Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post: SEMA 2024 is underway! Continue reading the Original Blog Post
@Jive-Bomber May I suggest creating a thread in the OT side and having a handy drop zone for stuff that doesn't fit here?
It is very fitting, that SEMA is in Las Vegas. Both are monuments to crass consumerism and poor taste.
While I agree that most builds are defined by excess and the latest fashion, there are points to pick up with the wide array. I'll never build a super lifted boulevard bruiser with candy suspension and light up spots in the bodywork, but how they route plumbing or the choice of fasteners might give me ideas.
You're point is well taken... There is plenty of bad taste and off topic vehicles at SEMA- It goes without says, I was hoping to just see the HAMB friendly submissions here, and there should be plenty- I've see some killer 100% traditional hot rods & customs every time I go to SEMA- You just have to seek them out.
I remember seeing the RPU being sold on Barrett Jackson…beautiful vehicle, someone got a great deal on it.
Yeah, I loved it in media, saw it there and was staring at it for at least 20 minutes, and saw it went for pennies on cost. I hope it's being enjoyed.
Thank you! I was hoping for someone to post the standouts that fit HAMB era. They are there, you just have to sift through the late model stuff.
Great shots and thanks for sharing, that's about all I would have liked to see at Sema so thanks for saving me the couple thousand bucks. hahahah Had to look further at that Bare Metal 32. 1. That cowl steering just makes me scratch my head. I know why its done that way, but as a builder, that's another failure point, and any effort you got by reducing the pitman arm length is offset by stiction in this system. 2. Just found that backdrop funny and a bit narcistic. Really man, we don't care about you and your glamour shots.
Taken out of context, I agree. Noticed it too. However, this is Vegas and SEMA. You are trying to capture the attention of a huge audience who are walking by your booth. They have been subject to every color, every bold graphic, every wild car, every wild product and have many miles more to go. You are trying to grab attention, tell your story, have something on the wall that is more than a kid's drawing and fronts as a successful business. If it doesn't do that in 2 seconds, the crowd moves on.
I often wonder how much of the show at SEMA is merely 'entertainment' I mean surely the 'industry' people the event is put on for aren't, really at the event to look at the 1/2 or single booth exhibitors. I could be wrong though, it does seem as the years have progressed it becomes more of a tourist/instagrammer trap than showing what the industry can really do.
This is my good friend Jim Rawa's build. Jim is one of the top sources of information on 57-58 Plymouths, and one of the smartest, most talented people I know. This Plymouth is not HAMB friendly with the hood up but is an insane build. The owner of the car, Vinny Pipitone, was somehow able to snag a Mopar Demon 170 crate engine through a SNAFU on MoPar's website. The engines were not supposed to be sold to the public, and to the best of my understanding, only 2 made it out, this one, and the other, which went to a very high profile person in the auto scene. 1,025 horsepower supercharged hemi just as in the SRT Demon, except Jim had to do all of his own R&D to somehow make the factory wiring work in a standalone fashion, since he was able to mate it all to a pushbutton Torqueflight trans. This is the first car to have one of these engines installed in an aftermarket setting. Of course, none of that speaks to the rest of the build, which is top-notch. Jim handled all of aspects of the build. Metal work, body and paint, interior, engine swap, wiring, drivetrain... even built the Torqueflight. All in his personal garage at home.
@57JoeFoMoPar Thanks for the story! That puts a lot more context into the picture. @Clydesdale Always trying to be the supplier for the latest, greatest, most profitable thing. Also keep an eye on what IS the new, what that little guy has that might be IT. Big companies have to work on a big scale, so without the innovators, they would stagnate. Some decide that they will focus on popular, past success, when the NEW is going to be like fast fashion, cheap throw away flash in the pan makers. https://centerlinewheels.com/wheel-collection/ Stereo systems used to be huge. How many different EFI systems has Holley come out with since the 80s? They can track internet traffic, but the volume of data has got to be insane, not to mention the signal to noise of loud detractors. The competition is tough, so they need to see what that other big company has and if it can be done at a profit too. Us older, jaded consumers who are often more affluent are a different market than the starry eyed 20-something who often has much less disposable income. Both markets require providing what the buyers want and being the best choice.
he has a very traditional sweet chain wallet though. I can only assume he has a switchblade comb in his pocket
Compared to the number of people who wear business suits and ties, which are IMHO one of the stupidest male fashion accessories ever? A strip of fabric tied tightly around your neck? The vast majority of attendees wear a polo, but there are still ties worn just to convey traditional professional standards. It conveys to me an outdated and rigid standard.
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