Stopping by the KBS Coatings booth, you may find something a bit different than your typical SEMA Car. Designed and built by Cool Hand Customs of Middleton, WI this Malaise-era had a few upgrades under it’s vintage exterior. Gone is the original drivetrain, replaced with a 3.7L Cyclone V6, backed up by 6R80 6-speed transmission. The 3.7L features custom headers that exit as side pipes on the car, providing a transition from modern to retro.
Cool Hand Customs didn’t stop there, the Pinto also features a modified suspension from Heidts, adjustable coil-overs from QA1 with the suspension terminating at a set of American Racing wheels.
The interior also received some loved via Dakota Digital gauges, custom interior upholstery and a Hurst Sport Shifter. Although I am usually not intrigued by retro-nostalgia or modern drivetrain swaps, this car retains enough of the odd character to stay faithful to spirit of the vehicle. The V6, the pearlescent paint upgrades to the original theme and the willingness to end up with a car that avoids following the pack makes this a must-see build
At the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, show organizers made one of the biggest announcements in the history of the show. Beginning in 2023, the SEMA Show will be expanded into a new format. Read the full press release below.
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2022) – SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) announces a five-year vision to expand the SEMA Show into an “all-city” experience. Officially called SEMA Week, the expansion’s goal is to create the most passionate and exciting automotive event in the world. SEMA Week will kick off in 2023 with new concepts, activities, and events introduced over the five-year roll-out period.
SEMA Week will be headlined by the SEMA Show, which will remain a trade-only event Monday through Friday. On Friday, the final day of the SEMA Show, a limited number of enthusiasts will be able to attend the SEMA Show through the Friday Experience program, which launched at the 2021 SEMA Show. Beginning on Friday evening of SEMA Week, SEMA will take over the Las Vegas Festival Grounds through Saturday Night with an all-new SEMA Fest.
“We have been watching the connection between enthusiasts and our industry grow for more than a decade and, as the industry’s trade association, I have a responsibility to help facilitate that connection in new and meaningful ways,” said James Lawrence, SEMA Chairman of the Board. “By creating SEMA Week and SEMA Fest, we will be able to maintain the integrity of the trade show that makes it a must-attend event for automotive professionals while introducing a new platform for enthusiasts and the industry to engage with one another.”
For 2023, SEMA Fest will take place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds and be open to everyone, bringing together automotive enthusiasts with the aftermarket industry in a high-octane and immersive festival-like celebration of car culture. SEMA Fest will feature top music and entertainment, car show and cruise, VIP experiences, craft food, automotive celebrities, and motorsports. It will run alongside the popular SEMA Ignited Cruise and SEMA Show after-party, which draws thousands of enthusiasts on Friday night.
SEMA Week is also scheduled to include a SEMA Auction, featuring some of the best builds from SEMA and many more amazing vehicles to headline the festivities. SEMA will continue to expand and refine SEMA Week over the next five years, rolling out new events and activities throughout the city of Las Vegas. The evolution of SEMA Week preserves the trade aspects of the industry and business components of the SEMA Show, while enabling enthusiasts from all over to join in the festivities and enjoy car culture-focused events throughout the SEMA Week experience.
Additional details for the 2023 SEMA Show, SEMA Week, and SEMA Fest will be announced in the coming months.
About SEMA
SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $50.9 billion specialty-automotive industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. Association resources include market research, legislative advocacy, training and product development support, as well as leading trade shows such as the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada and the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information, visit www.sema.org, www.semashow.com or www.performanceracing.com.
The 1990-2000 Lexus LS400 is widely regarded as a dependable and reliable vehicle that is well designed and built. However, there is no such thing as a perfect, trouble-free vehicle. While it is better than average, the LS 400 has a few common problems that potential buyers should be aware of.
Starter Motor
On most small block V8 engines from Ford or Chevrolet, the starter motor is easily accessed from the bottom of the vehicle. The 1UZFE 4.0L V8 engine in the Lexus LS400 has the starter located in a very inconvenient place – underneath the intake manifold. The starter is prone to failure between 100,000 and 200,000 miles. During the removal of the intake manifold, it is also likely that the heater control valve will crack and will also need to be replaced.
