It isn't debatable. The Specialty Equipment Market Association show is the mac daddy of automotive shows. Commonly referred to by its slang title, Sema, thisb annual Las Vegas mega-event fills over 1,000,000 square feet of space with over 2,000 automotive-related exhibitors and over 2,000 incredible vehicles.
But here's the catch: Since the show is only open to those who make their living in the automotive industry (and ya gotta prove it to get in the door), the vast majority of the truck-loving public gets to talk to the hand. This industry-only policy is one of the reasons the entire Four Wheeler staff descends on the show each year. We swoop in to provide you with the nuts and bolts of this massive global event.
So sit back and enjoy a look at some of the most intriguing vehicles of the '07 Sema Show.
1-Ton Tundra Toyota unveiled...
1-Ton Tundra
Toyota unveiled this incredible Tundra CrewMax dualie pickup. It's powered by a medium-duty Hino six-cylinder turbodiesel engine. Other cool stuff: Eaton five-speed manual transmission...
...Hino rearend with Eaton...
...Hino rearend with Eaton axles, 6.5-foot bed, and matte Charcoal Metallic paint. Judging by the buzz this Tundra created at the show, Toyota should consider putting it into production as soon as possible.
Criminal Damage To Property...
Criminal Damage To Property
Uh, yep, those are 30-inch wheels. This is wrong on so many levels. This should be a felony.
Heavy-Duty Family Hauler ...
Heavy-Duty Family Hauler
Wait. Why does this Suburban have Silverado HD front fenders, hood, grille, and bumper? And what's up with the Suburban HD badging? Answer: This is a Suburban HD Z71 and it's powered by a concept 4.5L diesel engine that produces 310 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. It sure beats a minivan.
Old Is New Again Retrokits...
Old Is New Again
Retrokits displayed this '96 Chevy Tahoe fitted with its '66 Retrokit. The company introduced a new line of kits at SEMA, and report that these kits simply bolt on in place of your existing fenders. We wonder if they have an AMC Pacer kit for the Jeep Compass
Look, More Camo Tough Country...
Look, More Camo
Tough Country Products displayed its Duramax-powered Silverado HD pickup. It featured a Superlift suspension, Bully Dog engine upgrades, Warn PowerPlant Dual Force winch, Pit Bull tires, and of course, Tough Country bumpers. We dug the all-business, get-out-of-my-way front end treatment.
Pinzgrowler The Cool Factor...
Pinzgrowler
The Cool Factor of this '74 Pinzgauer 712 is off the charts. Built by the team at Off Road Logic, it features a Volkswagen 2.0L four-cylinder TDI turbodiesel engine, five-speed enclosed driveline, 6x6 all-wheel drive, on-the-fly lockers, Dick Cepek custom Hummer wheels, Toyo Open Country 33-inch tires, and a custom exoskeleton. Inside, it has a slew of mods including Race Craft suspension seats. All this and great approach, departure, and ramp-over angles, too.
Green In More Ways Than One...
Green In More Ways Than One
The guys over at Galpin Auto Sports created this '08 F-450 Super Duty. Green on the outside and green on the inside, its 6.4L diesel Power Stroke engine has been modified by SAE Energy to run on either B100 biodiesel or hydrogen fuel. Other goodies: BFG Mud-Terrain tires, King shocks, Rize Industries suspension, and GAS-built brushguard. If this is the future of trucks, we like it.
Super Silverado We needed...
Super Silverado
We needed oxygen after we saw Off Road Unlimited's latest creation. It's a Chevy Silverado 2500 HD with ORU's four-link solid front-axle conversion. But that ain't all. It also features a divorced Atlas transfer case, King remote-reservoir coilover shocks, front ARB Air Locker, and a Warn winch, among other things.