Countdown to SEMA: 2014 – 2021 Highlights

This installment of SEMA Show highlight photos of everything exciting in the Mopar® world goes from where we left off last time, and picking up starting in 2014 until the present. The 2022 SEMA Show takes place starting Wednesday, November 2nd, and runs through Friday evening, November 4th. The selection of images I shot over these years serves as an example of the high quality of the vehicles, displays and new products that are part of every year’s show! The adrenaline runs high at each rendition of this exciting trade show, with industry members from all over the globe attending to see the latest wares from the automotive aftermarket.

History was on most everybody’s minds while walking the aisles at the 2016 running of the SEMA Show, which was the 50th anniversary of the event. And there was still plenty of clues and reminders that some of the key founders of the industry are still going strong! Namely firms like Air Lift, B&M Automotive, Cragar, Crane Cams, Doug’s Headers, Edelbrock, EMPI, Hedman Hedders, Hooker Headers, Mallory Ignition, Milodon Engineering, Moon Equipment, Trans-Dapt and Weiand. Some are still cornerstone suppliers to the racing and street performance worlds. And because of the roots that go way back, these companies have first pick at SEMA when the time comes each year for exhibitors to choose their booth location on the show floor. If you’ve ever attended, you’ll notice these pioneer names are out front and center of the Central Hall, thanks to SEMA recognizing their seniority in the business.

With the loss of the 2020 running of the SEMA Show (Specialty Equipment Market Association), the general enthusiasm for the 2021 event was super high and the turnout of people was strong! It seemed just like old times, and while there were noticeably a few exhibitors missing as compared to years past, there was plenty to see and absorb all days of the event. In fact, the extra open space here and there was ideal in the sense that it provided tables and chairs for those that wanted to take a break from walking or to study the SEMA floorplan. 

This automotive aftermarket scene as a whole is obviously alive and well, and with 2021’s gathering being the first ever to take place with the Las Vegas Convention Center’s large expansion in the way of the new ultra-modern West Hall, the SEMA Show was actually bigger than ever. SEMA 2022 promises to be like all the others … the place to be if you dig cars and are part of the business.

No matter what road you travel to enter Las Vegas, you’re greeted with bright signs letting you know it’s a town filled with lights, flash and excitement!

Increased downforce, along with improved driver visibility, were key factors when Mopar designed their new 2015 Dodge Charger Funny Car body shell. “The car, how mean it looks, the way it handles, the way it runs on the racetrack,” said Matt Hagen, Don Schumacher Racing driver, who did the race testing of the new shell. “It’s simply amazing. Making Friday night qualifying runs with the new body is going to be so much fun.” 

For the 1971 Duster 340 grille or a ’70 ‘Cuda fender application, OER (Original Equipment Reproduction) has the goodies, and a lot more for this growing segment of the performance industry. 

Pre-assembled door panels for 1970-74 Barracuda applications were among the new products at the 2014 event.

Look closely at this 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, the wheels look like the original 15-inch-diameter Rallye Wheels, but rather 17-inchers from Year One. It’s a great way to improve the handling plus provide an updated, modernized appearance without going over the top.

The Hedman Performance Group had a recently completed replica (the second such car to be built as a tribute to the “Suddenly 1960” Plymouth) complete with 392-cid Chrysler HEMI® engine under the hood. Back in the day, the original car ran 183 miles per hour at Bonneville.

Classic 2-door Plymouth Suburban wagon from the 2014 show, SEMA is the place each year to see the latest project cars, this one was from the Kenwood Rod Shop in Peachtree City, Georgia.

Mopar got real serious with their SEMA debut of the “Hellcat” Challenger, 707 horsepower and a supercharged HEMI engine, the machine runs 11.2 in the quarter-mile without slicks, has a window sticker price of $60,990.00 and is without question the wildest street-legal Dodge ever produced! Some say it’s actually a little too fast for drivers that don’t realize the extent of the horsepower involved, as once you hit second gear, things happen real quick behind the wheel.

Shaker hoods for Challengers and all kinds of cool Mopar goodies shown in the 2014 Mopar booth!

The famous numbers “43” and the special mix of white and dark blue hues, what Richard and Maurice originally mixed up for the Petty family racecar … it all works well on this 2014 Dodge Challenger! 

2014’s show provided this Sublime Green-painted Challenger T/A concept, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, big Brembo brakes, active exhaust (with side exits), blacked out hood with Viper style scoop and side stripes just like the 1970 versions!

