By Brian Brennan
Inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Truck ShowThe inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Truck Show (GNTS), presented by LMC Truck and Classic Truck Performance magazine, hosted more than 400 trucks, vans, and SUVs of every make, model, and style at the Fairplex in Pomona back in September. Rod Shows, known for producing the West Coast’s largest and longest-running hot rod shows, closed out the weekend by presenting awards in more than 65 judged classes.
Classic Truck Performance staff found itself all over familiar grounds … the Pomona Fairplex is the home of the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS). It is here that the very first World’s Most Beautiful Truck Award was presented.
Taking home the $12,500 check and the one-off custom trophy, supplied by ARP, was Greg Tidwell. He brought out his ’40 Ford pickup that we were lucky enough to see earlier in the year at the GNRS. Built by Bill Ganahl’s crew at South City Rod & Custom, this beautiful truck is powered by a vintage-styled 450hp stroker 383 from Smeding Performance. With custom sheetmetal work throughout, the truck features a 1-1/2-inch chop, louvered hood and bed panels, sectioned front fenders, reshaped rear fenders, and a raised bed fitted with Claro Walnut wood. The exterior is finished with a glass-like coat of Glasurit Ornament Green paint by Compani Color. Tidwell bested 17 other custom trucks, which ran the gamut from early Fords to late-model Chevys.
Bob and Kent Matranga with Matranga Collection received the inaugural Truck Trend Setter Award, recognizing their contributions to the custom truck hobby. Select vehicles from their collection were on display throughout the weekend.
More than 200 trucks cruised into the Truck-In for the outdoor portion of the show on Saturday and Sunday and the weekend featured over 20 custom vans, many originally built in the ’70s and ’80s.
The popular Pinstriper Charity Auction featured some of the country’s best pinstripers creating custom art to be auctioned off for charity. Their efforts generated $25,000 for the Volunteers for Veterans Foundation.For more information about the GNTS, including the complete list of 2023 award winners and updates on upcoming Rod Shows events, please visit: rodshows.com/gnts. Also make sure to keep tabs on Classic Truck Performance as many of the great-looking trucks that made their appearance at the GNTS will be featured on the pages of CTP.
The ’40 Ford pickup belonging to Greg Tidwell took home the custom World’s Most Beautiful Truck trophy at the inaugural Grand National Truck Show held at the Pomona Fairplex.
Here’s a great example of what was present … a C10 from the Matranga collection. Bob and Kent Matranga were awarded the inaugural Truck Trend Setter Award, recognizing their contributions to the custom truck hobby.
The ARP check for $12,500 was presented to Greg (center) with John Buck of Rod Shows (right) presenting and Bill Ganahl (left), of South City Rod & Custom, holding the check.
Sporting a mild top chop, the custom Ford pickup was beautifully crafted at South City Rod & Custom. Ample power from a Smeding stroker 383 small-block Chevy and then covered in Glasurit Ornament Green paint by Compani Color makes this custom a standout.