he 2025 O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) marked a momentous occasion, celebrating its illustrious 75th anniversary. The venerable America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) competition was at the heart of this grand event, complemented by the distinguished Al Slonaker Memorial Award.

In a dazzling display, 11 newly crafted roadsters vied for the sought-after AMBR title and a generous prize of $12,500 sponsored by ARP. This impressive array featured an agreeable mix: a captivating T-bucket, two classic Model As, three stylish 1936 Fords, and five stunning 1932 Fords. Each vehicle was meticulously designed, destined to fascinate both judges and spectators alike. Notably, three vibrant orange 1932 Ford highboy roadsters graced the lineup—an uncommon sight that piqued interest.

Mark Bentley showcased his remarkable 1932 Ford roadster alongside Mike Curtis with a sleek 1936 Ford phaeton. Mike DeVriendt presented his masterfully crafted 1932 Ford roadster pickup, while Peter Grant displayed a 1931 Ford roadster built by Boerne Stage Kustoms. Fellow entrants included Ken Green with another 1931 Ford roadster, Tony Jurado with his 1932 Ford roadster, Scott Lorenzini presenting a 1932 Ford highboy roadster crafted by the Veazie Brothers, John Mumford with another 1932 Ford highboy built by Roy Brizio Street Rods, and Glenn See with his exquisite 1936 Ford phaeton built by Garage Mahal, alongside Chuck Stanfill’s 1923 Ford T roadster.

t has become relatively common to rework the bumpers on high-end builds, usually tucking them in to fit closely against the body panels rather than hanging “out in the wind” like the original bumpers typically did.

Old Anvil Speed Shop took a different approach with this 1962 Chevy Impala project. Not only did they want the bumpers to hug the body, but they also wanted to add air intakes in the front bumper and a diffuser at the rear. When considering the feasibility of these modifications, they found a host of issues with the original bumpers, which had waves and defects that would have been very challenging to straighten. After lots of deliberation, they hit on the idea of making the bumpers from scratch, from 0.090-inch aluminum sheet.

There is some precedent for this. Those steeped in Chevrolet lore may recall that in 1963 a few Impalas were made for racing, the Z-11 model, which used aluminum for the bumpers and front sheetmetal. These cars are extremely rare and highly prized today. Nevertheless, we can’t think of an example where bumpers of this complexity were hand-fabricated from aluminum, which, as you’ll see, is quite an undertaking.

eKenzie Murphy is a real auto enthusiast. When she decided to build a 1932 Ford highboy roadster, she turned to Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop in Gadsden, Alabama, to construct this unique ride. Alan Johnson has a long history of turning out traditional-style hot rods fitted with unique upgrades, and Murphy knew she could count on him to add his special touch when building the car of her dreams.

While the hot pink color is unusual, it has helped to gather a lot of attention for the car, which won the 2024 Street Rod of the Year award at the Triple Crown of Rodding show in Nashville. It was also a Top 5 finalist for Street Rod of the Year with Goodguys and a finalist for the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award at the Grand National Roadster Show.

This car has a traditional character, but many special features make it unique. In this issue, we’ll look at how the cockpit was stretched and how the windshield was chopped and laid back to a radical angle.

ell Auto Upholstery is remarkable for a variety of reasons; they not only handle projects from high-end show cars but also daily drivers with the same level of care and quality. Started by Manny Hurtado Sr. and his three brothers, Bell Auto Upholstery has been in business for over 60 years. Today, Daniel Hurtado and his brother Manny Hurtado Jr. carry on the family tradition.

Recently, our cub reporter, Brian Brennan, stopped by and found Daniel installing a headliner in a 1970 Chevy Nova. With his trusty box camera in hand, Brennan followed along, only occasionally getting in Daniel’s way.

Typically, headliners are given their shape with metal bows inserted into channels sewn into the material with the edges secured with some sort of trim. In that regard, the Nova shown here isn’t unusual as it uses curved steel rods for bows and a combination of metal trim at the front and rear glass and plastic trim for a finished look and to secure the material. Of course, contact adhesive is also used to hold the headliner in place. A replacement vinyl headliner was installed for this application as it duplicated the pattern found in the original material.

hen it comes to passenger comfort, one of the most significant additions that can be made to a modern hot rod is the installation of air conditioning—or, more precisely, a contemporary heat and cool climate-control system. Like most things, the more you know about these systems, the easier it will be to select one that is right for your application, install it, and maintain it properly.

While there are aftermarket units that are air conditioning (A/C) only, true climate-control systems that include A/C, heat, and defrost are the most often installed. These systems can be divided into two types: those for universal applications and those designed for specific vehicles, such as Vintage Air’s SureFit series. But regardless of the type being installed, the same individual components are involved and they work the same way.

he 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback Shelby G.T. 350 may sound like a modern car, but it actually hails from six decades ago. Many of us recall the Shelby G.T. 350, perhaps not as a contemporary vehicle, but as a quintessential muscle car that many dream of having parked in their garage today.

This month, we take a closer look at this vintage muscle car and its legacy. When it debuted, the sticker price for a 1965 Shelby G.T. 350 was $4,575. The “R” model featured alterations such as a modified front bumper, valance, rollbar, and 15×6 Cragar/Shelby alloy wheels, compared to the standard 15×5.5 wheels. The Shelby G.T. 350 was a “lightweight” at just 2,790 pounds, housing a 306hp 289 small-block Ford engine that could reach speeds of 140 mph.

The photographs illustrate an original Shelby G.T. 350 (SFM5S342), built on June 2, 1965, boasting a mere 12,190 miles on the odometer. This vehicle was auctioned at Mecum Indy in 2023 for an impressive $319,000; it underwent a complete restoration in 2007. It retains its matching-numbers HiPo 289/306hp V-8 engine, Muncie T-10 four-speed transmission, SAAC serial verification letter, Shelby historical paperwork, inclusion in the Shelby Registry, and the Ford VINs in their original locations. It is reported only 562 Shelby G.T. 350 Mustangs were produced. For those tracking their value, a different Shelby G.T .350, SFM5S383, fetched $990,000 at the Mecum Kissimmee 2025 Auction.