600 world-class hot rods, muscle cars, customs and more while attracting tens of thousands of fans over the course of the weekend. Customs, restorations, muscle cars, trucks, hot rods, street machines and lowriders exemplified the very finest that the custom automotive world had to offer.
One of the oldest and most prestigious awards in the automotive world, “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” is presented each year to the best “open” hot rod in the country. This year’s AMBR winner, the 1936 Ford “3-Penny Roadster” owned by George Poteet and built by Pinkee’s Rod Shop, not only took home the title’s $10,000 prize, but is now immortalized on the 9.5-foot tall perpetual trophy alongside a veritable “who’s who” of hot rodding, including such legendary builders as George Barris, Andy Brizio, Boyd Coddington, Barry White, Troy Ladd and Chip Foose.
Drawing massive attention from fans and judges alike, the “3-Penny Roadster” was a standout in the field for its mix of subdued styling, impeccable craftsmanship and subtle, yet extensive body modifications. The custom warm gray PPG paint was a point of interest for many attendees, with industry experts noticing a trend among 2019 AMBR contenders away from bright paint colors and towards more reserved gray and brown tones. This is the first AMBR win for both car owner George Poteet and builder Pinkee’s Rod Shop.
“George Poteet’s 1936 Ford is a truly world-class hot rod and one of the most unique cars we’ve seen in years,” said John Buck, owner of Rod Shows and producer of the Grand National Roadster Show. “1936 Fords are a rare sight in AMBR competition, and our judges loved the car’s blend of traditional and modern styling cues. We’re proud to honor it as this year’s America’s Most Beautiful Roadster.”
This year, the Grand National Roadster Show featured a pair of special exhibits. The “90 Years of the Ford Model A” display celebrated the 90th anniversary of the iconic Ford Model A, which featured over 100 standout Model As including seven prior “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” winners, the iconic Eddie Dye roadster, the Chrisman Brothers Sedan and a Model A Roadster driven by Elvis Presley in the 1957 film “Loving You.” Legendary hot rod designer and builder Chip Foose was honored as the “Builder of the Decade” with a special display of one of the largest gatherings of Foose-designed vehicles ever assembled. The display included twelve outstanding Foose cars and trucks, including two previous “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” winners – the “0032” 1932 Ford Roadster and the “Impression” 1936 Ford Roadster.
The Al Sloanaker Memorial Award is open to any vehicle not competing for “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” and is one of the most prestigious awards the Grand National Roadster Show presents. With a streamlined modern style and incredible workmanship, the 1957 Chevrolet 150 Hardtop called “Imagine” was a favorite for the award despite strong competition. The car features heavily customized bodywork with nearly all body panels modified to fit the lowered form and rides on a sectioned, chopped and channeled one-off chassis. This is the first Al Sloanaker Memorial Award victory for builder and co-owner Johnny Martin of Jonny’s Auto Trim and Rod Shop of Alamosa, Colorado.
This year’s show also featured appearances by celebrities from across the automotive enthusiast community. Steve Strope, star of the hit TV series “Hand Built Hot Rods” and owner of Pure Vision Design, met with enthusiasts and displayed upcoming projects. Builders Troy Ladd, Roy Brizio, Scott Bonowski and more were on hand to greet fans while other automotive celebrities, including Porsche enthusiast Magnus Walker, were in attendance. Live pinstriping and an auction during the “Pinstriper’s Gathering,” along with a raffle for a one-of-a-kind BRM watch commemorating the 1968 Ford Mustang featured in the Steve McQueen film “Bullitt,” raised $45,845 for Drive Toward a Cure, a foundation dedicated to curing Parkinson’s Disease.
For more information about the Grand National Roadster Show and for the full list of 2019 award winners, please visit www.rodshows.com/gnrs/.