Amsoil unveiled at the 2014 event highly modified and trend-setting Dodge Challenger 392 Scat Pack “Rapture” which was a 6.5-week build by Downforce Motorsports, leading up to the days before the show opened. Featuring Forgeline wheels and and Nitto 315 rubber, new front chin spoiler, side skirts, a rear defuser and radical rear wing design. There was over 50 hours of masking and taping work done in the painting process alone to the stylish “shaker” equipped Mopar vehicle.

The Roadster Shop created this tubular chassis-equipped 1968 Dodge Charger that features a 1.5-inch chop top, 1,300-hp twin-turbo V10 Viper power and Vector wheels, which gives it a certain late 1970s retro look. It’s really an extensive redesign of the classic Coke bottle Charger body shape with modern underpinnings and extreme power.

The 1962 Dodge Dart had a look that only a serious Chrysler lover could embrace; however, all these years later, the lines are unique and offer a desirable change of pace! This one is a Super Stock cross-ram 2×4 “Max Wedge” version with some serious torque and power … a full cage inside and impressive straight-line performance. It was the star of Derale Performance’s 2015 booth.

The 1970 NASCAR racing season was the high-water mark for wild aerodynamics and Richard Petty’s #43 Plymouth Superbird is remembered as one of the most colorful and successful of all the winged cars. This is an authentic car from the Richard Petty personal collection and drool material for Mopar fanatics!  

Dynacorn’s Repro 1970 Dodge Challenger shells now give builders a chance to built their own HEMI engine-powered creations, with a starting weight of 1,700 pounds, and it is said to be manufactured to exact OEM specifications, using 1006 universal-grade automotive steel. It’s like the old Hamtramck Assembly Line factory is still alive and well!

The Dodge and Plymouth production HEMI engines from 1966-1971, known as the Street HEMI with 426 cubic inches, are still favorites for segments of car builders. Edelbrock makes CNC aluminum HEMI heads and they are updated with revised exhaust valve angle (to accommodate larger valves on the intake side) and brass tubes installed in the exhaust pushrod holes for maximum clearance with minimal port intrusion.

An early Dart with custom-blend green and crate engine GEN III HEMI engine power, not often seen but part of the 2015 SEMA Show!

Hurst’s 2015 exhibit had a pair of hot Mopar vehicles, a 2015 Dodge Challenger plus this immaculate resto-mod 1971 HEMI ‘Cuda convertible.

50 years of SEMA! 2016 was the year of the celebration, and it was jam-packed with excitement, in excess of 2,400 exhibiting companies showed their wares and in addition, some 1,500 display vehicles were scattered in and around the four halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, plus a remote hall was set up at the adjoining Westgate Hotel.

Top Fuel racer Leah Pruett, who drove for Don Schumacher Racing, sponsored by Mopar (note HEMI markings on the engine!) plus from an oil sponsor, pretty hard to miss the Pennzoil logo! Back in the day, Eddie Hill ran a yellow T/F car with Pennzoil support and that car was named the “nuclear banana” and now it’s a different era, Leah has to build on her career and success all on her own. She started driving Jr. Dragsters and made it all the way to the top of the sport.

The Chrysler Pacifica Cadence was well represented during the 2016 SEMA Show – yes, mini-vans have their place at the show!

The Hot Wheels “Snake II” ‘Cuda Funny Car that Don Prudhomme ran in 1971 and ’72 was there in all its glory! John Buttera originally built it, and here it’s faithfully restored to its racing condition of the early 1970s. It ran a best of 6.35 at 226 mph and this was back in the days of 6-71 blowers and iron block 426 production type HEMI engine blocks. The car was originally painted by Don Kirby and restored by Paint N Place and graphics (both times) by Kenny Youngblood.

A 1948 Chrysler Town & Country daringly done up as a modernized rod with new GEN III HEMI engine power; dig those large diameter wire wheels! 

Classic Dodge Power Wagon military-style 4×4 shown here from 2016 that has been restored, and reworked to conquer the world, and in a fabulous retro style! 

Mopar E-body lovers saw the new Dakota Digital LCD gauge cluster to modernize their Challengers/’Cudas in the New Products area at the 2016 show.

Marv Eldridge ran this 1970 Dodge Challenger as part of the “Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Stars” Funny Car tour, and he also was the manufacturer of the body (with his Fiberglass Trends company). This particular car, displayed at 2016 SEMA, ran a GEN I supercharged HEMI engine and it was one of the early cars that was equipped with the then-new “zoomies” headers, done up by Doug Thorley.  

