10 of our favorite restomods and hot rods from SEMA 2023
The 2023 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show delivered exactly what we expected: sensory overload. One of the aftermarket industry’s biggest shows, it’s always guaranteed to provide something for every automotive taste, no matter what kind of style you prefer. Here are 10 of our favorite customized cars, and one survivor for good measure. Of course, there were many other great rides present, so we’ll bring you more later as we expand our view to trucks and 4x4s.
Horizon Motorsports, the father/son team of Russell and Cavan Cameron, took two years to build this tube-chassis 1973 Trans Am into a head-turning time attack machine that was one of the most talked-about builds at SEMA. The elder Cameron, a former Indycar fabricator, began collecting Reynard Racing parts when the company went bankrupt in 2002, and he put plenty of them into the suspension and drivetrain. The racy machine s powered by a 400-cubic-inch LS V-8 built by Late Model Engines to rev to 9000rpm. Think of it as a destroked LS7 with racing cylinder heads and intake valves the sizes of coasters. Its engine is set back more than 20 inches, putting the entire block behind the original firewall. All you see under the hood is Indycar suspension. The six-speed, paddleshift X-trac transmission is mounted at the back of the car, right next to a pair of Garrett G35-900 turbos that provide boost to the already-powerful V-8. After an air-to-water charge cooler, the boosted air is sent up through the cabin and into the intake via rear-facing throttle bodies. Though capable of 2000 hp, Cavan projects the output will be turned down to a more manageable 1200–1300 hp for most track events, but the recently completed project will be tested and given a proper shake down before any racing happens. The project has been a way for Cavan, an engineering student, to have a practical background for all of his future education as well as to absorb some of his father’s mechanical know-how. We can’t wait to see it in action!
Jordan Henke owner of JH Restorations in Windsor, Ontario, got creative with this sleek and detailed creation. Dubbed “Merkur RS4Ti,” it’s an amalgamation of a vintage Ford Sierra and a modern 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that provides about 450 hp. The Sierra RS Cosworth was a road race champion and this modern take, with its custom bodywork and fascia, tastefully updates the rare and rowdy compact.
“Tusk,” the latest build from Ringbrothers, is a 1969 Charger powered by a 1000-hp Hellephant crate engine. The supercharged Gen III 426 Hemi is harnessed by a Bowler T-56 Magnum transmission. As with every Ringrothers build, there are several modifications to the body, some obvious, some subtle. The grille, done in carbon fiber and billet, looks every bit like that of a Charger, although it’s more refined. The most obvious modifications come on the car’s flank, where the doors’ twin inset simulated vents were removed for a more elegant and clean look. Instead, actual vents were installed on the fenders. These functional vents help get some of the heat out of the engine bay.
EBC Brakes hosted the Petrolheadonism 1973 Corolla KE25. The compact coupe looked stunning in black pearl and wearing three-spoke, three-piece 6AD Forged wheels. It’s powered by a wonderfully detailed Toyota 4A-GE four-cylinder.
The “Illicit” Camaro, built by Jesus Lopez and the crew at Lopez Performance, debuted in the Aeromotive booth and highlighted the company’s many brands, including Taylor Cable and JBA Performance Exhaust. The bronze metallic paint highlights the subtle body mods, while a supercharged LS V-8 provides ample power. Inside, stunning upholstery by Gabe’s Street Rod Custom Interiors (owned by Jesus’ father, Gabriel Lopez Sr.) is just as exquisite as the bodywork.
“Bleu Bayou,” a gorgeous 1969 Mustang built by Goolsby Customs, debuted in the BASF booth, which is appropriate, as its paint was immaculate. We heard an onlooker describe the color as “amethyst” and that seems apt, as the blue base appears to have a pearl with hints of violet in the right light. Underneath the flawless body is a Roadster Shop chassis that helps put the supercharged Coyote V-8’s 650-plus horsepower to the pavement.
This stunning red 1968 Mustang, “Rampant,” built by East Bay Muscle Cars, took home the Glasurit People’s Choice Award, and the flawless paint and bodywork certainly deserved it. We also love the interior, with its contrasting white upholstery. The Mustang rides on a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis with independent rear suspension, and it has a number of interesting custom touches, like the sculpted inserts on the fascia and intricate taillight lenses.
Anthony Collard is a designer at Ford and has designed some late-model performance Mustang variants, but that didn’t stop him from choosing a Mopar pony car for his track toy. His 1968 Barracuda is a fantastic blend of attainable performance, modern suspension, and classic lines that grabbed our attention. The rear suspension uses pushrods and bellcranks to work on the cabin-mounted coilovers, keeping them within easy reach for adjustment. The powerplant is an 11.5:1 318 small-block with ported heads, beautiful tri-Y fender well headers, and an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. It is easy to work on while still providing more than enough power to keep things interesting when the lightweight fastback hits the track.
