To many hot rodders, the SEMA trade show in Las Vegas is a yearly religious pilgrimage. Gearheads from shops, dealerships, manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers come from all over the globe to check out the gleaming new hot rod hardware, and to soak up the excitement on the famous Vegas strip. With any luck, the exhibiting manufacturers can sign up new dealers, take orders from existing ones, and forge relationships that last a lifetime. In order to do that successfully, companies go to great lengths to bring exciting new products to hot rodders like us.
In recent decades, SEMA has expanded to cover everything in the automotive aftermarket. You've got trucks and SUVs, off-roaders, sport compacts, diesels, electronics and entertainment, replacement tires, and entire buildings stuffed with 26-inch wheels. But in the beginning, SEMA was the place for hot rodders. Back in its infancy, SEMA was the primary gathering spot for many past and current hot rodding icons. If it weren't for the likes of pioneers like Vic Edelbrock, Ed Iskenderian, George Hurst, and Phil Weiand to name a few, you wouldn't currently have giants like GM, Ford, and Chrysler tripping over each other to bring you high-powered crate motors and special-edition concept cars.
This photo of the Iskenderian...
This photo of the Iskenderian Cams booth from the 1967 SEMA show illustrates both how far we've come, and yet how much has remained the same. We're still captivated by the potential for more horsepower, and products like camshafts are still big items. Manufacturers now have high-tech displays with hi-def video screens, digital media, laptops, and smartphones-but there's no replacement for quality face time.
The past three years have been rough on the economy, and the hot rodding world has not been exempt. New car sales, orders for speed parts, sales of enthusiast magazines, ad revenue, and hours of billed shop labor have all taken a dip, but we are beginning to see improvement, as hot rodders are gradually coming out of their spending slumber. One big sign: 1,541 new products were on display at SEMA in 2010, versus just 134 for 2009. These figures don't count the "unofficial" new products that weren't registered with and photographed by SEMA, but the difference is huge, nonetheless.
Manufacturers are trying to get ahead of the impending demand for cool, innovative speed parts, and in the hot rod realm the charge is clearly being led by the new Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger. In this day of green politics, it absolutely defies mainstream logic that such cars-and the buyers for them-exist, but here we are. Emotion is the driving force behind our infatuation with power, and it knows no political, racial, age, or national boundaries. What's more, the new breed of muscle cars draws upon powerful nostalgic cues. They remind us of better times and give us a legitimate feeling of hope. As car guys, we tend to see the world, and the range of possibilities for what we can be, through our hot rods, and that drives us to be faster and more agile.
New cars aside, there is plenty of headway being made on our cherished classics from the '60s and '70s. For one thing, muscle cars are increasingly getting the "street rod" treatment instead of being restored. They're also getting "race-prepped" with top-shelf engines, high-tech suspensions, and bigger tires, wheels, and brakes. The wealthy enthusiast who might have bought a European exotic a decade ago is building (or commissioning) a high-end, one-of-a-kind muscle car with exotic performance levels.
Another interesting trend: Black is the new billet. Twenty years ago, the rush away from chrome to billet opened a lot of new doors for some vendors, and left others behind. Now the rush is toward anything black or satin. From valve covers and air cleaners to carburetors and calipers, black is back. Maybe it's because we live in a darker, more sinister world? And what about chrome? Well, it's back in a big retro way. You can get a pile of chrome-plated trim pieces for your new Camaro or Mustang. Bumpers, badges, wheels, grilles, it's all there. Heck, you can even buy a new Challenger from the factory with what look like chrome Cragar S/Ss.
In fact, retro is a predominant theme throughout SEMA. New cars have adopted retro themes, while older classics are being reborn in historic livery. Hurst, Yenko, Shelby, and Mopar are some of the traditional names showing off new creations with the originals often sitting nearby. It's just as if nothing had changed in the intervening 40 years. It's cool for sure, but I sort of attribute it to the uncertainty of the economy, and the notion that we tend to cling to the warm feelings of the past when we're seeing tough times. Still, SEMA showed us this year that things are coming around, and the future is getting brighter for hot rodders of all colors.
