By Nick Licata – Images by the Author
The Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) stands as a testament to the unparalleled allure of the finest hot rods, customs, roadsters, muscle cars, and everything in between and uniting them all at the Fairplex in Pomona, California. The 2025 event celebrates the 75th anniversary of bringing the coolest cars in the country to the West Coast, continuing a legacy of showcasing the very best in the classic car hobby.
A look back at the history of the GNRS reveals its humble beginnings in 1950 as the National Roadster Show. Over the years, it evolved through various Northern California locations before finding a permanent home at the Pomona Fairplex in 2004. The event takes place within multiple large exhibit buildings, each unique to a specific theme. In one building you’ll find top-tier rides competing for the esteemed Al Slonaker Memorial Award, while in another building the finest roadsters can be found competing for the crown jewel for roadster class: the prestigious America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award.
The GNRS caters to a wide audience, featuring a stunning array of classic rides vying for awards across multiple classes. From vintage muscle cars and customs to lowriders, hot rods, and trucks (both patina and pristine), the event offers something to satisfy the taste of just about every classic car enthusiast.
The 75th edition of the event took place over the weekend of January 31-February 2, drawing record crowds and the nation’s most talented hot rod builders to showcase their latest high-end creations. This event solidified the GNRS’s reputation for including an extraordinary mix of brilliant muscle cars and hot rods, where attendees marveled at top-quality vehicles, ranging from meticulous Day Two and Pro Touring restorations to the wildest Pro Street and Gasser-style builds.
For fans of homegrown, daily driver–style rides, the Grand Daddy Drive-In unfolded just outside the exhibit buildings. Throughout the weekend, this outdoor show featured over 1,500 classic muscle cars, hot rods, customs, and trucks driven to the event by passionate enthusiasts, demonstrating their love for the driving aspect of the vintage car hobby and their commitment to preserving Southern California’s eclectic car culture. Sponsored by All Chevy Performance, Classic Truck Performance, and Modern Rodding magazines, the drive-in segment celebrated this diversity by presenting three special Editor’s Choice awards. At All Chevy Performance, we recognized vehicles that stood out for their unique qualities—or were just plain cool. All Chevy Performance Editor’s Choice Awards went to Ron Romo’s 1966 Nova, Mike Roland’s 1955 Chevy, and Jim McKay in his 1966 Chevelle.
After 75 years, the GNRS continues to reign as Southern California’s premier classic car and hot rod event, seamlessly blending high-end muscle cars and hot rods with the authenticity of local rides. As always, the event was packed with jaw-dropping Chevys, and we invite you to enjoy this photo gallery featuring some of our favorite vehicles from this incredible event.
ACP