Detroit Speed and Engineering built this 1969 Pontiac GTO for Kevin Hart and unveiled it at the company’s booth in Central Hall. The car, named “Droppa” after Hart’s rapper alter ego, Chocolate Droppa, is powered by a 755-hp Chevrolet Performance LT5 crate engine mated to a Bowler T-56 six-speed transmission. The velvety chocolate color is Mercedes Mystic Brown. Inside is a caramel and nougat gold and cream interior that is ready for spirited driving thanks to some well-bolstered bucket seats.
It’s not that often you see a DeLorean on the street, but hopefully, that’s going to change, as the DeLorean GTO, a more powerful restomod of the instantly recognizable stainless steel gullwing is now available. This new take on the DeLorean uses a supercharged version of the original 2.8-liter V-6 that is good for 350 horsepower, thanks to not only the Magnuson supercharger but to ported heads and new cams. Ride and handling are improved with an active suspension that uses revised geometry. Drivers can take advantage of the new capability with powerful Wilwood brakes and grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires. Despite the host of modern improvements, the looks of the car remain, which is just the way we like it.
Here’s one bonus car. Krebs Industries, makers of vehicle lifts, imported this Chevy Opala from Brazil and showed it off in its booth. The inline-six-powered coupes, based on the Opel Rekord C, were the muscle cars of the Brazilian market. This 1977 model is a survivor and isn’t perfect, but the fact that it’s such a rare sight made it one of the more memorable cars at SEMA 2023.
Restomod is becoming a wide enough net of a term to be meaningless?
When it was coined and began getting pushed in the magazines (remember those?) it was cars with restored to stock (–well, usually cloned into SS, etc.) bodies with modern touch interiors, rims and stance that told you it wasn’t quite stock and a modern drivetrain.
Most of the cars on the list take body mods and interior well beyond “restored but modified”. That’s ignoring the insane go cart with the Camaro-ish body on it.
The Merkur RS4Ti and DeLorean GTO are my favorites here.
Anthony Collard is definitely a man of the people. Rocking a 318 and sending it to the land of 1,000hp everything just seems rebellious to me, and I like it!
I struggle to understand the various classifications for a muscle car from the ’60s & ’70s.
Here are 3 main classifications I relate to. I know that some buyers prefer Original… and are willing to pay for that rarity. Others like the look and feel of a slightly modified car from that era that has some upgrades but keeps the look of an Original. And of course, some like the enticing look of customization that makes that car very unique… and powerful.
1. Original, which I think means it has all the matching numbers for the major components at the time of manufacture and does not have ANY improvements, e.g. repainted, wheels, brake upgrades, etc.
2. Restomod, which I interpret to be “Restored but Modified” from the original. This would allow for different major components yet still using the parts of that era, e.g. different engines from the same mfg, repainted but with a custom color, larger wheels & brakes; different engine components, e.g. EFI, headers, etc.
3. Custom, which I interpret to be highly modified from the original. It may have significant custom bodywork/redesign, a newer engine from a different manufacturer, e.g. LS; newer style suspension, custom interior, e.g. seats, dash; modern/different major components; custom wheels.
the Merkur RS4Ti is interesting in that someone choose to start with a great euro car that never got its due back in the day.
but in my humble opinion, a car like that deserves a restoration to its stock condition.
the rest of these cars are sophomoric projects in an ad nauseum field of useless car modding reminding me of needlessly excessive, over the top rococo architectural styling powered by the same obsession as a junky in his 2nd day of withdrawal.
I strive not to be too curmudgeonly, but I gotta say, I agree. Not much there that excites me. And most of it just seems to be a waste of time, money, creativity, and some decent donor cars.
Without people doing cars like this, they are relegated to the junkyard. The more eyes on these cars the better for the hobby. The RS4Ti is a perfect tribute to the RS500. I had two XR4Ti’s a couple years ago, wish I still had one.
Yes.
I am getting tired of the Hot Wheels look.
I just don’t get into the limited use cartoon cars.
To me less is more.
100% correct – They are all WAY overdone and no longer appear like the cars that made them so desirable in the first place. In the years to come, owners of these overdone cars will be selling them for 10cents on the dollar for parts. Less is more!
I don’t get it. Way overdone. Pointless mods. Wouldn’t care to drive any of them. And I would imagine ridiculously expensive. Rather have a nice stock 60s muscle car.
Which booth was that Gray trans am in? There was mention of the other booths but that one was left out, looked like a ridiculous car, as a resto mod builder, I want to know which company offers parts for it.