Hemi-powered ’32 Ford is America’s Most Beautiful Roadster 2023
Each year, car builders from across the country make the pilgrimage to Pomona, California, for the Grand National Roadster Show. Each hopes to bring home the hardware recognizing them as winners of the prestigious America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award, given annually since 1950.
The stellar field this year was all Ford, and the lineup included six 1932 roadsters. However, it was the immaculate detailing, gorgeous proportions, and flawless black paint of Jack Chisenhall’s ’32 roadster that stood out most. Chisenhall, of San Antonio, Texas, took home a check for $12,500 from Automotive Racing Products for his efforts. He will see his name on the AMBR trophy as both owner and builder alongside names like George Barris, Art Himsl, Boyd Coddington, and Chip Foose.
Finalists are selected and displayed in an array around the impressive trophy and a team of judges scrutinize every detail of the cars, including how it looks in motion.
Chisenhall’s roadster was inspired by Dodge-powered Indy racers. The idea for this Deuce started forming in his mind more than 40 years ago. In 2000, Chisenhall had famed hot rod designer and Art Center alumnus Thom Taylor pen a rendering that put his idea on paper.
The car was ultimately built in Chisenhall’s San Antonio shop, with George Hagy serving as the principal fabricator. Chisenhall helped out with fab work. and—as is typical of builds of this magnitude—many other talented artists and technicians also had a share in the roadster’s success. The rows of perfect louvers on the hood sides were formed by Jimmy Shine. Mark Grohman was responsible for the mechanical work. Gary Gates machined many of the custom parts, including the brakes. The interior was finished by Sid Shavers (who has many award-winning builds on his resume) and the mirror-smooth black paint was the work of Darryl Hollenback, an AMBR award winner himself back in 2016.
Powering the Deuce is a 355-cubic-inch early Dodge Hemi built by Donny Anderson and good for 420 hp at 5500 rpm. It features a heap of custom parts, including cast aluminum heads and one-off stack injection machined by Cody Chapman.
The depth of quality among the eight other AMBR contenders, making up nine total finalists, gave judges a tough decision. The field ranged from racy and traditional to sleek and elegant. When you see these cars up close, it really demonstrates what it means to be judged among the cream of the crop. Congratulations to all of the builders and craftsmen who put such tremendous effort into these gorgeous machines. Long live the Deuce!
Ah! What wonderful things one can do when money flows out of one’s pores.
It is a beautiful car. Wish there was more pictures of the car.
Truly a thing of beauty. Would I do anything differently if I had the opportunity? Of course I would, but my changes would not make it better. The perfect hot rod comes down to vision, time, budget and the skills to put it all together. Very few people possess all four of these requirements at the same time. Hats off to the team who put this together and congratulations to the owner for pursuing and completing this life-long quest.
Where are the photos of the engine??????????????????
Here’s the Hemi.
https://www.motortrend.com/events/32-ford-2023-americas-beautiful-roadster-gnrs/
I agree with Jim Hook. It just seems to me to not really count for much if a so called Hot Rod or Custom vehicle doesn’t involve a whole lot of work by the owner. I get “subbing out” certain highly specialized skills, like a top-notch paint job, upholstery work, chrome plating, powder coating and even specialized engine re-builds, but the car should basically be torn down and rebuilt in one’s own garage.
Otherwise this hobby of ours becomes just a check writing contest!
Who said Jack Chisenhall didn’t work on this car? It was built in his shop.
Brandan – please don’t bring facts into this…
I would have liked to see more pictures of the motor, what are they hiding?
An awesome deuce for sure but it would be interesting to know much more than was pictures and written about. A few examples: Where did the body come from (new steel or old)? What was the rest of the power train (trans and rear) composed of? Suspension? For fender-less cars the lines of the rear wheel opening as contrasted with the radius of the wheels is an important aesthetic point that was not pictured. Most importantly what were the judges thinking when they chose this one over others in the field? Do they not do interviews?
While I’ll agree that it’s a good-looking car, I get the impression that there was not a lot of competition for the title of Most Beautiful Roadster this year. The unadorned black-on-black finish and chromed out Hemi engine just seem kind of plain. I’ve seen much more attractive cars in previous years.
I like the tan car with the 409 in it! Like many other hands-on owners, I would like to see more details of the engine, driveline and mechanicals.
Nice, OK?
Too many critics here. Just enjoy what you see, or move on.
Art – but that’s not what Trolls do. And being a Troll seems to be a lot of people’s goal nowadays!
Yeah. I think it would be even more beautiful with the hood and sides left off completely but that just shows how unsophisticated my taste is.
Written by a guy who has a fully exposed engine in his T-Bucket! Yeah, Tinkerah, I think we know where you’re coming from (and it ain’t a lack of sophistication)! 😋
My favorite is Danny Hyde’s 36 Fendered Ford. Looks so Gangsta. Plus, you can hardly drive a no-fendered car without fear of what you might kick up off the road. And the car would stay clean for about 2 minutes if youre lucky.
Hot rodding is a way of life. Whether you build it drive it or show it, we make up the incredible group of individuals who do more then just look at art, we can be creators! Livin the dream! Appreciate you all!