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

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Jake logo Black and White