Aftermarket


SEMA 2009: Galpin builds custom '69 Mustang right on the show floor

While those of us in the media walked around the show floor at SEMA looking for the cool, the crazy, and the just plain awesome, there were people doing actual work. Real work. No, we're not talking about the security people that wouldn't let us in the show before 9:00am no matter how we tried to convince them, nor the food vendors charging $40 for a lousy pizza. We're talking about the guys at Galpin Auto Sports who spent each day of the show building a custom 1969 Ford Mustang from scratch. The Mustang started off at the start of the ... Read more →

SEMA 2009: Knee-high tri-axle pickup by Air-Zenith is down and (not so) dirty Frank Filipponio

We're not exactly sure what this used to be in its former life, but it all kinds of cool in its current iteration. Just knee-high to a Hobbit, this six-wheel convertible was parked in the shadow ...

SEMA 2009: 1951 Henry J gasser is a 7-second blast from the past Frank Filipponio

Here's another black beauty that caught our attention in the halls of SEMA 2009. It's a 1951 Kaiser Henry J owned and raced by Chris Beanes of California. Running in A/Gas, this gloss-free ...

SEMA 2009: The rest of the best at the Ford display Jonny Lieberman

SEMA is an interesting show. We go in knowing full well that 60-75% of the cars we'll be walking past and/or covering are just trash. Sorry if this bombshell offends anyone, but your Chrysler ...

SEMA 2009: The Chevrolet Camaro 'splosion!!! Drew Phillips

In past years at SEMA, there has always been a single vehicle that seems to be the most popular at the show. Last year, it was the Dodge Challenger and Nissan GTR, but there weren't enough to be ...

SEMA 2009: Pinkee's ignites lust for a Pontiac Firebird 17 hours ago on Autoblog

This year's SEMA show might have been a bit smaller than in years past, but there were certainly some heavy hitters in the crowd that proved the old "quality, not quantity" adage. Take, for instance, this super-clean, super-fine 1977 Pontiac Firebird. Like the Ringbrothers "Afterburner" Fairlane ...

SEMA 2009: Blackout Bentley balances the bad 18 hours ago on Autoblog

It seems that matte black is the new black this year at SEMA, especially if you broaden if to gray and slip bare carbon fiber into the category. This particular application of said coloring resides on a sinister looking Bentley Continental GT. Besides the satin paint, it's wearing a Premier ...

SEMA 2009: Meguiars Wraptivo brings vinyl car wraps to the masses 18 hours ago on Autoblog

When we think of vinyl wraps, we usually picture flat-billed baseball caps worn by tattooed dude-bros driving lifted pickups with the latest energy drink plastered on the sides. Or budget Bubbles. Or Fast and Furious poseurs. But we've always seen the potential for enthusiasts looking for an ...

SEMA 2009: We expected a Camaro Convertible, but got two 19 hours ago on Autoblog

When we received the press release from Drop Top Customs saying that they would be bringing a Camaro convertible to SEMA, we could hardly contain ourselves. Ever since the Camaro Concept was first shown some way too many years ago, we've been expecting a droptop version as well. General Motors ...

SEMA 2009: Ford Taurus puts on a good SHO 20 hours ago on Autoblog

We didn't expect much from Ford's new fulls-size four-door at this year's SEMA show, but the quartet of Taurus Concepts were actually pretty impressive. The design lends itself better to customization than we might've thought, and we wouldn't be surprised to see quite a few owners personalizing ...

SEMA 2009: Rev for iPhone reaches 2.0, includes data-logging [w/ VIDEO] 21 hours ago on Autoblog

Since there are approximately one trillion iPhones in the world and about ten-times as many apps, it's not hard to find a program to suit your needs. But in the automotive sphere, there aren't nearly as many quality applications and even fewer that can deliver the information most gearheads ...

SEMA 2009: World's only known four-rotor Mazda RX-8 22 hours ago on Autoblog

We came across this RX-8 at SEMA and it immediately rang a bell. Time Attack, four-rotor, Mazda RX-8? It's the BMI Racing car we saw on Streetfire a while back. It's said to be the only four-rotor RX-8 in the world and it looks and sounds incredible. Don't believe us? You can see a couple of ...

SEMA 2009: Grunewald Racing Camaro sets its sights on 2010 Formula Drift season 22 hours ago on Autoblog

Conrad Grusewald has been an occasional participant in the Formula Drift series for the past several years with a supercharged C5 Corvette as his vehicle of choice for piloting around clipping points and narrowly missing concrete barriers while in opposite lock. For the 2010 season, however, he ...

