
	The SEMA Show, 2016 David G. Fox This was the fiftieth edition of the SEMA Show. Needless to say, the show has come a long way from its beginning in the basement of Dodger Stadium in 1967. According to Wikipedia, that first show had only five cars on display. One, in the Shelby American booth, was a then-new Ford GT40. Interesting how things come around. As often happens these days, Ford put on quite a show of their own within the Las Vegas SEMA extravaganza, this time touting their success with the new Ford GT race program. Ford's promise to return to Le Mans in 2016 with race cars based on their new GT supercar netted a 1-2 GTE finish to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Ford's 1-2-3 overall finish in 1966. The Le Mans winning race version of the new Ford GT shared center stage in the company's display area with the recently restored 1966 Le Mans winning Ford GT40. This year's car was in post-battle form, having only recently been re-assembled, following FIA's returning certain parts after their certification. Top New Products Marketing – presentation to vendors of products (and/or services) by manufacturers and developers – is the raison d'etre of the SEMA show. An important component of that is getting the word out on new stuff. Following are images of new products that caught my eye at SEMA 2016. Generally, only brief descriptions are provided. Presumably, if you found this site, you can find the websites of the makers of these products from the information given. I have observed over the years, especially with "new" products on display, that sometimes they are not in full production yet when presented at SEMA. And, sometimes a company's website will lag actual production. If a product referenced in anyone's SEMA Show coverage does not appear on the company's website, call the company to find out about the production schedule and other information. Interest in developing new parts for Ford FE family engines certainly intrigues an old Ford guy like me. In the new product hall, Speedmaster showed heads and a downdraft EFI system aimed at 390s and 427s. Other new products from Speedmaster include a sidedraft EFI setup for 351 Windsor motors and another downdraft system, this one for 385 family engines – 429s and 460s. Speedmaster has plenty of Chevy stuff, too, including a new four-bolt small block that features added strength webbing, stroker clearancing, and billet steel main caps. Trick Flow Specialties also has some new aluminum Ford engine parts to offer. For the FE folks, they, too, have new heads, plus they showed a single-carb, tunnel-wedge style intake manifold. Trick Flow also has coming soon a new set of heads for '49-'53 Ford and Mercury flatheads. I have to admit, I love the look of these new Firestone Wide Ovals from Coker Tire. Although of radial construction, they do a good job of capturing the old Wide Oval look. DOT approved and S speed rated, the literature says. Redlines or raised white letters, but no white pinstripe for my old Grand Prix. Flaming River Industries has a new "roadster" steering column that is fairly simple in design, but still has space for turn signal electricals, etc. The new tapered top looks nice. Looks like wraps are big business. The full suspension kit for early ('64-'70) Mustangs from Hotchkis was hinted at last year. Here is the complete kit; below the kit is the test car. Top Automobile Manufacturer Displays The OEMs bring out various levels of new-car projects, restored vintage cars, performance parts displays, etc. Here is some of what caught my eye. Ford The Coyote Aluminator XS crate engine package is a combination of Mustang GT, Ford Racing, and GT350 pieces. Spec'd at 570+ horsepower, it relies on the 5.2liter GT350 block and heads, but not the flat-plane crankshaft. Other goodies include Ford Racing camshafts and Cobra Jet intake. It should be available next spring. Available now is the 2015 Mustang GT 5.0L, 435HP, Coyote Power Module. It comes with a six-speed transmission, either manual or automatic. Chevrolet I liked GM's pairing of vintage and new Chevys modified along similar themes. This little exercise was shown with no explanation. Discreet logos for GM Design, Jim Hall, Chaparral, and Chevrolet adorned it, and it was neat looking. So, do you think GM has a crate motor in their inventory that would suit your needs? FCA Mopar Sorry, the Mopar area was mostly really dark. I did like the vintage Dodge truck with lots of patina. Honda Honda displayed Alexander Rossi's 2016 Indy 500 winner. Top Feature Cars – the Muscle Era Top Hot Rods and Old Cars Chip's Madam X could not have been in a more crowded place Brookville is building 32 of these imagination '32 two-door phaetons. It might be too late already to get your name on the list for one. Below the phaeton is a super-low build up using one of their roadster bodies. Looks like a Wanlass/Rodwell windshield at the front of the cockpit. Top Customs Based on Cars from the '50s I'm not sure what kind of revenge this is, but the "Payback" '55 Chevy sports a Ford SOHC motor. Top Sporting Cars Top A Car in Name Only Top Motorcycles I know I'm not in the loop, but I haven't seen a CBX in years. There were at least two at this show. Top SEMA Extras We can't say enough about the women of the SEMA Show. Top		Skip within to: New Products Automobile Manufacturer Displays Feature Cars – the Muscle Era Hot Rods and Old Cars Customs Based on Cars from the '50s Sporting Cars A Car in Name Only Motorcycles SEMA Extras Or go to: Fox-Kraft Home Page

The SEMA Show, 2016

David G. Fox

This was the fiftieth edition of the SEMA Show. Needless to say, the show has come a long way from its beginning in the basement of Dodger Stadium in 1967. According to Wikipedia, that first show had only five cars on display. One, in the Shelby American booth, was a then-new Ford GT40. Interesting how things come around.

