In the custom car world, the Grand National Roadster Show is where the best drivable art in the world is showcased and judged. More than 40,000 people attend the 72nd annual event at the Fairplex in Pomona, California where 1,000 hot rods and customs along with muscle and race cars were on display during the last week of January.
Only a dozen pre-1937 open cars are selected for the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) competition, and when the winner is selected, the remaining 11 cars all receive second place awards. These unique designs based on traditional hot rods are recognized as the world’s best examples of this art form evolution and the builder’s status is greatly elevated.
Possibly the most unusual AMBR entry this year was a 1929 Dodge DA roadster appropriately named ‘Six Shooter’ for the retention of an original style six-cylinder flat head engine.
“Most roadsters are Fords and some are Chevrolets,” noted builder Ewald Penner, who operates Jellybean Autocrafters in Surrey, B.C. with brothers Kurt and Otto. “So, to see an extremely rare Dodge, especially one that is built to this level, was an unexpected treat for spectators,”
Jellybean Autocrafters’ Kurt, Ewald and Otto Penner entered the 1929 Dodge DA in the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster competition at the Grand National Roadster show. Photo by Jellybean Autocrafters
The creation started with a poorly restored car that proved to have many body issues after disassembly. Since there are no aftermarket parts available for a car this rare, all panels had to be hand-formed, including an all-steel floor to replace the original wood. Many body modifications were done to make the car look sleek, but the original look was retained, including a special ‘golf door’ on the right side for bag and club storage in the Great Gatsby era.
Originally, the Penner brothers planned to install a high-horsepower V8 engine for a more conventional hot rod build. But the engine compartment designed for the original six-cylinder power plant was too narrow, so they went with the engine that came with the car. Serial numbers proved it to be a Canadian 1953 Plymouth warranty replacement engine that had been installed in 1957. The builders would make a series of performance enhancements to double the original 95 horsepower.
Finding speed equipment for an extremely rare 70-year-old Canadian Plymouth engine coupled with the decision to use a modern fuel injection system proved to be major challenges. Ewald says locating one of only 15 aluminum vintage EDGY high-compression engine heads made was tantamount to winning the lottery. Like winning the lottery for a second time was locating the only 1938-era Tattersfield aluminum intake manifold designed for the use of dual carburetors on a vintage Chrysler-built six-cylinder engine. Because this is only a 250 cubic inch displacement engine, there is no off-the-shelf dual fuel injection conversions available. So custom throttle bodies were hand cast and machined to look like carburetors by a company called Damn Good Motors.
“These are perfectly matched to this exact engine, and it runs beautifully,” Penner says. “When you look at the engine, it’s almost impossible to tell that it has Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and not carburetors.”
The 1929 Dodge DA roadster was an older restoration that had many issues with the body. Photo by Jellybean Autocrafters
The 1929 Dodge DA roadster on display in the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster competition at the 72nd annual Grand National Roadster Show. Photo by Jellybean Autocrafters
Because this is only a 250 cubic inch displacement engine, there is no off-the-shelf dual fuel injection conversions available. So custom throttle bodies were hand cast and machined to look like carburetors by a company called Damn Good Motors. Photo by Jellybean Autocrafters
The six-cylinder Canadian 1953 Plymouth engine had many performance enhancements to double the original 95 horsepower. Photo by Jellybean Autocrafters
The interior of the 1929 Dodge DA roadster was hand stitched. Photo by Jellybean Autocrafters
Six Shooter. Photo by Jellybean Autocrafters
Six Shooter. Photo by Jellybean Autocrafters
Six Shooter. Photo by Jellybean Autocrafters
Six Shooter. Photo by Jellybean Autocrafters
To win competitions, the stance of a car must be perfect. And having the right wheels is an essential element.
“The one-off wheels for the Dodge roadster were designed with our family history in mind as our father and grandfather were wagon-wheel makers in Paraguay,” Ewald says.
The basic design of the wheels is similar to the Halibrand Salt Flat wheels of the Sixties. But they are a true three-piece design like the wheels used on contemporary circuit race cars.
“The spokes on the wheels were designed to mimic the wagon-wheel spokes that our forefathers made, and the center caps also have spokes. They are much like the crowning jewel in a jewel box,” Ewald says.
Jeff Breault’s 1934 Chevrolet roadster built by Devlin Rod & Customs of Wichita Kansas is America’s Most Beautiful Roadster for 2022. Photo by Submitted
The award for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster went to Jeff Breault for a stunning 1934 Chevrolet built by Devlin Rod & Customs of Wichita, Kansas. As one of the 11 runners up, the Six Shooter from Vancouver is now part of hot rod royalty.
“This is the top of the world. As good as it gets,” Ewald Penner says. “Building a car to this level is a monumental task – one that will be remembered and cherished for many years.”
Alyn Edwards is a classic car enthusiast and partner in Peak Communicators, a Vancouver-based public relations company. [email protected]
Keyword: Collector Classics: 1929 Dodge DA Roadster