What Happens in SEMA . . .
Every year the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) takes over the 3,000,000 square feet of floor space at the Las Vegas Convention Center for a weeklong trade show that covers everything automotive. Exhibitors feature cars, trucks or SUVs in their displays to showcase their products or simply to attract attention. In a town where weird is normal, the masses of over-the-top and extremely modified cars seem at home inside the multi-building center.

 

Tens of thousands attend the SEMA Show each year, and while a trade show and not open to the public, it’s the one auto show every enthusiast wants to attend. Despite the propensity for depravity that comes with a no-last-call town, SEMA is never anything short of a legendary gathering and we had a blast during our 2-day visit.

 

SEMA 2015 marked a special milestone for the crew at Z Car Garage as we prepared a special 1971 Datsun 240z for display at the show.  Through an exclusive collaboration with OS Giken we unveiled the world’s first North American (LHD) S30 to be powered by the legendary TC24-B1Z engine. This mythical twincam cylinder head bolts onto an L-series block giving it crossflow breathing and high revving operation.

 

 

The Z was well received by show goers stopping by the OS Giken booth which featured video displays of the engine being assembled and tested at ZCG. Jaws dropped at the sight of the TC24 and we also heard admirable reviews from fellow Datsun/restorers for the build. Our friends at Japanese Nostalgic Car (JNC) and Speedhunters featured the car in their SEMA reviews:
JNC
Speedhunters

 

 

The lucky owner of this OS Giken-equipped Z is our friend and customer Gary Stephenson. In short, his build highlights our restorative powers and sports full suspension (allowing 255/40/17 tires under stock flairs), our ZCG Big Brake Kit, nos OEM glass, integrated roll cage,  KA24 transmission, Recaro Competition seats and more.

 

 

 

In current tune/configuration the TC24 produced 376hp/281tq to the wheels on 91 octane, proudly displayed by the car at SEMA. This Z will be driven on the street and track so stay tuned for videos!

 

 

Huge thanks to the crew at OS Giken for a killer booth and memorable experience. Look for an in-depth story about our collaboration with OS Giken and TC24-B1Z build on the blog soon.  Long Live the Z. Here comes the TC!

 

 

Datsuns Everywhere at SEMA!

Our favorite vintage cars were in great numbers this year. One of the most prominent of course
was Sung Kang’s 1973 Datsun 240z affectionately called “FuguZ”.

Sung ( “Han” of Fast and Furious movie fame) chronicled the build through social media, enlisting parts from around the world with final assembly by Kenji at Greddy. Sporting the latest Rocket Bunny body kit, Volk TE37s and an ITB’d RB26 drivetrain this was a crowd favorite and inspiration to all. Congrats to Sung and the Greddy team for an epic build!

 

For the first time in SEMA history a Datsun roadster was on display courtesy of Socal specialist Kevin Desirello.

 

This fully restored 1967 SPL311 was treated to a complete S15 SR20DET drivetrain swap but Kevin and his team didn’t stop there. By adding a VVL head and punching the displacement out to 2.2L, they essentially made an SR22VE-T with power levels of 450whp anticipated!

 

 

Garret wanted the car for its SEMA booth and it was placed alongside the famous Mad Mike Whiddett’s insane twin-turbo FOUR-rotor powered Formula-drift Miata. We are especially proud of Kevin and his roadster for making it to the Top 21 in The Battle of the Builders competition!

 

 

This Datsun 520 pickup was actually a contender in the Optima Batteries challenge with a Mazda Miata drivetrain and double A-arm suspension F/R!

 

Hakotora! Take one Sunny ute and graft a Hakosuka front end on for a mean little pickup. This build had some great details and a built SR20DET under the vented hood.

 

This BRE 510 was on display in the Tokico booth. A celebrity driver car, this is now owned by Datsun-freak Adam Carolla. Our hero Pete Brock was not too far from the dime!

