Though we are already heading into Part 3 of the SEMA 2012 coverage, the photos you’ve been seeing the last two days have mostly been from my first day at the SEMA show. For this third installment, we’ll be taking a look at some cars from the SEMA show that I first saw upon my arrival at the Las Vegas Convention Center on day two. I wanted to make sure that I walked around outside of the show, in the sections furthest away from the actual halls, because there are often some really great builds there. From my experience, some of the coolest cars are actually outside…you just have to go find them. The Meguiar’s area always has some nice cars as does the Mother’s booth. In between you’ll find some random cars here and there and that sometimes is where some of the most unique cars are…
I know you guys aren’t used to seeing a whole lot of domestic builds on The Chronicles but SEMA is such a diverse show and the best of the best are usually the domestic vehicles. I don’t get too much exposure myself when it comes to domestics so I always take the time to look at these cars in great detail. In terms of having well-rounded builds with attention to detail being key, I don’t think the imports even remotely compare to the domestic crowd at SEMA. There builds are just better, simply put. That doesn’t mean that every domestic build is better than every import or euro there, they are just better as a whole. Even though the FR-S was a huge hit this year at SEMA, it still pales in comparison to how dominant the domestic crowd is at this event. You’d be lying to yourself if you thought otherwise. I mean, it’s SEMA, a show created and made famous by the domestic automotive community….not Tokyo Auto Salon…
Play catch-up now if you missed the previous two parts by clicking the following links…
Now, enjoy more coverage of the SEMA event through the eyes of StickyDilJoe…
One of the first cars that caught my eye on Day 2 of SEMA was this Porsche 911 built by BBi Autosport, dubbed “Projekt Grip”…
I had no idea Motegi Racing was still around but apparently they are as soon here with a set of center-locking “Techno Mesh” wheels…
The aero kit is actually designed and created by BBi Autosport in conjunction with Motegi Racing and Steve Ram…
Parked next to the BBi Autosport Projekt Grip build was this twin-turbo Chevy Bel-Air created by West Coast Customs…
A couple more of the High End Performance/Auto Concept Elite custom widebody R35 GTR with customized engine bay by R-Rydes and brand new SSR Executor CV-01…
Walked over to the Black Magic booth where I spotted two Jotech Motorsports-built R35 GTRs…
The black GTR on HRE 593RS wheels…
…and the white one, owned by Kenny Tran, had the S107 HRE wheels and Jotech’s Stage 6 package, which I believe makes well over 1,000HP… Pretty wild considering how simple the exterior remains… I think the only additions to the outside are a Stillen front lip and sideskirts…
Jotech spokesmodel Luna Rose…
…and Keiko Alingas…
N1 Concept’s custom widebody Scion FR-S created with assistance by Asuka Designs…
Loved the color on this E60 M5 on matching HRE wheels…
G35 sedan with custom Top Secret G37-style front bumper… If I remember correctly, this G used to be wrapped a matte white…
This bagged F-series Ford truck was fucking sick… Love how clean it was…
Shaved engine bay of the Ford pick-up…
The tubbed rear truck bed was layered in carbon fiber with only the air tank for the air suspension present…
1966 Chevrolet Chevelle aka “Hell on Wheels” with the Affliction clothing brand logo emblazoned across the side…
383 cubic inch Chevy motor with Weiand blower and a wet plate NOS system….
Interesting interior with pin striped sheet metal door panels and dimple-died plates throughout…Note the Affliction brand even represented on the seats…
This ’68 AMX was fucking nuts….
Just look at the size of the rear wheel/tire…
Under the hood of the AMX was a twin-turbo GM 427 cubic-inch motor…
Interior of the rare AMX…
Ford Econoline truck built by Gene Winfield and named “The Pacifica”…
Custom air suspension set-up controlled via Accuair’s E-Level management system…
The “Lassell Merc” designed by Goran Lassell, Jesse Miller, and built by Sacramento Kustoms…
Another favorite of mine from SEMA 2012 was this Chevy Bel-Air featuring a 2012 supercharged GM LS8 motor swap from a Cadillac CTS-V…
Daigo Saito’s 2JZ-powered Toyota Soarer drift car at the Achilles Tire booth…
As stated, the Soarer is powered by a Toyota 2JZ-GTE engine…
The bare bones interior of the Soarer drifter…
Exterior designed purely for function with the current livery showing some battle scars from a full Formula D campaign this year…
1970 Chevrolet Brookwood wagon with GM LS3 swap, appropriately named “Black Betty”, on display at the Accuair booth…
Accuair’s personal demo vehicle was the “AIR4” which was this custom widebody 2010 Audi A4 wagon with a 2013 RS4 front end facelift…
At the Spec-D booth was Holly Lee and Jeri Lee…
…and Tara Love…
Random, but I thought this Bride Cusco seat was pretty nice…
Also really random was this RC car on a mini dyno at the Superflow booth…
I walked over to the massive Ford section and was welcomed by this Ford Roadster…
Really liked the color combo on this 2013 Ford Focus ST from Galpin Auto Sports (G.A.S.)…
Tjin Edition turbocharged 2013 Ford Fusion…
Nice touch with the side exit Magnaflow exhaust…
On a side note, I actually kind of like how the new Fusion has a front end similar to an Aston Martin…
I didn’t take a photo of the Ford Explorer but I couldn’t help but cringe at how uncomfortable it would be to ride on a 25-series tire on 26-inch wheels…
Ford’s “Cobra Jet” twin-turbo Mustang concept car….
Good to see manufacturers creating nice clean engine bays…
Mother’s 2013 Ford Mustang RTR Spec 3 with carbon fiber fender flares, sitting on HRE Vintage Series 501 wheels… Nice touch with the candy red paint and matte grey accents to match the wheels…
RTR Spec 3 front lip and carbon fiber front splitter…
The hood wasn’t popped but the RTR Spec 3 has a Ford Racing supercharger, American Racing headers, Magnaflow exhaust, and Exedy Hyper Twin clutch…Really cool build overall and very different than the Vaughn Gitten Jr. Mustang RTR-X from last year’s SEMA show…
That’s a wrap for Part 3…still a ton more to go…stay tuned…
The orange GTR looks like a BEAST!
Reblogged this on KlanHonda.
Great pics from SEMA 2012.
Love the coverage. Another excellent SEMA year. You’re correct about the red G35 sedan being wrapped matte white before. I recognized the tan SPARCO seats it has in the interior.
awesome…..
“At the Spec-D booth was Holly Lee and Jeri Lee…”
and Joey Lee
No relation!