(Photos by Darr Hawthorne) • The 3rd Annual O’Reilly Grand National Truck Show, held at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA on September 26–27, drew over 400 trucks, vans, and SUVs. Presented by Classic Truck Performance magazine and produced by Rod Shows, the event featured more than 65 judged classes.
The highlight of the weekend was the World’s Most Beautiful Truck Award, sponsored by ARP Fasteners, which went to Larry Jacinto’s 1941 Willys pickup. Built by Veazie Brothers Fabrication, this striking blue Willys was a deeply personal build for owner Jacinto, who fondly remembers riding in the truck’s bed as a child.
Under the hood of this radically customized 1941 Willys sits a blown and injected LS3, crowned with a polished 6-71 Littlefield blower—an aggressive combination that perfectly complements the truck’s show-stopping stance. The body has been elegantly reimagined, featuring a fully custom ’46 Chevy truck bed and tailgate, all finished in deep blue by Mick’s Paint.
Inside, the Ron Mangus-crafted interior showcases a modified original dash outfitted with Classic Instruments OE-style gauges and a tailored leather bench seat. Every detail speaks to high-level craftsmanship and creative vision.
Owner Jacinto rose to the top of a tough field of 10 custom trucks—including five Chevy C-10s (spanning 1967–1985), three Ford F100s, and a 1976 Blazer—to claim the $12,500 prize and a custom trophy presented by ARP Fasteners.
The Grand National Truck Show brought together an incredible mix of trucks, SUVs, and vans—each with its own story and style. From eye-catching custom builds to weathered patinas and throwback mini-trucks, there was something for every kind of truck lover under one roof.
From Wild to mild, not every truck was a custom. This 1958 Chevrolet Apache 36 3/4 ton resurrection of an original Good Humor Ice Cream Truck won the trophy for Best Restored Pickup. The restoration came out of Lions Automobilia in SoCal, with a newly fabricated replacement, refrigerated box that’ll keep it cold down to 18º. Built under the direction of Founder Rick Lorenzen, the Lions docents will be driving this vintage truck to local car shows, loaded with frozen confections.
Vans were back, with a large collection of vintage 1960’s and ’70’s cruisers. “Death Wish” is an original custom show van, out of Ron Cambria’s Speed Shop. Cambra had been looking for this decades-old build, he retained the vintage ’70’s interior and repainted the exterior to it’s original, magazine-featured sheet metal. A true time capsule.
John Buck, owner of Rod Shows and the producer of the event, summed it up best:
“There’s truly no other show like this. We’re proud to showcase such a wide variety of vehicles and so grateful to the passionate owners who brought them out for everyone to enjoy.”
Whether you’re into show-stopping customs or rare vintage finds, the Grand National Truck Show delivered a weekend full of inspiration, horsepower, and community. If you missed it this year, it’s definitely one to mark on your calendar for next time.
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