THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
STEPPIN’ UP TO A LIFTED TUNDRA
To a truck nut, there is no thrill like driving his pickup right after it’s been lifted. No pun intended, but a lifted truck just seems to bring a guy up in the world. Unfortunately, the thrill is gone as soon as his lady gripes about her struggle to get in it.
MANDY: Honda Integra Type-R build
Things have been changing, especially with the types of cars being built and showcased. Instead of industry-backed projects, these are cars put together by everyday enthusiasts. Erick Dickerson is one of those people. You might call him a collector—he owns nearly every model of Honda or Acura from the recent generation. With a garage full of Civics, an S2000, several Integras, and even an NSX, Dickerson may not exactly be your average guy—but his biggest decision each morning isn’t what to wear, it’s what to drive.
Crowning Glory: Beth Myers’ 1932 Ford Phaeton Claims America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Title
America has just crowned a fresh beauty in the world of roadsters. As the curtains fell on Sunday evening at the 2024 O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Roadster Show, Beth Myers’ jaw-dropping 1932 Ford Phaeton clinched the coveted title of America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, securing both the prestigious trophy and a generous $12,500 check from ARP (Automotive Racing Products). This triumph marks the third AMBR victory for the skilled hands at Roy Brizio Street Rods in South San Francisco, led by master builder Roy Brizio. And if we trace the lineage of AMBR winners associated with Brizio over the years, including the 2023 winner crafted by Jack Chisenhall, the tally only grows.
Spotlighter
Old-School Cool Lives On at the 2025 GNRS Suede Palace
The Heart of Traditional Hot-Rodding
Author
Jamie Dent
Photography by Scott Killeen
The Suede Palace at the 2025 Grand National Roadster Show was, as always, the ultimate hotspot for anyone who lives and breathes traditional hot-rodding. Tucked into Building 10 of the Pomona Fairplex, this gathering wasn’t about high-dollar billet builds or over-polished show queens—it was a raw, authentic tribute to the early days of hot-rodding, where creativity, attitude, and a little grease under the fingernails mattered more than a six-figure paint job.
A Step Back in Time
Step inside, and you were instantly transported back to a time when young gearheads wrenched on their rides in backyard garages, piecing together speed machines from whatever they could scrounge. The show was packed wall-to-wall with era-perfect customs, from hammered ’32 Fords and channeled Model A coupes to tail-dragging Mercs and stripped-down roadsters, all oozing vintage style. Every car had a story—whether it was a survivor from the ’50s with decades of history in its paint or a fresh build that looked like it rolled straight out of a smoky dry-lakes pit in 1949.
More Than Just the Cars
But it wasn’t just about the cars. The Suede Palace had a vibe all its own—rockabilly tunes playing, vintage-clad showgoers swapping stories, and the unmistakable scent of oil, leather, and just a hint of exhaust in the air. This was more than just an exhibit; it was a full-throttle celebration of the roots of hot-rodding, a place where tradition ruled, and old-school cool was alive and well.
Standout Builds of GNRS 2025
Now, check out this killer selection of builds that made the Suede Palace the standout scene of GNRS 2025.
