GNRS Celebrates 75 Years

The 75th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Roadster Show, presented by Meguiar’s, rolls into the Fairplex in Pomona from January 31 through February 2, 2025.

This year’s celebration will include more than 50 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) and Al Slonaker Memorial Award winners in the Feature Building, presented by the Petersen Automotive Museum. This is the largest collection of past winners yet assembled — and it will also include tributes to GNRS Hall of Fame inductees and historical memorabilia.

The GNRS brings 500 hot rods inside the Fairplex buildings, and more than 500 vehicles will join outside for the 19th annual Grand Daddy Drive-In.

As is typical for the GNRS, there will be dozens of incredible custom cars will debut and compete for the 75th America’s Most Beautiful Roadster and Al Slonaker Memorial Awards.

The AMBR award is traditionally presented to a vehicle featuring exceptional originality, style, design, craftsmanship, engineering and functionality. It’s open to all 1937-and-older U.S.-production-based roadsters, roadster pickups, phaetons and touring cars. The winner will receive a $12,500 prize, their name on the nine-foot-tall perpetual trophy provided by ARP Fasteners and a smaller version of the trophy to take home.

The Al Slonaker Memorial Award, created by the GNRS founder in 1974, recognizes the best non-roadster vehicle at the show chosen by a panel of industry experts. The winner’s name will be engraved on a custom billet perpetual trophy, and they will receive a $12,500 prize and a smaller take-home trophy, all presented by ARP Fasteners.

“This is an incredibly important milestone for the Grand National Roadster Show, and this year’s event will be the biggest and best one in 75 years,” says John Buck, producer of the Grand National Roadster Show. “In addition to dozens of brand-new custom builds, we’re bringing together some of the most significant and memorable hot rods ever built. It’s a can’t-miss event for anyone who loves hot rods and custom cars.”

The show includes the vintage-themed Suede Palace, which celebrates more traditional hot rods, customs and drag cars from the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s. The weekend will also feature historic cars such as Dyno Don’s bright yellow 1976 NHRA Pro-Stock Ford Mustang II and Bill Niekamp’s modified 1927 Ford roadster that set records on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Pinstripers from around the world will create automotive art to be auctioned off each day, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Gavin R. Stevens Foundation.

The Grand National Roadster Show runs from 10 am to 6 pm from January 31 through February 2. Daily general admission is $40 for ages 13 and up, $10 for children ages 6-12 and free for children under 6.

Learn more here.