LS400 Starter Motor Location under the Intake Manifold
Engine Mounts
The Lexus LS400 uses special fluid-filled engine mounts that reduce vibrations in the car. Over time, they may collapse and fail, resulting in increased vibration. They are surprisingly expensive to replace on the LS 400 compared to the simple rubber mounts used on other vehicles.
These fluid-filled engine mounts have collapsed, and one of them has completely sheared off.
Timing Belt
The timing belt sets the timing for the entire engine, keeping the camshafts and the crankshaft synchronized. This is not thin like a fan belt – a timing belt is a heavy duty belt with rubber teeth that loops around a number of pulleys and tensioners. The 1UZ 4.0L V8 engine uses a timing belt because Lexus engineers determined that it would be quieter than using a traditional timing chain.
Timing chains generally last for the life of the engine, whereas the timing belt should be replaced every 90,000 miles or 7 years. In addition, there are two timing belt idler bearings that must also be replaced with the belt. While the car is apart, it is strongly recommended to change the water pump too. This is absolutely a dealership level repair and should not be attempted by the home mechanic.
The 1990-1997 1UZ-FE engines are non-interference engines, however the 1998-2000 engines with the VVT-i intake manifold ARE interference engines. A broken timing belt on these engines would be catastrophic.
Lexus LS400 Timing Belt
This is a serious belt
Power Steering Pump
The LS400 has variable power steering, but with time and age the seals and hoses of the pump may develop leaks. In this case, any leakage is likely to take out the alternator as it is located directly beneath the power steering pump. You can do this yourself, but it is pretty involved. Watch my video below to see how I replaced my own power steering pump.
Tips for Potential LS400 Buyers
If you are in the market for a Lexus LS400, you should ask the seller for records of when the timing belt was last changed. If the engine mounts have collapsed due to age, you may notice some vibration when idling or when shifting from Park into Reverse or Drive. A starter motor that is on its way out may take longer than normal to crank, or may not show any symptoms at all until the day it fails.
These items should not scare you away from buying an LS 400, but they are definitely worth knowing about before you buy!
One of the defining characteristics of a collector is that they love exclusivity. Whether it is baseball cards, stamps, coins, vinyl records or some other object, collectors love the thrill of finding and acquiring the rarest and scarcest items for their collections.
The thrill of owning a rare object also applies to automotive collectors. Supercar manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, and others know what their customers want. Each of these brands has produced special or limited edition runs of vehicles aimed at collectors. Sometimes a run may be 1,000 vehicles, other times it may be as few as 100 units or even 20 units in some cases.
The 2021 Iso Rivolta GT Zagato is a collectible car of almost unimaginable rarity. Only 19 of these cars will be produced for the whole world. This example is the first and only one to be imported and registered in the U.S. Suffice to say, I will probably never see another one of these cars around.
Iso’s History
The history of ISO goes back to 1938 when Italian engineer Renzo Rivolta began manufacturing refrigeration equipment. Following the end of World War II, the company pivoted to motorcycle production.
In the 1950s, Iso produced its first automobile, the Isetta microcar. Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, ISO produced a number of different sports and grand touring cars. They were notable for combining Italian designed body styling with powerful, American-made V8 engines from Ford and Chevrolet. This is a combination that I personally love. See my previous posts on the Iso Rivolta Lele, a custom Iso Rivolta IR300, and the Iso Rivolta S4 Fidia.
In the 1960s, Rivolta worked with former Ferrari engineer Giotto Bizzarrini to develop the Iso Grifo A3/C, a racing car that used a Corvette engine. Bizzarrini and Rivolta’s relationship ended after a dispute, and he formed his own company, Bizzarrini SpA. Only 25 Iso Grifo A3/C cars were built before Bizzarrini took over production and renamed the car the 5300 GT.
A combination of factors including the oil crisis, rising costs, and a drop in sales led to Iso filing for bankruptcy, ending automobile production in December 1974.
