2006 SEMA Hot Rides Preview

2006 SEMA Preview – Photo Gallery: Attending SEMA is like drinking grain alcohol out of a Big Gulp. It’s a rush, and more than a little disorienting. Still, once a year we arrive in Vegas, Big Gulps at the ready for what has come to be known as the world’s biggest automotive carnival. Detroit? That’s about snow and pine tar. LA? Come on. It’s Vegas, baby, the strip and the lights and the glam. This year, in fact, is special, as SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufactures Association) celebrates its 40th show. The theme is muscle, the lights are on, and the time is now. Here’s a quick peek at some of the expected stars of the custom car world.

Under wraps

Not pictured here are some interesting debuts you can expect to see at the show, including a slew of custom Scions, a Charger SS and a Cherry Bomb Charger used to promote Cherry Bomb’s glass pack mufflers. Under wraps is also a Reggie Jackson Camaro, a Saturn Sky project car built by RK Sport, and more. Check back here for updates and previews as the show opens. And yes – it’s a safe bet that Leno will roll in a custom GM product, like he did in 2005 with his Olds Toronado.

Baldwin-Motion SuperSpeedster

Baldwin-Motion meets Camaro...a love story. Indeed, if there’s a group that can modify a Camaro, it’s gotta be Baldwin-Motion, and this year they’ve put together a SuperSpeedster Camaro that boasts an 8.8-liter V8 big block delivering 600 horsepower. Based on the ’69 model – well, kinda – the SuperSpeedster also gets the Baldwin-Motion interior treatment. Could it be the car of the show?

Chevrolet HHR Panel

It’s a natural, if you ask us. Put a big fat mural on the side of an HHR and go deliver laundry of printer cartridges. Already debuted, SEMA show goers can expect to see the HHR Panel truck in mighty custom glory. In addition to the side panels, changes include rear panel doors and a flat load floor. Look for it at your local Chevy store early next year.

Chevrolet Silverado 427

Fancy paint, some nice chrome and a 427-cubic inch engine under the hood. That’s 7.0 liters, just in case you’re a bit lost without your metrics.

Chevrolet Silverado Earnhardt

Except for the occasional donut on the grass at a NASCAR event – and we haven’t seen him do that for awhile – Dale Earnhardt Jr. is not known for off-road racing. That didn’t stop Chevrolet from developing an off-roader with a little help from Dale, Jr.

Chevrolet Silverado OCC

The OCC stands for Orange County Choppers, so expect it to be low, makes lots of noise and sport some awesome chrome. All told, 27 vehicles will be on display at the GM SEMA booth, including a super-secret performance car – to go along with the 40th anniversary muscle car theme.

Chrysler Sebring Limited

The Sebring Limited boasts a 4.0-liter engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Dropped about 1-inch, the Sebring sports 20-inch custom Alcoa wheels. The exterior and interior design is, of course, custom, with SRT seats and custom metallic gauge faces.

Dodge Nitro “Nitro Hemi”

As if the Nitro needs more attitude, here comes the Nitro “Nitro Hemi”, with 22-inch wheels, a carbon fiber hood, modified grille and more. Yep, that’s the 5.7-liter under the hood, too...

Ford Edge by 3dCarbon

In case the Edge isn’t edgy enough, this custom exterior is an eight-piece 3dCarbon body kit, including front air dam, side skirts, door caps, a rear lower skirt and front fender vents. The interior is trimmed in Katzkin leather and accented by the medium smoke window tint from Sundial Window Tinting. An Eibach Springs Pro Kit drops the Edge by 2 inches over a set of NC Forged NC 5 three-piece, 22-inch wheels with floating center caps wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico tires.

Ford Edge by H&R Special Springs

Built by H&R Special Springs, this Edge is dropped 2 inches and wears Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico 305/35WR22 tires. The custom Tangerine Orange paint with Pearl Ghost world graphics is accented by a blacked-out race-look hood, Camtec custom composite front-bumper light pod and Hella Celis lamps with light-emitting-diode halo effect. The 3.5-liter V-6’s special purr comes courtesy of a MagnaFlow cat-back exhaust. The interior wears Wiamea Cliffstone leather seats, door panels and headrests.