We've only scratched the surface here, but if you want to see all 1,541 of the new products at the SEMA show, point your web browser to www.SEMADigital.com, and surf by category to your heart's content!
Coker Tire
Excelsior Stahl Sport
What It Is:
The world's first radial tires offered in sizes that match classic bias-ply profiles. Great for period-correct street rods and vintage racers that need a realistic-looking tire with modern construction and performance. Available in 20 sizes from 16- to 21-inch rim diameters. DOT approved.
Wilwood Engineering
Road Race Corvette Braking Systems
What It Is:
Wilwood has developed the ultimate competition brake systems specifically designed for road racing with C5 and C6 Corvettes with production-based suspensions (PN 140-10226).
Holley
LS3/L92 Modular Intake Manifold
What It Is:
The Holley LS3/L92 Hi-Ram Modular Intake manifold system provides a cost-effective max-performance alternative to fabricated manifolds on popular LS engines with rectangular-port heads. Holley also showed its LS2 dual-quad mid-rise dual-plane intake manifold for carb and EFI.
COMP Cams
2011 Ford Mustang 5.0L Camshafts
What It Is:
The industry's first aftermarket camshafts designed for the '11 Ford DOHC 5.0L Coyote four-valve V-8. These bumpsticks unlock a major performance upgrade for street and race '11 Mustangs.
QA1
Wireless Remote Shock System
What It Is:
Adjustable shocks aren't new, but the ability to adjust them easily from the comfort of the cockpit is an idea that's relatively new. QA1's system allows adjustment of the damping rate for compression and rebound via a wireless remote-no hardwiring needed.
Billet Specialties
Mag Road Wheel
What It Is:
The Mag combines key elements like affordability, a soft-lip rim, and timeless style. It features either a polished or powdercoat gray center and is available in 17-, 18-, and 20-inch diameters. Each wheel is built to customer specs at no extra charge. Bolt patterns include 5x4.5, 5x4.75, and 5x5.
Snow Performance
Comp-One Boost Cooler
What It Is:
The Snow Performance Comp-One (PN 48010) is the first water-methanol injection system complete with a performance tuner, virtual gauges, dashboard, virtual dragstrip, performance meter, and diagnostic code reader-tool. Why? By combining the boost cooler control circuitry with onboard diagnostics and tuning, you can maximize the performance of charge cooling.
TCI
'08-Up Challenger Street-Fighter Converter
What It Is:
Designed for street/track enthusiasts, the StreetFighter torque converter for '08-10 Dodge Challengers brings launch rpm in line with performance enhancements on modified street machines.
B&M Racing
Hurst Shifter For '10-Up Camaro
What It Is:
Add a touch of Hurst style to your '10-plus Camaro. The billet aluminum Comp shifter adds some needed beefcake to automatic-equipped fifth-gen Camaros with Hurst's iconic shifter (PN 538-0420). It replaces the shifter console cover and factory knob with Hurst's robust design.
PRW
Stainless Steel Hemi Rockers
What It Is:
The late-model Hemi valvetrain is inherently stable, being that it's a shaft system, but its die-cast construction and sliding tappets leave performance on the table when high lift and high rpm is introduced. PRW's Performance Quotient stainless steel shaft mount rocker arm system includes 16 rockers (17-4ph stainless steel with silicone bronze trunion bushings), hardened shafts, hold-downs, spacers, shims, and pushrod length checkers for about $1,400.
Aeromotive
Universal Stealth Fuel System
What It Is:
It's too easy to turn up the wick on some of today's factory muscle. Blowers, turbos, strokers, nitrous-all of them need fuel to stay alive and healthy. Turn your tank or fuel cell into a stealth tank by dropping in this assembly; it provides a high-horsepower in-tank solution for your fuel system.
