Tag Archives: SEMA

Lime Crush 1966 Suburban at Goodguys

Lime Crush, a custom 66 Chevrolet Suburban, we first saw at its debut at the SEMA Show in 2013, came out of the winter blues for a sunny weekend at Goodguy’s Rod and Custom’s Fifth Annual Spring Nationals in Scottsdale.

Truck of the Year Finalist
Truck of the Year Finalist

SEMA Debut

At the 2013 SEMA Show, ACCEL revealed this awesome custom Suburban, named the Lime Crush.  ACCEL Performance Group is a mixture of speed parts including Mr. Gasket.  The Suburban is an eye catcher with the custom paint -Mr. Gasket Green- sprayed on by Charlie Hutton.  The truck was done by the Roadster Shop which is based in Illinois.  The amount of body modifications and custom pieces was just impressive.  Looking at where it started from, makes the folks at the Roadster Shop even more impressive.  It was quite a build!  Here was Hot Rod Magazine’s take on the debut.

Goodguy’s Spring Nationals

At the Goodguy’s Fifth Annual Spring Nationals, the truck came out again.  It looks even better in the daylight where the lime green paint can truly sparkle!  Of course the truck drew lots of admiring glances and the detailer spent his whole time keeping the dust down.  It is always nice to see vehicles that pop up at the SEMA Show also make it out across the country for others to see in person.

Finalist  – Truck of the Year

The judges at Goodguys know quality and picked Lime Crush as a finalist for their Truck of the Year Title.  If this is their first pick, it sure raises the bar for everybody else!

Good Guys Finalist Truck of the Year

Lime Crush Decals

It’s said that the attention to the little things is what counts.  It also helps if they have a sense of humor.  All the deals on the truck, including those on the window were hand made.  On the tailgate of the Suburban is this warning decal for the roof rack, for h the obligatory surfboards.

Here’s the close up.

Close Up Roof Rack Instructions

Someone has a gnarly sense of humor.

What better vehicle to highlight for St Patrick’s Day?

 

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Tanked works on a Highlander

Tanked is a popular show on the Animal Planet where two brothers-in-law working in Las Vegas make custom fish tanks.  Their skill and ingenuity is enviable.

Toyota Highlander
Highlander morphed by Tanked

Las Vegas

Seems appropriate that the firm is based in Las Vegas, which is also the home for the SEMA Show.  At last year’s show, Toyota showed off a SpongeBob and SquarePants themed Highlander with the interior dedicated to a fish tank.  The 800 gallon tank consumes most of the interior of  the spacious Toyota Highlander.

The engine was removed and replaced with the pumps and filters for the aquarium.

Toyota Highlander

The representatives from Toyota were very pleased with the outcome  and is a big hit with the younger kids.  You had to look close to realize that there were actual fish swimming around in the tank.  Twenty species were in the tank including starfish and clown fish.

The exterior artwork on the Highlander mimicked the SpongBob SquarePants theme as well

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Kosmic Outcast -Indianapolis Bound

Kosmic Outcast

Kosmic Outcast 40 Ford Pickup
1940 Ford Pickup

We first saw the Kosmic Outcast at last year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.  It was kind of hard not to notice this 1940 pickup with a lime green color and a Ed Roth vibe.  Now we learn it will be seen in Indianapolis at the upcoming Hotrod and Restoration Trade Show.  The Kosmic Outcast is billed as  “An Intergalactic Weapon of Destruction”

 

SEMA

It’s always nice to see cars that were at the SEMA show being featured at other car events.  It helps spread the wealth for car enthusiasts who can’t make it out to the SEMA Show.

Kosmic Outcast Builder

This beauty was built by Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle in Addison, IL and shows their talent and eye for perfection.  Plus it is hard to figure out what year this was originally, when you learn about all the parts borrowed from other cars like:

Kosmic Outcast Transplant List

Body modifications to the pickup include a 5-inch chop, 6-inch section,

  • ’34 Chevy truck cowl
  • ’57 Chevy hood skin
  • ’34 Ford Tudor rear window
  • ’57 Olds dash
  • ’60 Pontiac quarters
  • ’60 Plymouth Valiant tailgate and
  • ’53 Ford truck grille.

When you look at the interior, you have got to be floored.  Not sure how comfortable it is but this is a homage to Ed Roth for sure!

The pick up, if you can still call it that, is motoring around on a Olds Rocket 371 with a TKO600 tranny.   It is sure to be a hit at this upcoming show and many more!

Comments?