SEMA 2009: The geekiest thing we've found so far 23 hours ago on Autoblog

Tire pressure monitoring systems. Not the sexiest thing here at SEMA, but bear with us for a few minutes to geek out on one of the coolest things we've seen at the show that doesn't involve a whole vehicle. Autometer – which recently bought Stack and its line of competition gauges – ...

SEMA 2009: HPP Daytona is one big Hot Wheels toy 1 day ago on Autoblog

We've been hearing about this car for three days, but we just couldn't find it. Then, just before lunch, one of our intrepid reporters tracked the beast down within the tropical bowels of Las Vegas Convention Center's Central Hall. Behold: the HPP Daytona! Yes, it's a new Dodge Challenger ...

SEMA 2009: Mid-engined Ghepardo is one part Corvette, one part Camaro, 100% SEMA 1 day ago on Autoblog

Here's what we know: Caccia Custom Cars took a 2002 Chevy Camaro and a 2002 Chevy Corvette and created the Ghepardo. The car uses the Camaro's frame and the Corvette's motor and suspension. The motor is mounted amidships, albeit backwards (note the throttle body). And the House of Kolor paint is ...

SEMA 2009: 1962 Corvette C1-RS is a worthy Goodguys Street Machine of the Year 1 day ago on Autoblog

It takes a lot to win the the Goodguys Street Machine of the Year award, but this custom 1962 Corvette convertible you see here easily deserves the honor. The car not only looks incredible, but it posted the fastest time at the Goodguys autocross track as well! Every single one of the body ...

SEMA 2009: Meet the world's most desirable Lexus RX450h by Branew 1 day ago on Autoblog

Let me be blunt: I don't like luxury crossovers. At all. It's a niche with no appeal to me whatsoever. Not a car, not a truck – just a fat sedan jacked up on stilts to woo trophy wives with fancy badges and reassure soccer mammas that their children are "safe." And the Lexus RX gets the ...

SEMA 2009: Badass Chevy Chevelle isn't as fuelish as it seems 1 day ago on Autoblog

The clean exterior of this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle hides a wicked little secret – if you take a look at the photo above, you'll see what we mean. The bundle of plumbing you see spilling out of the engine bay tells only part of the story – that's no overworked Chevy small block in ...

SEMA 2009: Hyundai Genesis Coupes out in force in Vegas 1 day ago on Autoblog

While the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang are the de facto coupes of the show, as suspected, tuners have taken a liking to Hyunda'si Genesis Coupe, with numerous modified examples peppered throughout the show floor. The 3.8-liter V6 is arguably the better driver, and the Road/Race version in ...

SEMA 2009: Honda Accord Crosstour straps on some factory accessories 1 day ago on Autoblog

Honda's 2010 Accord Crosstour doesn't yet appear on the Japanese automaker's accessories site, but a few images of aftermarket bits have been shared with an Element owner's forum (viewable below), and we now have some live shots straight from the show floor at SEMA. On top are a rack and ...

SEMA 2009: Turbo rotary Mazda MX-5 begs to be flogged 1 day ago on Autoblog

If you get the impression things are all high gloss and dubs in Vegas, you wouldn't be far off. But walk around the SEMA compound long enough and you come across something cool that that speaks to the gearhead, track rat in each of us. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of details about this ...

Shelby unveils F-150 Super Snake Concept, turbocharged Mustang package 1 day ago on Autoblog

We figured that anything and everything automotive in Las Vegas would be over at the convention center for SEMA all week, but apparently, we were wrong. Amidst the introductions of custom cars and aftermarket parts, Shelby Automobiles introduced two new vehicles at its Las Vegas facility. ...

SEMA 2009: Hummer quartet is a pretty sweet swansong 1 day ago on Autoblog

We almost skipped the Hummer section of the General Motors booth this year at SEMA, concentrating instead on the plethora of Chevrolet Camaro concepts all around them. When we went back for a second look at the day's new design for the Graphics Camaro, we saw the truck above and figured we ...

SEMA 2009: Inside-out Toyota Alphard is the ultimate brougham 1 day ago on Autoblog

Most Americans know very little of the Toyota Alphard and its Vellfire offshoot. It's basically one of Toyota's JDM minivans, although it's also frequently used as a limousine too. It's kind of funky and cool in a totally Japanese way. While we've gotten the moderately cool Previa in the States, ...

SEMA 2009: Bigfoot still a crowd favorite, 35 years later 1 day ago on Autoblog

We distinctly remember 3rd grade. Specifically, sitting in the library once a month during recess. Why would we give up dodgeball and four-square to sit inside and read? Because the new issues of Off Road and 4Wheeler had just dropped and they had stories about Bigfoot! Bearfoot too, and ...

