Muscle cars dominate the world's biggest automotive accessories fair, and this Dodge Charger epitomizes the wild style motors that pepper SEMA's 1m square feet of show floor. Created by King of Cars.com and Vertical Doors Inc, this Charger rolls on 26-inch rims which resemble a stainless steel lemon juicer. And check out those Lamborghini-style doors.
- Ford GT Mustang by Rich Evans Designs
The most OTT Mustang at the show no mean feat goes to this GT. With a ridiculously overblown shaker resembling two baguettes, alloys and front grille covered in spikes and a dusty black finish, this looked like a heavy metal rock band's ride.
There's nothing subtle about the regular Hummer, and this remix by Fierce certainly lives up to its company name. Flames lick the sides, and scissor doors opened by ornate door handles that resemble chunky bracelets make another appearance. Getting in is no mean feat, because it reaches for the sky on 37-inch tractor tyres.
GM's design team gave its MX-5 rival an overhaul, creating this single seater in the style of a vintage racer. The SD-290 should be pretty nippy, with a crash diet and a 290hp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine. And it's only slightly less practical than the luggage free zone that is the donor car. Toyota also showed a surprising speedster, which we'll bring you in a later gallery.
The Rolls-Royce remains the darling of the west coast celebrity scene, and any supplier wanting to show its bling credentials modded a Rolls. This oddity from wheel designer Giovanna outpointed a snow white Phantom, complete with chrome bonnet piping, in the 'more money than taste' stakes.
Believe me, that is an R-class. Hidden away in the depths of the wheels and tyres hall lurked this mutated MPV, slammed on 30-inch wheels. Surrounded by the DUB editorial team, the project car attracted manic attention - presumably because it was the biggest freak at SEMA 2007.
The work of electronics firm Alpine, this R-class is a two-door, with the figure of eight-shaped apertures spinning open to allow access. There's a similar trick at the rear, where the massive three pointed star rolls outwards like a drawer, revealing a cylindrical stack of Alpine amps. If Picasso had done modified cars, this is something he might have created.
They certainly know about it. That's because Volvo's Steve Mattin, the guy who led the R-class design team, tipped about the project, having already texted a picture to his former colleagues. 'I told them I didn't think much of the facelift,' quipped the British designer.
- Dodge Magnum by West Coast Customs
Mopar Alley linked the south and center halls, and was filled with muscle from Chrysler Group's performance parts division. Along with a line of vintage Challengers, including a 1970 T/A that inspired the reborn Dodge icon due in showrooms next year, stood this Dodge Magnum SRT8 modded by West Coast Customs. The wagon sibling of the Chrysler 300C rolled on 22-inch Asanti wheels, had a chopped roof and no discernible way of getting inside, with a complete lack of door handles.
Surprisingly, Audi's stunning R8 barely made an appearance at SEMA. Our Performance Car of the Year had a respectful makeover from SDS, with the side panel blades replaced with carbonfibre, and a black laquer finish around the headlamps. The car was shod in 20-inch Vredestein rubber.
With those XXL Möz wheels and stubby nose and rump, this Hummer resembled a horse-drawn coach. It towered over a Range Rover Sport slammed so low over 24-inch rims, the baby Rangie would probably struggle to overcome a 1 degree departure angle.
The Continental GT remains the darling of the US modifying scene, with numerous appearances around the show. This Street version rolled on ornate blue and silver 22-inch alloys with a really intricate design.
The work of electronics firm Alpine, this R-class is a two-door, with the figure of eight-shaped apertures spinning open to allow access. There's a similar trick at the rear, where the massive three pointed star rolls outwards like a drawer, revealing a cylindrical stack of Alpine amps. If Picasso had done modified cars, this is something he might have created.
