Check out our coverage from the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show!

SEMA 2024: 1993 Chevrolet Corvette C4 Mercedes Turbo Diesel Swap – Kustom by Keck

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The Malaise Era of 1975 to 1985 was a dark time for automotive enthusiasts. With new emissions and safety regulations from the Federal government, cars quickly got slower, heavier, and uglier.

The 1972 Corvette was rated at a dismal 200 horsepower, while the full-size 1977 Monte Carlo was available with a 140 horsepower 305 V8 or a 170 horsepower 350 V8. The era of the muscle car had come to an end, and a new era had begun that was focused on efficiency, not performance.In an effort to increase the average fuel economy of its fleet, General Motors experimented with smaller engines, turbochargers, and other tricks and technologies to get more MPGs.

With so much attention on smog pumps and secondary air injectors, there was one thing General Motors never built: a diesel-engine Corvette. To do so would be unthinkable; it would be a sacrilege of the highest degree. While there were many prototype and experimental vehicles throughout Corvette’s history, no customer cars ever left the production line with a diesel engine from the factory.

However, Tennessee-based Kustom by Keck has transformed his 1993 Chevrolet Corvette C4 Greenwood Edition into a diesel-powered sports car. I saw his custom Corvette at the 2024 SEMA Show, at the Air Lift Performance booth in the Central Hall.The Corvette’s original powerplant has been swapped with a 1999 Mercedes-Benz 3.0L OM606 turbo diesel engine. It is paired to a 700R4 transmission from Transmission Mafia in Gainesville, Georgia.

This is the kind of weird engine swap I would have loved reading about in Grassroots Motorsports or Car Craft magazine back in the day (after reading about V8 S10 swaps, of course).

The Corvette rides on Air Lift Performance suspension, allowing for adjustable ride height at the touch of a button to achieve the perfect stance.The exterior of the car is a visual blast from the late ’80s and early ’90s, and it’s over the top in the best way possible. The car gives serious Miami Vice vibes with its white wheels and teal and purple custom pinstripe graphics.

Kustom by Keck didn’t stop with the visuals, either. This car is filled with unique custom touches, including a standout set of custom infinity mirror taillights from RetroVette, which provide a high-tech, futuristic flair to set it apart from every other Corvette. Every corner of this C4 has been considered, detailed, and reimagined.

In a world full of LS swaps and carbon-fiber everything, this diesel-powered, 90’s throwback C4 show car breaks the mold and refuses to fit in. It’s more Radwood than SEMA, and I enjoy highlighting custom car builders that do their own thing.

This one-of-a-kind car was recently advertised for sale on social media in June 2025, with an asking price of $15,000.

For more, follow @kustom_by_keck on Instagram.

SEMA 2024: 1993 Honda Civic EG Hatch Tesla Swapped by RyWire

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The 1990s Honda Civic hatchback is one of those cars where you either had one, knew someone who had one, or wanted one. Cheap to own and endlessly modifiable, the Civic EG hatch was a favorite among tuners.

I remember high school classmates rolling up in Civics with neon underglow, painted interior bits, and the ever-present “fart can” exhaust. This was an era of questionable taste and boundless creativity. Keep in mind, this was only a few years after the original Fast and the Furious movie came out.

Fast forward to 2024, and the Civic is still a staple in the tuning world, but the game has changed. At the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the Toyo Tires Treadpass area featured a remarkable build that represents just how far this 30+ year-old platform can be pushed. Enter RyWire Motorsports’ fully electric 1993 Honda Civic EG hatchback, which combines JDM style with cutting-edge EV tech.The car was built by Ryan Basseri of RyWire Motorsports of Santa Ana, California. Basseri is no stranger to high-end vehicle builds and custom wiring. He previously did a full EV conversion on a Honda S2000, which is documented on the RyWire YouTube channel. But this Civic? It’s next-level.