With Peter Max art on the wall, V-10 Viper engine components in the display case, and the familiar red, white and blue “Mopar” logo in the background, the 2016 Mopar exhibit area was the ideal surroundings to spend time.

Besides providing a venue for performanc industry members to see all the latest gear, SEMA goes out of its way with all-new designs every year for the SEMA-branded hats and related apparel. This is a new one from 2017.

The term “dog dish” or “poverty caps” refers to the standard small hub caps that came on muscle cars and regular passenger cars and for some reason, back in the day, many serious Mopar performance car purchasers ordered and received their new cars with the AKA “poverty caps.” Part of the reason was because many immediately put on “mag” wheels. When the Ring Brothers took on the project of building up a 1969 Dodge Charger, they treated it to three things that were popular in the era and often seen when these cars were brand new: Dog dish hub caps, a vinyl top and dark green paint. But the one they brought to SEMA (called Deflection) had special HRE aluminum wheels painted color-matching BASF green and with one-off custom replica hub caps, a modern 6.4L HEMI engine, DSC hydro-formed F&R suspension and a body that had some 4,700 hours of preparation. The talented Ring Brothers!

Dodge Challengers were scattered throughout the 2017 show floor, including the AVS booth as represented by their welcoming hostess!

The Swedish Charger belonging to Johan Eriksson was a big hit at the 2017 show, and the more one looked at it and studied the details, the more it was discovered all the small changes done to it. A Viper V-10 kept it “all Mopar” and thanks to Turtle Wax and CTEK (which was the booth it was featured in), a lot of Americans could see what talent this guy and his team have!

When the idea came to build a 1962 Chrysler 300 into a worthy street machine, the crew at Classic Car Studio’s Speed Shop (St. Louis, Missouri) came up with an engine that would provide ample power and also fill up the huge engine compartment nicely, a Viper 8.0L V10, taken from a second-generation Viper. The chassis was updated with air suspension from Ride Tech and BASF paint was used, but only on the wheels, engine and interior trim! Patina was the theme to give it that “Grandpa’s grocery getter” appearance. www.classiccarstudio.com.

A large amount of car styling historians (and enthusiasts in general) all agree that the second-generation 1968-70 Dodge Charger body is an icon shape right out of the factory. This one was built by BBT Fabrications (Mahomet, Illinois) and features a lot of what has in recent years become “standard” for custom show cars: An Art Morrison chassis, a modern HEMI GEN III engine (this one has Hilborn fuel injection) and a Tremec T56 gearbox. However, for some unknown reason, the decision was made to wipe off the famous side scallops on the doors and de-emphasize the “Coke bottle” theme that it so delightfully promoted. Why? To be different, but some things that are already masterpieces perhaps don’t need to be modified just for the sake of modification. In some observers’ opinions, two correct door skins and it makes it a perfect ride!

Inside, outside, there were fabulous Mopar vehicles throughout at the 2018 SEMA Show! Here’s the outdoor Continental Tire exhibit were we were greeted by their booth hostess with a beautiful 1970 Plymouth Superbird as the backdrop! 

Bought new in 1974 by Beth Hazelwood, a 340 Duster that spent time being raced in NHRA Stock Eliminator, running 11.20s. Fast forward to current times, 2018 SEMA, the Mopar was brought back to life by Goolsby Customs and given an SRT® Hellcat HEMI engine and a real “retro” presentation! It rolls on EVOD 18s and the stance is all 1970s. Beth is very happy with it now and she named it “Kasper” (The friendly ghost) as it was “lost” for a time period as after Hurricane Katrina hit where she lives, it was missing for a while. Clean and fresh ideas! 

1969 Charger in “LIME” and Daytona-width rear stripe, opened-up wheel arches and dull cage with SRT Hellcat HEMI engine power, modern power for a retro NASCAR look at the 2018 SEMA Show!

In the 1960s, there was a Dodge A100 that was an exhibition wheelstander called “Little Red Wagon” and powered by an injected 426 HEMI engine located in the bed, driven by Bill “Maverick” Golden. Located front and center in Mopar’s booth was this “Little Dead Wagon” done up in the same fashion by Mark G. Worman as seen on Graveyard Carz. This one has a Ray Barton-built 426 HEMI engine topped with a BDS 8-71 supercharger! 