Can you decipher where those tail lights came from?  Post your guess in our comment section

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Backup Pickup by Galpin Auto Sports

backup-pickup-3Galpin Auto Sports brought out the Backup Pickup to their display at Barrett-Jackson Auctions in Scottsdale, AZ this month.  This recreation was also seen last year at the SEMA Show and our friends at Hot Rod magazine highlighted it on both their blog and in the March, 2014 print issue.

Backup Pickup

This is a pretty wicked ride and was a crowd pleasing wheel stander, back in the day.   Outwardly the Ford Econoline looks okay with an awesome 60’s paint job.  But look closely and you’ll see the driver’s seat is on the right side and facing to the rear!

Paint

The paint job is a real trip and probably took weeks to plan and execute.  The truck sports a 427 stacked injected engine that puts out just shy of 1,000 horsepower.  Apparently Galpin has yet to put it on the track for a full out wheel stand, but that would be sight to see.  Back in the day, the driver actually had to peer out the right side of the truck to watch the track.  Hard to believe that this was all done in only twelve weeks!  (Although HRM said it was six months).backup-pickup-2

Up Next

Enjoy the pictures and subscribe to this blog to learn about the Mach IV Mustang that Galpin also touted at Barrett-Jackson.

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Bruce Willis’ Nomad has some humor

At any car auction, sellers are quick to point out the car’s connection to a celebrity.  While some stars are known for their affection to cars for others the connection is loose or weak.  It seems every few years Jodie Foster’s VW Bug runs through the auction, but really?  Jodie Foster?

Barrett-Jackson

So at this week’s Barrett-Jackson Auction, you wouldn’t be surprised that some cars come out with a connection to stars.  Simon Cowell is selling his Bugatti, while Gene Simmons is selling a Ford Truck that was first premiered at the SEMA Show.

Bruce Willis

But this Nomad’s seller shows he has a sense of humor – or a great copywriter. This 55 Chevrolet Nomad was previously owned by actor Bruce Willis.   The seller mentions he has a written note from Bruce stating ”the car brought me many years of fun, and happy memories”

1955 Nomad

The car has a Skyline Blue and India Ivory interior, and for some reason the engine was replaced with a 1966 Corvette L79 engine with a three speed automatic.  The hero card mentions Bruce’s association to the car seven times.

But the humorous addition?  See what the car comes with in this pic!

55 Nomad Bruce Willis

 

Afterburner Ford Fairlane by Ring Brothers at Barrett-Jackson

Ring Brothers 1964 Ford Fairlane “Afterburner”

The 1964 Ford Fairlane dubbed “Afterburner” and built by the Ring Brothers debuted at the SEMA Show in 2009.  It was eye-popping and showed the exceptional skills and vision continuously displayed since by the two boys.  We loved it then and love still today.

In the interim the Ring Brothers have continued to make a name for themselves and have produced a great number of jaw dropping cars.

Barrett Jackson

Now it is auctioning off at the 2014 Barrett-Jackson Auction.  This beauty is a work of art and has less than 1,000 miles on it since first built.  The Ford Windsor engine with a bored out 427 is spectacular.  The body modifications made by Ring Brothers is exceptionally eye pleasing.  Here’s hoping that more than one bidder falls in love , like we did five years ago.

What do you think it’ll bring on Saturday?

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Corvette’s Jake Logo Revised

With the introduction of a new generation Corvette, the C7, it figures that a new Jake design would be in order.

Jake is the logo for Corvette Racing and featured a modernized skull with the corvette crossed flags as the eyes.

Jake Updated

The C7.R (the full on racing version of the Corvette) will make its track debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January, 2014.  This is the day after its unveiling at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 25, 2014. When the C7.R takes to the track, it will sport an all-new Jake logo, which has become the unofficial mascot of Corvette Racing.

corvette-c7r-jake-mascot

Image 1 of 1

Jake logo Black and White

The History of Jake


Jake first appeared in the early 2000s, when the Corvette Racing team was gaining momentum and winning multiple ALMS championships and the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. The team began uniting behind a rally cry of “Take No Prisoners” and a flaming skull logo that represented its unrelenting drive for victories.

It wasn’t until after the C5.R completed the final 24 Hours of Le Mans that the unofficial logo was born. Urban lore claims that the sketch started on a cocktail napkin as a skull with crossed flags for the eyes and was named after Jake, Jim Belushi’s character from The Blues Brothers.

Jake Concept Edition

Jake even was honored with Chevrolet concept car that was shown at SEMA in 2010.  It was based on a Grand Sport edition and was liberally covered with sedate Jake logos.

The new Jake, with the seventh-generation Crossed Flag logo for eyes, is more modern and more aggressive just like the C7.R will hope to be.