Gone is the original gas-powered Honda engine, replaced with a Tesla-sourced electric powertrain. He salvaged a Tesla motor, inverter, and charge controller and adapted them to fit the EG chassis.

Under the hood, the exceptionally clean installation shows off Basseri’s attention to detail. The electric motor delivers an estimated 300 horsepower, which is triple the car’s original 90 horsepower. In the trunk is a 16 kWh battery pack, which was salvaged from a Chrysler Pacifica hybrid. The pack runs through an AEM battery management system and offers roughly 70 miles of range, which is more than enough for short trips around the neighborhood or silently rolling up to the local cars and coffee.

And yes, it even has air conditioning! A stock Tesla compressor has been adapted to work in this setup, ensuring the essential passenger comfort of cooled air on a Southern California day.

Braking has also received a high-tech overhaul. The factory vacuum-assisted system has been swapped for a Bosch iBooster unit from a Honda CR-V, complete with a custom reservoir. The fully electric iBooster provides consistent and reliable brake pressure, which is essential when dealing with instant torque.

Inside, the car is just as impressive. Instead of the rattle-can-painted dash, the RyWire EG features Recaro DC2 JDM Type-R front seats, with the rear seat reupholstered to match in black suede with red stitching. The cockpit is rounded out with a fully digital AEM dash and a Spoon steering wheel.

The stance is proper, sitting on custom Nitron springs and a set of 15-inch Volk Racing TE37 wheels in dark silver. These one-piece forged wheels are a favorite among JDM enthusiasts and lend a timeless motorsport look to the modernized hatch.

The RyWire Civic wasn’t alone at SEMA this year. Sharing the spotlight was a second Civic in the CSF Radiators booth. That car was a red 1999 EK hatch with a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive swap and a larger 85 kWh battery pack built into a custom-fabricated floor. But while that car was technically more impressive, the 1993 EG in the Toyo Tires pavilion was the one that caught my eye for its super clean setup.

This build is more than just a show car, it is pushing the boundaries of the Honda tuning scene into the EV era. While many see electric conversions as soulless, RyWire has shown that with craftsmanship, creativity, and respect for the platform, even the humble Civic hatch can be reborn as something truly electrifying.

For more, follow @rywire_motorsport on Instagram.

SEMA 2024: 1959 Chevrolet Apache Pickup by Stafford’s Garage

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The introduction of the Chevrolet C/K series in 1960 was a turning point for pickup trucks. More than 60 years later, the C/K series is still highly regarded by enthusiasts and collectors. But before that was the Task Force line of trucks from 1955-1959.

At the 2024 SEMA Show, nestled among the heavy hitters in the Toyo Tires Treadpass pavilion, I stopped in my tracks to admire this custom 1959 Chevrolet Apache Fleetside nicknamed “Thunderchief.”

This stunning ride was built by Chris Stafford of Stafford’s Garage. Based in Las Vegas, Stafford’s Garage turns vintage metal into rolling pieces of art. With “Thunderchief,” Stafford has raised the bar for what a restomod can be, blending postwar design with modern materials and craftsmanship.

The Apache’s big window cab distinguishes it from the small back window C10s that followed, but it’s the deep, dark gray metallic paint that pulls you in. The color is rich and lustrous, looking elegant in the shade, but sparkling in the sunlight.

Against this moody exterior, the truck has a full custom red interior. I’m talking seats, carpet, dash, door panels, everything! Bits of chrome accents break up the sea of redness.

Inside, every detail is executed with care. The interior maintains the truck’s heritage with new reproduction gauges and an original-style radio. The red leather-wrapped chrome steering wheel with flat bottom is a modern touch in this classic truck interior.

“Thunderchief” rides on a set of 20-inch Raceline billet wheels. The wheels have a slotted design with a polished lip and are color matched red with silver accents.

They sort of remind me of monoblock style wheels on a Mercedes, but with tri-bar center caps. I think these wheels complement the truck’s smooth body lines and aggressive stance. It’s the kind of setup that says this is a show truck, but it can still haul stuff if needed.