PML
Cadillac Valve Covers
What It Is:
As hot rodders search for even more intriguing ways to build cars, their journey takes them to unusual and wonderful places. Exploring our rich American motoring heritage inevitably means coming face to face with Cadillac. The Cadillac market might be small, but its supporters are ardent, and PML certainly qualifies as such with their all-new valve covers for 365, 390, and 429ci engines (PN 11073). The classic Cadillac script and seven fins are cast right into the cover. These covers feature a mid-height design that will clear most high-ratio roller rockers.
March Performance
Protrack Black Onyx Serpentine System
What It Is:
Did we mention that "black" is the new "billet"? March is certainly in step with all the latest automotive fashion trends, and they've responded with their Black Onyx billet aluminum serpentine system for small- and big-block Chevy. It's strong, compact, attractive, and can handle any accessory including power steering and A/C.
Unisteer
Vette Steering Rack
What It Is:
Converts traditional worm-sector steering boxes to a lightweight, fast-acting rack-and-pinion setup with one easy bolt-on. Designed for '58-82 Corvettes using either factory or aftermarket steering columns. Small- and big-block applications are available.
Darton Sleeves
Camaro V-6 Mid Sleeve
What It Is:
It's a crazy world we live in. You know the one-where 304hp V-6 Camaros roam the streets with impunity. The Camaro's stock V-6 makes a lot of snot-pushing the 3,800-pound car to 60 mph in a scant 5.9 seconds-but the block is close to the limit if big mods are planned. That's why Darton has developed a much stronger cylinder sleeve kit (PN 500-200) for the direct-injection 3.5-liter. The kit converts the block to a closed-deck, wet-sleeve block, and increases bore size and the ability to handle unlimited amounts of boost.
ACCEL
Corrected HEI Distributor Cap
What It Is:
ACCEL's new corrrected distributor cap (PN 8141R) eliminates crossed spark plug wires on GM HEI-equipped V-8s for a clean, uncluttered engine compartment. It's not magic-the conductor leads are internally resequenced!
Eagle Specialty Products
Pontiac Stroker Kit
What It Is:
The Pontiac division officially died three days before the 2010 SEMA show opened, but Eagle hasn't forgotten its followers. They now offer stroker kits for Pontiac 400 and 455 engines in 4.250-, 4.350-, and 4.500-inch stroke configurations. Goodies include a 4340 forged steel crankshaft, 6.800-inch H-beam rods, flat-top Mahle pistons and rings, and Clevite bearings.
Mahle Motorsports
Ford 5.0L PowerPak
What It Is:
The new 5.0L Ford engine makes power like falling off a log, but you can get into trouble quick with the stock cast pistons. Mahle has all-new 5.0L specific forgings in 9.5, 11.1, and 12.0:1 compression ratios that will handle up to 700 hp safely. They're available with domes for normally aspirated, and inverted domes for boosted applications. Kits include dual-coated forged slipper skirt pistons, German steel pins, race-proven round wire locks, and an ultra-flat performance ring set.
Belltech
Muscle Car Drop Spindles
What It Is:
Lower your stance without sacrificing suspension geometry or safety. Belltech's new 2-inch drop spindles fit '67-69 Camaro, '68-72 Chevelle, and all GM A-, F-, and X-bodies (PN 2202). They're a direct factory replacement modular design and accept many brake upgrades. Forged steel construction.
Lokar Performance
Drive-by-Wire Electronic Throttle Control
What It Is:
Lokar partnered with Williams Controls in developing the first programmable electronic drive-by-wire throttle pedal for the automotive aftermarket (PN DBW-6500). It's available for GM, Ford, and Mopar applications.
Rocket Racing
Igniter Wheel
What It Is:
The revival of the famed Rocket Racing wheel brand is well under way, and the latest design-the Igniter-is lighting the fire of passion anew. Inspired by innovative gearheads who streaked across dry lakebeds for speed and glory, the cast Igniter is available in gray, polished, and as-cast finishes.
