Even 15 years ago you would have a difficult time trying to generate a crowd for anything from 1974. Today it is refreshing to see anything designed prior to the proliferation of computers. At the Original Parts Group booth I was stopped dead in my tracks by this 1974 El Camino, created by ROYL Garage.
The first thing you may notice is the striking gold paint job accented by a black reverse stinger pointing along it’s side. However I was attracted to the velocity stacks poking out of the hood, hinting at 496 cubic inches of splayed-valve Chevrolet rat. Behind it is the nearly-indestructible 4L80E.
Side pipes must be coming back, because much like last month’s 1978 Pinto, this El Camino also features them. This car also features Dakota Digital gauges, QA1 Drag race 2.0 suspension, Wilwood brakes, Kicker Audio stereo components and the booth namesake OPGI parts throughout.
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.
Drew Scott is one half of the famous duo “Property Brothers” which he has co-hosted with his twin brother Jonathan for 14 seasons on HGTV. The popularity of the series has inspired a number of spin-offs and specials, all of them centered on renovating houses.
In a two-hour special that will air on Discovery+ on Saturday, December 18, 2021, we will see a different side of Drew as he pursues another of his passions beyond house flipping. Called Drew Scott’s Dream Car, the special will show Drew Scott teaming up with master mechanic and builder Art Anstead to build his dream car.
I saw the finished vehicle on display at the Hagerty Automotive booth at the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Let’s take a quick tour of this very unique car.
It’s called the Lanark DS and it is a two-seater roadster which was inspired by European sports cars of the 1950s and 1960s. The car is a one-off built using a one piece composite body shell over a custom tubular space frame chassis. The finished car weighs 2,600 lbs (1200 kg).
The car’s powertrain is sourced from a Tesla, meaning this is a fully electric car. It will launch the little car from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds with a top speed of 150 mph and a redline of 18,000 rpm. The 220 kW motor produces the equivalent of 294 hp with 245 lb-ft at the motor and 2200+ lb-ft at the wheel. The car reportedly has a range of 300 miles, enough to drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas before needing a recharge.
The car also has 4-wheel disc brakes, adjustable coilovers and a double wishbone suspension setup. The exterior is finished in a unique blue-green aqua color.
I like this little car. The doors and rear haunches remind me of a Kaiser Darrin, but I can also see the influence of European cars like OSCA, Lancia, Ferrari, and others in the front end. The wrap-around windshield is a very cool style element.
With the Tesla powertrain, it sounds like this car will be very quick once you mash the pedal to the floor. What are your thoughts on this one-off Lanark DS?
LVCC West Hall under construction in 2019. Photo by: Trevor Freeman
Here at Generation High Output, we don’t just write about cars – we are car enthusiasts. We like bringing you news and information about what’s happening in the automotive world. We like seeing cars up close and in person.
Because of the pandemic, the Specialty Equipment Market Association decided to make SEMA a virtual event for 2020. We completely understand why, but it definitely did not provide the same experience as walking the convention center, talking to builders, meeting people, and discovering amazing new booths and vendors.
Joyfully, the SEMA Show will be back to an in-person event for 2021! The automotive aftermarket expo returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center November 2-5, 2021. But wait, there’s more!
The Las Vegas Convention Center has completed its latest expansion, and the new West Hall adds an incredible 1.2 million square feet of floor space. And SEMA will be using all of it! That’s right, the 2021 SEMA Show will be the largest event yet!
A sky bridge connects the new West Hall to the North Hall, crossing over Paradise Road. This expansion will host the Trucks, SUVs, and Off Road exhibitors, Powersports and Utility Vehicle exhibitors, and Restyling and Car Care Accessories exhibitors. This means changes to the layout of the South Hall exhibitors. The South Hall Lower Level will feature wheel and tire exhibitors as usual, but the South Hall Upper Level will feature booths and exhibits related to Collision Repair, Tools, and Equipment.
There will be a lot to see at the 2021 SEMA Show, and we plan to be there to bring you the most updated information on trends in the auto industry, the aftermarket, and some cool custom cars as well! For more information, visit www.semashow.com NOTE: The SEMA Show is a trade-only event and not open to the general public.
After spending two whole days wandering the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center at the 2019 SEMA Show, I was exhausted. My feet were tired and I had seen so many amazing cars that I was becoming numb to them.
Seeking to get a breath of fresh air, I ventured outside the convention center and found myself in the Bronze Lot behind the South Hall. It was here that I came across a pair of incredible custom cars belonging to Bradley and Ashley Gray and their custom car business, BLOWN MAFIA.
The sight of a 1965 Ford Mustang and a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, side by side, both painted in matching shades of Porsche Guards Red, was an interesting sight to see. But even more impressive was that both of these cars feature crazy built engines producing big power.
The ’65 Mustang features a 427 cubic inch LSX engine with not one, not two, but THREE superchargers! It is quite an incredible setup, and one that drew a lot of attention from onlookers and passers-by.
1965 Ford Mustang
Builder & Owner: Ashley Gray
Power Plant: 427 LSX Triple Supercharged with Arias Hemi Heads
Drivetrain: 2 Speed Powerglide
Rear End: 9″ Ford
Paint: Porsche Guards Red
Interior: Allanti Light Sand
Right next to the Mustang was this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. The car features a 468 cubic inch Big Block Chevy engine which is both blown and Procharged for crazy power. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
Builder & Owner: Bradley Gray
Power Plant: 468 Big Block Chevy Blown & Procharged
Drivetrain: TH350 Transmission
Rear End: 12 bolt
Paint: Porsche Guards Red
Interior: Allanti Light Sand
This pair of “His and Hers” muscle cars sets a new standard for #relationshipgoals. I am glad they brought their cars out to SEMA, and that I got a chance to see them.
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.