One of the standout features of this build is the flawless chrome work. Every piece, from the bumpers to the trim, is polished to a mirror finish. The side of the bed has beautiful chrome and red trim pieces that just work on a 1950s era truck. It’s the kind of meticulous detail that separates good builds from great ones — and “Thunderchief” is firmly in the latter category.

Among the thousands of vehicles at SEMA, only about two dozen have the honor of getting invited to the Toyo Tires Treadpass pavilion. This area houses a curated group of elite custom builds, any one of which could be on a magazine cover. This Apache pickup certainly deserved its place among these special vehicles.

I will keep my eyes out for more vehicles from Chris Stafford and Stafford’s Garage in the future. The craftsmanship and detail shown in “Thunderchief” really shows what they are capable of building, while staying true to the spirit of the original truck.

For more, follow @staffords_garage on Instagram.

SEMA 2023: 1966 Chevrolet Nova ReNOVAtor by The Custom Shop

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I have featured The Custom Shop in Flanagan, Illinois before on this site, so I was pleased to see a new custom car build from them at the 2023 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

In the North Hall at the SONY car audio booth was this bright red ’66 Chevy Nova called “ReNOVAtor.” Though the car is almost 60 years old, you would not guess that based on its appearance! From every angle, the car looked stunning.
The Custom Shop has pulled off several tricks with this build that set them apart from the crowd. First, most of the chrome is blacked out, which I think makes for a very cool look. Second, the car has been completely upgraded to modern day with LED taillights, a digital dash, and a carbon fiber driveshaft.

I was surprised when I peeked under the hood and saw a small block Chevrolet engine under the hood, NOT an LS engine! The Hixson-built 427 SBC makes an estimated 750 hp at 8500 rpm. The engine choice is unique when every other builder has the same GM crate engine under the hood these days.

The engine has a Holley EFI setup with Imagine Injection stacks. It flows through a set of Hooker headers into a Pypes stainless steel exhaust with cutouts for when you want that extra sound.
This Nova features a full flip cowl hood, which is a neat touch that once again sets this car apart from other builds. The moldings have been shaved and the firewall, trunk floor and belly pan have all been smoothed.

Up front, the laser cut grille has sort of a stock car vibe, and I’m not sure how I feel about it on this car. The LED headlights are a big improvement over the stock ones.

The interior is a complete renovation as well, with the Holley EFI digital dashboard taking center stage in the instrument cluster. The LED accent lights look cool, and illuminate the floor-mounted brake pedal. The interior is from TMI Upholstery and features Apex leather on the seats and door panels. And of course, it has a bangin’ Sony stereo system!

The Custom Shop has done it once again with their ’66 Nova “ReNOVAtor” and created a restomod car that their client is sure to love.

SEMA 2023: 1969 Pontiac GTO by Detroit Speed

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Founded in 2002 by Kyle Tucker, Detroit Speed and Engineering has grown into a manufacturer of performance suspension parts and kits for American muscle cars and trucks. Indeed, it seems that every other car at SEMA has some part on it made by DSE.

But the Mooresville, North Carolina company does more than just make parts – they are alsoa full hot rod shop that does custom cars for clients. At the 2023 SEMA Show, DSE showed off this gorgeous 1969 Pontiac GTO restomod owned by actor and comedian Kevin Hart.
The Detroit Speed website has 6 galleries of build photos of this car, and they are well worth a look. This is an all-star build using the best components available.

The A-body chassis has been upgraded with a Detroit Speed X-Gen 595 suspension up front and a custom DSE QuadraLink suspension in the rear. Ride comfort is achieved through JRi adjustable coilover shocks at all four corners.