Iso’s Revival
Things were pretty quiet until 2017, when a revival of the brand was initiated by Italian coachbuilder and design firm Zagato. The car was first introduced in the 2017 edition of Gran Turismo, and later became a full-fledged prototype in 2021.
The new model, named the GTZ, is inspired by the A3/C of the 1960s. True to its heritage, the GTZ uses the 660-hp LT4 supercharged V8 engine from the Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06.
With just 19 units scheduled for production by Zagato, each car will be incredibly special and rare. This brilliant red example is currently the only one in the United States.
The Italian Corvette Z06
A 2021 article by Howard Walker for the Robb Report magazine gives a detailed backstory of this particular car, which I will summarize briefly.
The car was purchased by Mike Odierna from Arizona, and the process was anything but easy. To comply with vehicle regulations, Mike had to buy a brand new Corvette Z06 coupe in the U.S., register it and ship it to Italy as a used car.
The chassis spent two years at Zagato’s facility in Milan, where more than 2,500 hours went into converting the car into the GTZ. The body panels were replaced with a lightweight carbon fiber body that mounts to the Z06 chassis. But this isn’t just a Corvette in an expensive Italian suit! Everything from the windows, lights, wheels, and door handles are all custom made, with no body panels carried over from the Corvette.
The interior is also bespoke to each car. Zagato stripped everything down to the seat frames, then wraps everything in hand-stitched Italian leather. The exterior is painted with three coats of Le Mans Red metallic paint. The 10-spoke alloy wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and conceal a set of carbon-ceramic brakes.
Odierna’s car was displayed at The Quail Motorsports Gathering in Monterey in August 2021, where it won an award for its class. The Robb Report feature followed in November 2021.
The Next Chapter
It’s hard to imagine ever parting ways with such a special car, especially one that you waited two years for. However, Mr. Odierna indicated that he would be relocating to his wife’s home country of Japan, which she has long yearned to return to. “I thought about shipping it to Japan, but it just doesn’t make sense. I know I wouldn’t drive it there. So I felt it best to let it go” he told the Robb Report.
In January 2022, the GTZ headed to the auction block at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction in Florida. Showing just 169 miles on the odometer, the car is in pristine condition. Bidding at Mecum reached $700,000 for the GTZ but did not meet the reserve price, and the car did not sell.
The following month, I was fortunate to see the car on display at the Concours in the Hills car show in Fountain Hills, Arizona on February 12, 2022.
The GTZ is an incredibly rare and special car, and one that would certainly be the centerpiece of any collection. I am grateful and lucky to have seen this car in person, being that it is the only one in the U.S.
For more than 50 years, the Ford Mustang has met the needs of drivers seeking a sporty car with stylish looks and a powerful engine.
Ford’s lineup for the Mustang in 2022 includes the following models: the 310 hp EcoBoost base model, the 450 hp GT model, the 470 hp Mach One, and the 760 hp Shelby GT500.
Customers wanting something more unique can look to specialty vehicle manufacturers including Roush, Saleen, Steeda, and Shelby American. Each of these companies offers upgraded versions of the Mustang that cater to high-performance enthusiasts.
Now, Arizona-based Asira Design is also throwing its hat into the ring of specialty manufacturers. Asira has taken the Mustang platform and elevated it to supercar levels of performance.
Full Carbon Fiber Widebody Package
All aspects of the car from engine to suspension and brakes to the body can be upgraded as part of Asira’s process. The most significant option is the full carbon fiber widebody package. This is a completely unique option that is only available from Asira Design and is not offered by other specialty manufacturers.
This package replaces the exterior body panels of the car with new panels that are restyled to improve airflow and aerodynamic performance. The car features an enlarged front grill and exit vents, dramatic door sills, and curved wheel arches. Asira says that this package shaves over 200 lbs (90.7 kg) of weight compared to the stock aluminum body panels.
The full carbon fiber body package costs $35,000 USD. For an additional $15,000, an Upgraded Carbon Fiber option is available. This option has a symmetrical 4X4 twill pattern in the material and a center line V-weave matched throughout the interior and exterior. A full interior package is also available, for those who love the look of Exposed Carbon Fiber.