There are engines and there are engines; however, when this rod builder from the 2018 show wanted something between the framerails that had eye appeal: an early Chrysler “Fire Power” HEMI engine complete with a set of Mickey Thompson finned aluminum valve covers!

Lexani Wheels in their 2018 exhibit took an SRT Hellcat Challenger and gave it the full paint/graphics treatment, APR Performance rear adjustable wing and, of course, a set of their large diameter custom wheels! 

New this year, 2019, saw the SEMA Cruise exit out the back doors and for a couple of hours, most of the show’s display vehicles came rolling out, making a great way for spectators to get a good look at them out in the Nevada sunshine.

There’s car shows and there’s car shows; however, nothing compares to the flash and glitter of Las Vegas and the annual SEMA Show! 

1968 Plymouth Barracuda fastback built by Garret’s Rod Shop (Columbus, Ohio) rolls on 18- and 20-inch Billet Specialties Bonneville rollers. Originally a 340-cid V8 car, it now features a 6.1L 3rd GEN HEMI engine with Magnuson supercharger, Art Morrison chassis with Ride Tech suspension. Tucked in bumpers and a molded-in rear lip spoiler are part of the body mods. It was a real head-turner in 2019!

For 2019, Mopar took this 1968 Dodge D200 Sweptline pickup, 3/4-ton heavy-duty version, and starting with the frame it received a boxed C-channel in the rear, for lowering, and the front axle was moved forward 3 inches to provide improved proportions. 22-inch custom “stamped steel” look wheels were designed for the project, and under the hood is a Cummins 24V turbo diesel engine. “Candied Delmonico Red” paint with “Dairy Cream” accents.

Vinnie Massaro’s “Hellacious” 1967 Dodge Coronet from Rhode Island, was built by Kindig-It Design for the 2019 event with numerous body mods, including 1.5-inch top chop (front), one-off billet grille and re-worked taillights, all done in flawless Modern Classikk “Veridian Pearl” blue hue. The incorporation of an Art Morrison chassis and 6.2L 3rd GEN Hellcat HEMI engine (Whipple supercharged, 710 horsepower) provides modern power and cornering abilities. It rolls on 20- and 24-inch one-off wheels by Billet Specialties.

Dodge Challenger built by Steve Strope of Pure Vision (Simi Valley, California) was a hit at SEMA’s 2019 show. A promotional vehicle for the Charles Schwab-sponsored “challenge” golf tour, it’s a 1973 model with 1968 side marker lights and is painted in custom Glacier Blue.

Dodge sold the Rampage truck in the early 1980s, a 1984 shown here, and it was based on their Omni front-wheel-drive compacts. This Arrington Performance-built creation features a modern-era 392-cid HEMI engine fitted in the truck bed, complete with Borla fuel injection stacks, and backed-up with a Mendiola 5-speed with Centerforce clutch. 18-inch Forgeline wheels fill up the enlarged wheel openings and now all there is under the hood is a radiator and fuel tank. A full tubular racing chassis is underneath and a mid-engined mini El Camino is something not seen often and was part of the fun in 2019! 

Restomod Air Co. (Coppell, Texas) brought along a 1964 Dodge D100 running a Porterbuilt chassis, 6.4L HEMI engine, Airlift suspension, 22-inch AG Wheels (9-inch front, 12-inch rear) and a full assortment of Restomod air-conditioning components.  

This green Dodge Challenger at the 2019 Air-Zenith booth exemplifies the use of WWII fighter-bomber war paint, a throw-back to the distinctive aircraft shark mouth insignia from a bygone era.

1965 “Redtail” Plymouth Barracuda Pro-touring car (built by Hot Rod Chassis and Cycle, Addison, Illinois) with 488-cid GEN III HEMI engine (Hilborn F.I.) and Interceptor IRS, and full assortment of S-W gauges for display at 2019 gathering.

More from 2019 – classic 1966 Dodge Charger with “Sahara” Axalta paint, SRT Hellcat HEMI engine power and large rollers simulated to the original full wheel cover design. Mopar lovers agreed this is a great example of the first-gen Charger!

The first The Fast & The Furious movie from 2001 featured a Toyota Supra that was painted up in orange with unique graphics, and at the show, there was this V-10 Viper done up in the same colors from that film, and with a tribute to Paul Walker (1973-2013) who was one of the stars.