As often happens these days, Ford put on quite a show of their own within the Las Vegas SEMA extravaganza, this time touting their success with the new Ford GT race program. Ford's promise to return to Le Mans in 2016 with race cars based on their new GT supercar netted a 1-2 GTE finish to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Ford's 1-2-3 overall finish in 1966. The Le Mans winning race version of the new Ford GT shared center stage in the company's display area with the recently restored 1966 Le Mans winning Ford GT40. This year's car was in post-battle form, having only recently been re-assembled, following FIA's returning certain parts after their certification.

Top

New Products

Marketing – presentation to vendors of products (and/or services) by manufacturers and developers – is the raison d'etre of the SEMA show. An important component of that is getting the word out on new stuff. Following are images of new products that caught my eye at SEMA 2016. Generally, only brief descriptions are provided. Presumably, if you found this site, you can find the websites of the makers of these products from the information given. I have observed over the years, especially with "new" products on display, that sometimes they are not in full production yet when presented at SEMA. And, sometimes a company's website will lag actual production. If a product referenced in anyone's SEMA Show coverage does not appear on the company's website, call the company to find out about the production schedule and other information.

Interest in developing new parts for Ford FE family engines certainly intrigues an old Ford guy like me. In the new product hall, Speedmaster showed heads and a downdraft EFI system aimed at 390s and 427s. Other new products from Speedmaster include a sidedraft EFI setup for 351 Windsor motors and another downdraft system, this one for 385 family engines – 429s and 460s. Speedmaster has plenty of Chevy stuff, too, including a new four-bolt small block that features added strength webbing, stroker clearancing, and billet steel main caps.

Trick Flow Specialties also has some new aluminum Ford engine parts to offer. For the FE folks, they, too, have new heads, plus they showed a single-carb, tunnel-wedge style intake manifold. Trick Flow also has coming soon a new set of heads for '49-'53 Ford and Mercury flatheads.

I have to admit, I love the look of these new Firestone Wide Ovals from Coker Tire. Although of radial construction, they do a good job of capturing the old Wide Oval look. DOT approved and S speed rated, the literature says. Redlines or raised white letters, but no white pinstripe for my old Grand Prix.

Flaming River Industries has a new "roadster" steering column that is fairly simple in design, but still has space for turn signal electricals, etc. The new tapered top looks nice.

Looks like wraps are big business.

The full suspension kit for early ('64-'70) Mustangs from Hotchkis was hinted at last year. Here is the complete kit; below the kit is the test car.

Top

Automobile Manufacturer Displays

The OEMs bring out various levels of new-car projects, restored vintage cars, performance parts displays, etc. Here is some of what caught my eye.

Ford

The Coyote Aluminator XS crate engine package is a combination of Mustang GT, Ford Racing, and GT350 pieces. Spec'd at 570+ horsepower, it relies on the 5.2liter GT350 block and heads, but not the flat-plane crankshaft. Other goodies include Ford Racing camshafts and Cobra Jet intake. It should be available next spring.

Available now is the 2015 Mustang GT 5.0L, 435HP, Coyote Power Module. It comes with a six-speed transmission, either manual or automatic.

Chevrolet

I liked GM's pairing of vintage and new Chevys modified along similar themes.

This little exercise was shown with no explanation. Discreet logos for GM Design, Jim Hall, Chaparral, and Chevrolet adorned it, and it was neat looking.

So, do you think GM has a crate motor in their inventory that would suit your needs?

FCA Mopar

Sorry, the Mopar area was mostly really dark. I did like the vintage Dodge truck with lots of patina.

Honda

Honda displayed Alexander Rossi's 2016 Indy 500 winner.

Top

Feature Cars – the Muscle Era

Top

Hot Rods and Old Cars

Chip's Madam X could not have been in a more crowded place

Brookville is building 32 of these imagination '32 two-door phaetons. It might be too late already to get your name on the list for one. Below the phaeton is a super-low build up using one of their roadster bodies. Looks like a Wanlass/Rodwell windshield at the front of the cockpit.