America’s Most Beautiful Roadster 2013 award won by 1927 Ford

It's been decades since bored GIs back from World War II took to swapping engines and parts from old Ford Model Ts and As, turning them into drag-strip terrors at the birth of hot rod culture. If you think that every permutation of piston, rod, body and seat has been explored, you haven't visited the Grand National Roadster Show, which held it's 64th edition last weekend. It's annual America's Most Beautiful Roadster award, the most prestigious honor in the field, goes to the hot rod that best mixes art and mechanical skill — and this year's winner took the trophy by going back to the future.

The 1927 Ford Track T roadster — a car that combines Model T parts with Model A bodywork — began as a project car for various owners in the 1980s, including NHRA Top Fuel champion Kelly Brown, but was never fully finished. Hot rod collector John Mumford discovered the car, and gave it to ace builder Roy Brizio to bring to life.