After the 2019 show on Friday evening, the exciting “SEMA IGNITED” outdoor segment takes place, and a couple highlights of the vehicles pulling out of the building were this Australian Chrysler Charger from Hills & Co., and the Chip Foose Hemisphere!

The Las Vegas Convention Center did a world-class expansion with the addition of the massive West Hall, as walking from the famous Las Vegas Strip and seeing it, the place for 2021, has a stunning appearance and it ensures that the LVCC will remain one of the busiest centers in the world.

SEMA apparel is highly sought after and every year a great deal of effort is put forth to design new items. It’s become a real “fashion statement” in the worldwide automotive circles! 

Sano ’63 Belvedere 2-door hardtop was part of the fun last year, 2021; restoration is a growing segment of SEMA!

The 2021 Stewart-Warner booth had lots of new products displayed along with a very radical 1970 Dodge Challenger built by Ellsworth Racing (Prairie Farm, Wisconsin) and HEMI Autoworks (Milltown, Wisconsin). The wild Mopar E-body rides on a Dodge Viper chassis now fitted with a modern SRT Hellcat HEMI engine, and is a rolling example of fusing newer technology with classic body architecture from the past, all with content that pushes the term “resto-mod” to it’s absolute outer limits!

Known as the “Hellrunner”, this 1973 Plymouth Road Runner (from Jems Classics, Wilmington, Delaware) now fitted with a Mopar crate HEMI engine, Strange Engineering S-trac IRS and C5 Corvette rear subframe. Ridetech adjustable coil-overs front and rear, full rollcage and leather interior, it’s a stylin’ machine that has been overlooked for years. With 15 pounds of boost on the 3.0L supercharger, the engine pulled 950 lbs/ft of torque and 1,000 horsepower on the dyno. Seen last year, 2021. 

The Plymouth Duster has become an increasingly popular choice for builders, and this 1974 example coming from Cool Hand Customs (Middleton, Wisconsin) is upgraded with a GEN III HEMI engine and keeping the body stock just the way Mother Mopar intended.

The original Chargers from 1966-67 have been overlooked to some degree by the Mopar crowd and this one received some unique one-of-a-kind “Project Sick Six Six” from Willie B for the 2021 show, featuring Heidts IFS and Pro-G IRS. It rides on Fikse wheels and those rear quarter panels are bulged out for clearance, plus the vents are now functional! Built by Two Guys Garage and at first it was considered an ugly duckling at the start of a nine-year build, but now a serious head-turner with its 3.5 years of reshaping, which now has a lower roof and re-angled A-pillars. 

The 1972 Plymouth “SCAMP” is what the Plymouth Division was able to create for increased showroom sales. Dodge had the popular Dart Swinger at the time, and Plymouth had the popular Duster and the Valiant was a four-door. They had given Dodge in ’71 the Duster and a Dodge Dart front end was put on, creating the “Demon.” In return, Plymouth got the Dart and put on the Valiant front end. All very simple and it helped each division obtain market share. Bob Florine loves vintage Mopar vehicles and took an Eric Brockmeyer rendering and gave the project to the talented Steve Strope (Pure Vision Design) and here’s the result as seen in 2021! A 340 small block punched out to 408 and all kinds of fantastic build details – it’s a real head-turner. A 1970 Plymouth Road Runner center section of a hood (Air Grabber scoop) was grafted on and a “bumblebee” rear stripe was added, something only seen on a Dodge back in the day. The car has a look that is classic Mopar all the way and especially unique to those that know the particulars on what it is!

Just when most had totally forgotten that Dodge at one time had the “Ramcharger” full-size SUV, Walker Evan’s 2021 display vehicle was one of the cleanest ever built! The factory manufactured these trucks from 1974 to 1993 in the USA and until ’96 in Mexico. 

In what was a Funny Car in ownership transition, the Matt Hagen Dodge Charger with a temporary paint job on display awaiting the new 2022 NHRA racing season.

The 1971 movie Vanishing Point had starting filming in the summer of ’70 and featured an Alpine White 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T with 440-cid engine, traveling at high speeds from Colorado toward San Francisco, California, starring Barry Newman as Kawalski. The film is considered a cult classic, Bruce Springsteen named it as his favorite action film, and it is said to be one of Steven Spielberg’s favorites, as well. This dude lives “Kawalski” every day and it was reported he told the SEMA announcer: “I gotta be in Frisco 3 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.” That was what it looked like when rolling out of the 2021 SEMA extravaganza! 

Author: James Maxwell

0 Comments