The GTO rides on a set of HRE Wheels “Valkyrja” that measure 20×9.5 up front and 20×12 in the rear. They are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4s tires. The wheels look great with gold spokes behind the polished lip.
When it comes to performance, the original GTO was no slouch! It was offered with a 350-horsepower or 360 horsepower engine back in 1969, and could hit 370 horsepower with the Ram Air IV option package. This GTO has been upgraded with a Chevrolet Performance LT5 6.2L supercharged crate engine producing a whopping 755 horsepower! It is coupled to a Bowler Performance T-56 six-speed manual gearbox with a Hurst shifter. It’s more than you could have imagined back in 1969.

Additional performance upgrades include a Holley premium mid mount accessory drive system, Baer disc brakes with massive 15″ R-Spec rotors and Baer XRT 6-piston calipers, and an aluminum battery mount from DSE.

The team at Detroit Speed spent a lot of time getting the body of the car just right. Nearly every panel has been modified including the front and rear bumpers, hood, front valence, spoiler, and much more! The car was painted in Mercedes Mystic Brown Metallic, which is a unique choice. I know it doesn’t fully come across in pictures, but it really looks great in person.
The car’s stunning custom interior was the work of Avant-Garde Design in Palm City, Florida. The car received a full interior treatment with Recaro Specialist seats upholstered in two tone white and brown to match the exterior of the car. Additional driver comforts include an Ididit steering column, Classic Instruments Gauges, and a VintageAir GenIV HVAC system for heating and air conditioned comfort.

The car is a real head-turner and great showcase of the top-tier work that Detroit Speed and Engineering and their partners are capable of.

Check out the 1969 GTO build gallery: https://www.detroitspeed.com/blog/post/kevin_s_gto_assembly_and_fitment/

SEMA 2023: 1949 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup NautiD by Weaver Customs

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The Las Vegas Convention Center encompasses more than 4.6 million square feet of floor space spread across multiple buildings. When the SEMA Convention comes to town, they occupy the entire facility. To say that the SEMA Show is big is an understatement. It is so big that it’s hard to see everything, even over multiple days.

If you spend all of your time in the convention halls, you might miss a great vehicle in one of the outdoor displays. At the 2023 SEMA Show, I saw this amazing custom Chevy pickup truck in the Adam’s Polishes booth in front of the Central Hall.

The truck is a 1949 Chevrolet 3100 pickup nicknamed “NautiD.” The truck was built by Weaver Customs in West Jordan, Utah.
The crisp body lines of the “Advance Design” styling really come through in this truck, which has shaved trim, drip rails, wipers, and mirrors. The non-metallic gray color is also eye catching, which is actually Axalta Chalk Grey. I spent a few minutes admiring the truck up close.

The truck has a ton of custom touches including a custom bed, flush mount glass, shaved and smoothed body, and a restyled front and rear end. There are more than 100 custom billet machined pieces on the truck.
Under the hood, the original straight-6 engine has been replaced with a 6.6-liter Duramax LLM diesel engine with twin turbochargers! This is coupled to an Allison 6-speed transmission. A custom Flowmaster exhaust keeps the power flowing smoothly. The Duramax engine is an interesting choice for a build, but it fits the spirit of the truck as a workhorse.

The custom-built chassis has an independent front suspension with a 4-link rear suspension with Ridetech components. A narrowed 9-inch rear end puts the power to the rear wheels. Speaking of which, the wheels are one-off designed which are 18×8 in the front and 20×12 in the rear with Michelin tires.

The interior has a minimalist design aesthetic blended with modern amenities. The truck has air conditioning, a Kicker stereo, power windows, and even 2 cup holders in the center console. A pair of custom Dakota Digital gauges provide essential information to the driver. The interior was done by Innovation Custom Interiors in Ogden, Utah who wrapped the seats and console in Guinness Hydes leather.

This Chevy 3100 is a 74 year old truck that has been completely reimagined with modern power, handling, and amenities. With this full restoration and upgrade, I’d say the truck is ready to take on the next 70 years and beyond.

Be sure to give them a follow @weavercustoms on Facebook and Instagram.