What It Is:
Are you the next John Force or Mario Andretti? Do you have the intense need to show the entire world your motoring exploits in high-def sound and video? GoPro is the company that can satisfy your ego, and they've got the new HD HERO 960 for you. Just slap it on the side of your car, helmet, or rollbar, and go. It features professional-grade 960p, 720p, and WVGA resolutions, 5MP photo capture, and incredible sound recording.
Trick Flow Specialties
Ford 351 Cleveland R-Series Manifold
What It Is:
The Cleveland side of the Ford small-block family is often overlooked in spite of a huge following. TFS has always been strong on the Ford front and has introduced several new Cleveland-based intakes, including this EFI R-Series intake manifold for Ford 351 Cleveland (PN TFS-5161114).
Top Street Performance
Ford FE HEI Distributor
What It Is:
In an age of high-output, high-tech factory hardware, it's comforting to know that companies are out there who are slaving night and day to make our classic engines even more competitive. Top Street Performance showed their new Ford FE HEI one-wire distributor at SEMA (PN JM6508R), and it sure does simplify the ignition setup on one of our favorite classics.
Moroso
Big-Block Chevy/LS Water Pump Conversion
What It Is:
Put any long-style big-block Chevy water pump on any LS engine using Moroso's trick billet adapters. These simple bolt-on pieces free up space, and allow the use of a cost-effective remote electric water pump. The kit includes billet aluminum adapter blocks, fasteners, O-rings, and 12-AN fittings
Meguiar's
Brilliant Solutions Car Kit
What It Is:
Getting your car in shape for springtime or a big show usually entails scrounging for a collection of car care products that may or may not be appropriate for the job. Meguiar's has put all the right stuff in one box to simplify everything; Meguiar's New Car Kit provides a complete, affordable, easy-to-use solution to restore neglected paint finishes.
Flaming River
'64-67 Chevelle Rack-and-Pinion
What It Is:
Flaming River's rack-and-pinion cradle kit uses a travel bar design to stabilize and properly position the steering pivot points to the original location, and to deliver the original turning radius. This kit also includes a sway bar for improved handling on curves.
Classic Industries
'63-66 Corvette Steering Wheel
What It Is:
The feeling of pride in your ride is either diminished or increased when you lay hands on the wheel, and if it's a midyear Corvette, the tiller can be a make-or-break proposition. Classic Industries now has genuine teak steering wheels for '63-66 Corvettes (PN R5108) This quality reproduction of the original simulated teak plastic steering wheel includes the steering wheel, hub assembly, horn contact, and Bow Tie horn cap.
MSD Ignition
EZ-1 Digital Points Kit
What It Is:
In a world of carefree, high-tech ignition systems, why would anybody want to bother with a points-style ignition characterized by low output, questionable reliability, and frequent maintenance? It looks stock, that's why. Only now, MSD has a stealthy digital points kit that looks stock, but upgrades your ignition to a breakerless, all digital, high-output system with a one-wire connection.
Lakewood Performance
Drag Shocks for '08-Up Dodge Challenger
What It Is:
Another first in the industry: 70/30 and 90/10 drag struts for the late-model LX-body Dodge Challenger. These bolt-on pieces maximize weight transfer for street/strip and all-out drag cars by improving weight transfer at launch.
Chassisworks
1964-72 GM A-Body Suspension
What It Is:
Chassisworks' new g-Bar/g-Link suspension installs easily in any GM A-body (Chevelle, Cutlass, GTO, Skylark) using a FAB9 or OEM housings. A huge selection of options are available including urethane or TrueCenter ends, steel or aluminum links, and VariShock coilovers or air suspension.
ATI
2011 Mustang GT Super Damper
What It Is:
It doesn't take much to turn up the wick on Ford's new affordable supercar, and you'll find out very quickly that the stock damper isn't safe-or legal-for NHRA competition. ATI-a world leader in SFI-approved dampers for drag racing-has the solution with their Super Damper for '11 Mustang 5.0L engines.