Power Upgrades
When it comes to performance, Asira Design offers the installation of a Whipple supercharger kit, which boosts power output to 825 hp. This puts it in the range of the other cars like the Saleen 302 Black Label, Roush Stage 3 Mustang, the Steeda Q850 StreetFighter, and the Shelby Super Snake.
Pricing
The Performance Upgrades total $34,100 plus $4,400 for installation. The Interior upgrades are $13,800 plus $2,100 for installation. Finally, the Carbon Fiber upgrades are $53,500 plus $8,000 for installation.
Apples to Oranges
Everything that Asira Design offers from Body Panels to Interior Upgrades to Performance and Suspension upgrades can be selected individually or a la carte. This is different from how Roush, Saleen, Steeda, and Shelby price their upgrades. That makes it difficult to do a straight comparison from one to another.
If you were to check every option box from Asira, the full car comes in at $155,900 MSRP – which includes $40,000 for the base model Mustang GT.
This is about $15,630 more than the 2022 Shelby Super Snake, which runs about $140,270. It is well ahead of Shelby’s GT500KR edition at $127,895 and the GT500SE Signature Edition at $109,415.
The highest-optioned Roush Mustang is the 2020 Jack Roush Edition, which comes in at $90,995 (assuming $40k for the Mustang GT plus $50,995).
Following that, highest optioned model from Steeda comes in at $77,995 (assuming $40k for the Mustang GT plus $37,995).
Trailing the pack is the 2022 Saleen 302 Black Label, which will run you $73,000 for an 800 hp Mustang.
My Thoughts
I was checking out my local Saturday Cars and Coffee event when I saw this car approaching. I could tell straight away that it wasn’t a standard Mustang and that it was special. As it pulled up near me, the red-tinted carbon looked absolutely amazing in the morning sunlight. Definitely not a vinyl wrap!
There are a lot of special Mustangs out there to meet every possible price point. For those with the means, the Asira Design Mustang definitely stands out from the herd.
Following the end of World War II, the Allard Motor Company of London began producing high performance cars. The company made several models of cars from coupes to cabriolets to an 8-passenger estate, but they found their greatest success with light weight cars optimized for racing.
These two-seat roadsters ran in competitions throughout Europe and North America in the early 1950s. Though the company had some successful models, they were cash-strapped and were bankrupt by 1958, having produced approximately 1,900 vehicles in total.
In 1999, Roger Allard revived the Allard brand under the name Allard Motor Works. The company’s signature product is the J2X MkIII, a high-performance sports car with beautiful vintage styling. The car is a faithful replica of the original Allard J2X, but with modern (and more reliable) powertrain options.
The cars are hand-crafted in Southern California to the owner’s specifications. Due to this unique and exclusive build process, production is limited to no more than 100 vehicles per year. There are several crate engine options available from both General Motors and MOPAR, depending on the buyer’s preference.
I caught up with this sharp red Allard J2X MkIII roadster at Highline Autos Cars and Coffee in Arizona on August 6, 2022.
The two-seater car features a long hood, short rear deck, and no roof or top whatsoever. The large, flared wheel arches stick out from the car’s slender body.
The car has no heater, radio, or glove box – just a couple of gauges mounted to a beautiful engine-turned dashboard. It is finished in red with a black leather interior. This one is equipped with an automatic transmission, though I was not able to determine which engine it has.
The price of a J2X MkIII depends on options, with a base model build costing around $150,000 to $180,000. Again, keep in mind that these cars are hand-built to order, not mass-produced.
For my money, I would rather have a Superformance MkIII roadster as I prefer the look of those cars over the Allard. But the Allard certainly has its place, especially for those fans of British roadsters who have the means to enjoy it.
Stopping by the KBS Coatings booth, you may find something a bit different than your typical SEMA Car. Designed and built by Cool Hand Customs of Middleton, WI this Malaise-era had a few upgrades under it’s vintage exterior. Gone is the original drivetrain, replaced with a 3.7L Cyclone V6, backed up by 6R80 6-speed transmission. The 3.7L features custom headers that exit as side pipes on the car, providing a transition from modern to retro.
