We’re counting down to the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS), and we thought it would be fun to look back at the cars built during the event. Yes, the GNRS is the original “Build a Hot Rod in a Day/Days/Week” show. Over the years, a variety of cars—from T-buckets and roadsters to Camaros—have been assembled from the ground up at the GNRS, giving the crowd a behind-the-scenes look, so to speak, at what it takes to build (at least assemble) a hot rod. It’s exciting to watch hot rodders apply their craftsmanship and drive out with what they brought in.
While many cars have been part of this tradition, one remains a frequent favorite, the 1932 Ford roadster that belonged to its original owner, Jack Stratton, back in the day. His name shouldn’t be a surprise to many hot rodders, especially those from the Bay Area, or anyone who has visited Roy Brizio Street Rods.
It was at the 37th Annual Grand National Roadster Show, held at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California, in 1990, that the roadster came to life. Jack has worked as the lead fabricator at Brizio’s since 1982 (43 years). Jack wanted to build a roadster, and Roy Brizio was approached by Harold Bagdasarian, aka “Baggy,” who owned the Oakland Roadster Show at the time, about building a car on stage.
Roy tells us, “It was a perfect opportunity for me to help Jack promote parts from suppliers to support the project.”
The 1932 Ford highboy roadster that Jack built started at home, taking about six months to complete on nights and weekends. Like all homebuilt hot rods, the budget was the main guide, especially since Jack had just purchased a house.
The body displayed Moon gauges and was painted black. He traded labor with Sid Chavers for upholstery, and Greg Barker made a huge effort to help Jack with the bodywork and paint. The only time it was fully assembled was on stage at the 1990 GNRS as the centerpiece of Roy’s booth: Roy Brizio Street Rods. Another close friend and fellow worker, Jim Vickery, also from Brizio’s shop, wired it on stage. Jack says he kept the roadster for about five years, driving it occasionally to local rod runs and Goodguys events.
The roadster was featured in its “stage build” condition in the June 1990 issue of Rod & Custom. To this day, it remains largely original, with less than 30,000 miles on the odometer, and has had only four owners. As recently as 2023, and earlier in 2016, the roadster made trips back to Brizio’s shop for repairs and maintenance. Sid also restored the original upholstery. Today, the roadster is owned by Steven Bernston, who is aware of its history as a “famous show car” and has taken great care of it.
It’s an interesting tale of how our hot rods come to life. MR