Gullwing America takes on Mercedes' latest supercar, creates SLS Panamericana 1 day ago on Autoblog

Few cars are as classic and iconic as the original Gullwing, also known as the Mercedes-Benz 300SL. Created by a loophole in racing rules when MB realized that, "Nowhere is it written that a door can only open sideways." Hence, Mercedes was allowed to retain the strength of the 300SL's (as well ...

SEMA 2009: Mazda introduces us to a happy couple, inspires 3-some 1 day ago on Autoblog

For SEMA 2009, Mazda introduced us to a pair of the happiest Mazda3 derivatives we've ever seen. Part Le Mans-winning 787B tribute, part rolling showcase (for their Mazda accessories catalog) and part 40th anniversary present to itself, this couple with their odd, knowing smiles was pretty easy ...

SEMA 2009: Custom Suzuki Kizashi models impress, upset 1 day ago on Autoblog

We totally dig the new 2010 Suzuki Kizashi. It's a bold step forward for Suzuki and (hopefully) a harbinger of great things to come, which also happens to be what "Kizashi" means. However, the looks are a little, well... not outstanding. Not that it's particularly bad-looking (it ain't), but ...

SEMA 2009: Dodge Challenger Mopar Edition 1 day ago on Autoblog

The Chevrolet Camaro might have a dominating presence on the show floor at SEMA, but there were still a handful of Dodge Challengers to wave the Mopar flag. This particular example was found tucked away in the Chrysler display described as a "Mopar Edition" and features two dozen items straight ...

SEMA 2009: Steve Saleen launches SMS Superparts 1 day ago on Autoblog

With SMS Supercars recently launching the 570 Challenger and with a Mustang and Camaro, it was inevitable it would soon offer many of the parts individually. On the first day of SEMA Steve Saleen and his new company announced Superparts, the aftermarket sales and distribution arm of SMS ...

SEMA 2009: Lexus F-Sports sitting in the sun 2 days ago on Autoblog

It's tempting to dismiss Lexus' F-Sport as a direct Audi S-Line rip off. But unlike Audi's visual-only appearance upgrades, F-Sport actually offers some performance (intake, exhaust, brakes, etc.), handling and exterior body mods. Advantage, Lexus. And we like the Yakuza-y stance of this GS ...

SEMA 2009: New-and-improved Specter Werkes C6 GTR 2 days ago on Autoblog

We told you about the Specter Werkes C6 GTR last month, but now we've seen the latest super 'Vette in person and we like what we see. The Corvette tuners from Troy, MI unveiled their original C6 GTR last summer, but here at SEMA, they showed the new-and-improved version. This newest GTR has had ...

SEMA 2009: Vaughn Gittin's all-carbon fiber RTR-C Mustang 2 days ago on Autoblog

Of all the Mustangs in the Ford booth, Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s carbon fiber RTR-C Mustang was by far our favorite. To answer the question everyone is wondering – no, it's not a wrap. The carbon fiber body panels are the real deal. According to Vaughn, the lightweight material saves 400-500 ...

SEMA 2009: Yenko Camaro cuts through the aftermarket fog 2 days ago on Autoblog

There a lot of new Camaros here at SEMA. In fact, depending upon your depth of exhaustion, residual blood-alcohol level from last night and general brain-deadedness, you might be forgiven for thinking that every other car here is a Camaro. And some of them, well, ain't so great. Useless ground ...

SEMA 2009: Toyota Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer (ATG) takes gaming to illogical conclusions 2 days ago on Autoblog

It's said that one hundred monkeys typing for eternity will eventually bang out the complete works of William Shakespeare. However, they will also come up with a whole bunch of other, um... stuff. Including the design brief for this thing. Yes friends, you are looking at a pickup truck designed ...

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Autoblog Podcast #151: With Car & Driver's Eddie Alterman

Eddie Alterman wades in with Sam, Chris, Dan, and Jonny to talk about SEMA and other recent events.

 
 

Featured Galleries

  • SEMA 2009: HPP Daytona Challenger
  • LA Design Challenge 2009 Competitors
  • SEMA 2009: 1962 Chevrolet Corvette C1-RS
  • SEMA 2009: Bigfoot
  • SEMA 2009: Black Bison Toyota Alphard
  • Ford's Inflatable Seat Belts
  • 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder
  • Shelby Turbocharged Mustang
  • Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition
  • SEMA 2009: Ringbrothers 1964 Ford Fairlane
  • SEMA 2009: Lexus F-Sport
  • SEMA 2009: Hennessey HPE700 Camaro
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