Bugged Out
Looking like fun waiting to happen was this incredible Overkill Engineering-built buggy owned by Brent and Shaunda Goegebuer. Brent is the assistant director of retail marketing, new products, and outside events at 4-Wheel Parts Wholesalers. This outstanding rig sports all the latest and greatest trail-proven tech like an injected Chevy 383ci stroker motor, a 700R4 trans, an Atlas II transfer case, ARB-locked Overkill Engineering Atomic Axles with CTM U-joints and Currie centers, a dual inverted four-link rear suspension with Fox shocks and air bumps, a wishbone four-link front suspension with Fox shocks and air bumps, 22x10 Pro Comp wheels with Overkill Engineering 45-bolt beadlocks, and 41-inch Interco IROK tires.
Painfully Cool
The folks at Warn displayed this immaculate '47 Willys CJ-2A. It was totally restored in 1998 and has some classic Warn products like freewheeling hubs and a Bellevue electric winch with operating controls mounted inside the vehicle. This winch was the predecessor to the 8274, which is currently in production.
When Flat Paint And Camo Collide
We were stunned at the number of vehicles at this year's SEMA show that were slathered in flat paint. This rig at the Mickey Thompson booth took flat a step further by incorporating camo. The truck was built by X-Treme Toyz and its list of mods includes products and/or services by aFe, Amp Research, CR Laurence, EGR, Fabtech, Line-X, Mag-Hytec, Mickey Thompson, MM Auto Arts, PIAA, Precision, Roadwire, and Roll-n-Lock.
Bulletproof For Real
The word "bulletproof" gets thrown around a lot in the off-highway world, but this vehicle, the fully-armored Knight XV made by Conquest Vehicles, Inc., is really bulletproof. For only $295,000, you can sit in the luxurious interior and point and laugh at people as they shoot at you. The truck is built using ballistic-hardened steel and up to 2.5-inch-thick glass. The truck is based on an F-350 commercial platform chassis, so parts are readily available no matter where you wander. The rig rolls on Mickey Thompson Baja Radial MTZ tires with ballistic run-flats. Standard equipment includes night vision and rear op camera systems.
Super Silverado
This massive Silverado was front and center in the lobby of the North Hall. It was built by the folks at Bigfoot 4x4 and it featured a truly mind-boggling number of mods, including a nitrous-injected biodiesel-burning Duramax with FASS fuel system and Jaz fuel tanks; Dana 80 axles; a four-link coilover suspension; 24x16 custom wheels; 51-inch Firestone tires; prerunner-style front fenders and rear bedsides; smokin' cool flat paint job; and front and rear Warn winches.
Piece Of The Puzzle
One of the most obvious features of this diesel-powered '08 F-250 is its jigsaw-puzzle-themed vinyl wrap, but there's more. Way more. A partial list of mods includes a 12-inch Bulletproof suspension with Fox remote-reservoir coilover shocks; T-Bilt steering and front winch bumper; a Warn winch; Hannemann front fenders and rear bedsides; an ORU Defender roof rack; Baja Designs lights; 40-inch Toyo tires; and KMC wheels.
Rockin' Ranger
The folks over at MB-Motorsports had their awesome Ranger-bodied race truck on display. This machine looks like it's ready to pounce. This amazing truck has a coilover suspension that generates 19 inches of wheel travel up front and 24 inches out back. Up front it uses Bilstein bypass shocks, while in the rear it uses the incredible Bilstein Black Hawk 9300 Series shocks. It's powered by a bored, stroked, balanced, and blueprinted 4.0L V-6. A couple of weeks after SEMA, this rig won Class 6 at the 2008 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.
Looks Like Fun
We have a lot of love for Subarus. Heck, we have a lot of love for this cool Subaru. It's an '09 Forester they call the Mountain Rescue Vehicle, and it was built for the National Ski Patrol. It has a turbocharged and intercooled Subaru Boxer 2.5L engine, a custom Air Lift adjustable suspension, 30-inch Yokohama Geolandar MTS tires, a Warn 9.5ti Thermometric winch, DeeZee skidplating and grilleguard, and gobs of Bushwacker products.
Another Silverado
Lund International always has over-the-top rigs at the show, and this year was no exception. This Silverado had 16 different Lund products installed as well as products from Skyjacker, Mickey Thompson, Stealth Dump Trucks, Roadwire, McGard, and Rockford Fosgate. The paint is House of Kolor Tangerine with flame airbrushing by Wicked Ways Custom Cycle. Yep, that's Line-X along the bottom and on the grille and bumpers.
Built Like A Tank
The folks over at Icon displayed a New School FJ43 Long Wheelbase. If you're not familiar with these rigs, they're handmade by Icon and utterly incredible. This specific vehicle has a long list of features including a 550hp fuel-injected LS2 V-8, a 4L65E transmission, a 3.5:1 Atlas II transfer case, Dynatrac axles, a coilover suspension, 37-inch BFG M-T tires, 20-inch MOZ wheels, flat paint, Recaro power vented and heated front seats, an Alpine audio system, a Garmin navigation system, a satellite link, and an iPod link.
Clean 'n' Simple
This Grand Cherokee was at the Chrysler booth, and it's an example of a clean, well-equipped SUV that can pound pavement or trail. It has a 4-inch Superlift suspension; Mopar rock rails, a cargo basket, sill guards and slush mats; an ARB front bumper; and a Warn winch.
RC cars are hot property nowadays, and this fact was illustrated by Traxxas. A first-time exhibitor at SEMA, Traxxas drew massive crowds to its booth. These are the guys who offer a slew of electric and Nitro RC vehicles, including the exocaged Summit RC truck (right) that has remote front and rear locking differentials, a high/low transmission with 70:1 super low-range, waterproof electronics, a long-travel suspension, and beadlock-style wheels.