 

Eric and Josh from JDM Legends made the trek from Utah and displayed their superbly restored Ken and Mary Skyline. The C110 had all the choice parts from the triple-carb’d L-series, Comp seats and Watanabe wheels.

 

There’s a New Boss in Town . . .

Not Datsun per se, but the following Nissan 240sx (S14) sports cars all have one thing in common: The “Boss” aero kit from RocketBunny/TRA Kyoto. The kit transforms the front end of an S14 into a B110/Challenger looking vehicle… it takes some time getting used to, but we dig it.

 

Over-fenders turn the car into a mean, retro-racer and ultimately give owners yet another palette to make something special.  This Safari Gold (yes that Datsun color!) example was built by Robb Ferguson. He is a talented artist and we love his take on the kit. WORK wheels, KA24DE-T power, graphics, “Datsun” badging all come together well. Famous words from Mr. K grace the rear spoiler, and the bumperless look harks back to the 70’s racers:

 

The AutoFashion USA/ENEOS build sported a full custom built Bluebird grille–replete with E30 BMW ellipsoid lamps! Totally badass. SSR wheels, slick paint and that “Spook” grille bring out the Datsun-geek in us:

 

Formula drift driver Corey Hosford’s  V8-powered,  Gt5008r turbo fed beast with great livery:

 

 

 

The Fender Flare Nationals

Whether you love it or hate it, you can always count on the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas for some wacky automotive sights and sounds. This year was no exception, and we picked out some of our favorite cars that we saw.  On social media SEMA is being called the “over fender nationals”… for good reason. Everything on 4-wheels or more had tacked on/riveted fender flares. It’s a trend that doesn’t seem to be dying. Let’s start with my favorite flared vehicles…the RWB Porsches!

 

Back-dated, 964 and 993 Porsches in a Skittles assortment of colors!

 

Jon Sibal’s slick 964:

 

Not RWB, but this Libertywalk (997) 911 was built as a tribute to Brumos Racing:

 

“Rusty Slammington” made its debut in the H&R booth. This car started out as an E28 BMW sedan and became the widebody creation of Mike Burroughs of Stanceworks. He combined Rat Rod, Hot Rod, Indy and modern elements to make one heck of a presence in person.

 

 

Fender Flare everything! Yes, even a Prius. C7 Corvette, Lamborghini and Mustang…

 

Not everything needs to be flared ..here is a lovely Speedster:

 

Muscle Car Madness

 

SEMA is filled with muscle cars of all flavors. The Roadkill General Mayhem Charger looked like a beater on the outside, but underneath the unsightly hood scoop was a full Hellcat drivetrain…with nitrous!?

 

We are suckers for clean, Pro-Touring themed builds. Simple, OEM interiors with modern running gear gets us going, like this ’62 Bel-Air:

 

More beauties

 

This 1967 Nova had a turbocharged 4-cylinder Ecotech drivetrain!

 

Trucks

SEMA was also packed with an alarming number of lifted and slammed trucks. I will skip the “bro” trucks but here were a few notables:

 

Imports

Ryan Basseri of Rywire shocked everyone with his anal-retentive level of detail Integra build. This car was showed alongside its inspiration: Ryan’s own Porsche GT3. Note the subtle fender flairs, a 944/FC RX-7/EVO-esque front flare treatment looks so right! Oh, and the wiring/plumbing is not too shabby either 🙂

 

 

Lexus had a neat display including an RC-F GT3 racecar:

 

Honda and Toyota had extensive displays:

 

Mazda is doing it right. Nissan are you listening? Look at these gorgeous roadsters:

 

Nissan and Stillen did bring their N-Attack GT-R, but their corporate presence was definitely not as strong:

 

On the other hand Ford absolutely killed it. New Focus RS, crazy trucks and Mustangs galore:

 

Wild Things

SEMA is known for being over the top. Here are a few not-so-everday things I noticed like jewel kits for your engine and a Burning Man contraption. Enjoy!

 

 

We hope you have enjoyed our report from SEMA 2015.  Please browse our mega-gallery after the jump!