Artwork courtesy of © General Motors

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Bridjit Curbs to the Rescue

Many low slung sports cars face a suburban threat – driveways.bridjit-driveway-2

 

It seems that many residential driveways have too sharp of an incline to allow for low profile cars to enter without scraping the side effects or body panels.

bridjit3 I have even experienced  a Toyota Camry scrape a driveway when “loaded” down with four adults!  But Bridjit has come to our rescue.

bridjit-installed

These folks at Bridjit have engineered a heavy-duty rubber curb that helps minimize the drop off on many curbs and driveways.  It is made out of recycled tires, so you can even get an environmental thumbs up!  We first ran across this item at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Bridjit to the test

Our test vehicle was stock 2003 Corvette.  Regardless of the angle of the approach, the car always scraped the front air dam.  Now Chevrolet did design this to be a flexible item, but eventually this air dam is bound to tear off or worse.

With the Bridjit in place the Corvette has a much easier time traversing the driveway.

Bridjit installs easily

The typical set up consists of a main portion of straight curbing and two tapered end pieces.  They bolt together with galvanized nuts and bolts.

bridjit-backsideIf necessary you could order additional sections of the main straight piece for longer drives.  These babies are tough and durable.  Ours has been exposed to the harsh Arizona sun for years now with no deterioration.

Bridjit is safe

Bridjit curbs are also rain and street sweeper safe.  There is a circular channel built into the underside so water can run underneath the curbing.  And the city street sweepers just steer around it when they come down our street, just like a parked car or similar obstruction.

We were originally concerned that the Bridjit might “disappear” at the hands of a midnight thief so our name was painted on the underside.  But truth be known, at twelve feet and 75 pounds, these are a bit unwieldy, after assembly, so doubt if theft is a big issue.

What will be an issue is curiosity from passerby’s.  We have had more than one car back up and peer again at the Bridjit and look it over. Nice that Bridjit inscribed their name and toll-free phone number (877 522-6611) on the curbing.  Good marketing and free advertising!

bridjit8

Purchase the Bridjit

Several car shops carry the Bridjit curbs but I’d suggest ordering straight from the website and checking in with the friendly owners if you have any specific questions.

 

Bumble Bee Camaro Tire with Hollywood Magic

Bumble Bee -the Star of the Transformer Movie Anthologybumble-bee Camaro

The Bumble Bee is one of the main characters in the Transformer Movie Series and is a bright yellow Camaro.  Chevrolet certainly enjoys the publicity that is garnered by the Bumble Bee and Hollywood studios are known for accepting cash or product for a movie “placement”.

bumble-bee-hood

SEMA 2013

At the recent SEMA show, the three “stars” of the upcoming Transformers 4 movie directed by Michael Bay were showcased by Chevrolet at a standalone display.  Present were a new sleek Corvette Stringray, an urban looking Sonic and the yellow Bumble Bee Camaro.  They were highlighting the upcoming Transformers 4 release next summer.

bumble-bee-side

The same three cars were present at Chevrolet’s Media Event.  But after Monday’s event some sharp eyed spectators noted a slight change in the “shoes” the Bumble Bee was wearing. pre-close-up Bumble bee tire It turns out the Hollywood magic must have worn out and the painted on Goodyear logo and Eagle name were removed showing the true brand of these tires – Pirelli.post-close-up Bumble Bee tire

Ah, the magic of Hollywood!

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Double Down Deuce by Bryan Fuller at SEMA Show

Bryan Fuller’s 32 Ford Roadster – Double Down Deuce

double-down-deuce-3

We’ve always been a fan of the work and craftsmanship that Bryan Fuller demonstrates.  Last year at SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) he dragged out the ultra-long “Thundertaker“.  Now this year at  SEMA  we were once again impressed by his “Double Down Deuce” Ford.  And we weren’t the only ones – Hot Rod Magazine did not just one but two entries on the deuce.

Fuller – All Wheel Drive

After all when’s the last time you saw a quick change gear set – in the FRONT end??  Yep this is an all wheel drive beast!  This metal roadster is powered by a Ford Boss 429 producing 600 cubic inches and huge horsepower with a GMC Denali transfer case and a clutchless five speed. from G Force.

Slick is Sick

The “Slickest” item might be the Goodyear 28.5—14.50-16 Goodyear Eagle slicks to provide the traction to the asphalt or even the salt flats. This roadster will be at home on the auto cross, with pro tourers or at Bonneville.

double-down-deuce-4

While still “a work in progress” this “Double Down Deuce” in bare metal is still awesome.  Plus we had the chance to see it again in November at the Jet Hot display at the Goodguy’s Southwest Nationals show in Scottsdale, AZ.

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