SEMA 2009 was a Jam packed event this year. The event was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 3rd thru November 6th. You can find out more on SEMA's Home page http://www.semashow.com/main.

For those of you who may not be familiar with SEMA, it stands for Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association, and once a year they get together and put on one heck of a show. Attendees such as Chip Foose, Arlin Ness, as well as all the big names like Yogi's Inc, Pacific Coast Customs, and West Coast Customs, just to name a few.

I could write an article every day for the rest of the year covering 3 or 4 offerings at SEMA and come nowhere near close to covering everything going on, with all of the tricked out rides and concept cars.  There was something for everyone, from Mean to Green and everything in between.

Speaking of Green, SEMA’s “Making Green Cool Zone” featured plenty of Mean AND Green entrants this year. The ‘Making Green Cool’ Press Conference was held directly following SEMA’s Vehicle Technology Briefing Seminar, ‘Driving Green: MPH + MPG.’ Many of the green technologies and vehicles discussed at the ‘Driving Green’ technology briefing are featured in the ‘Making Green Cool Zone’ exhibit in the South Hall and were showcased during the press conference.

There were a lot of new vehicles debuting at SEMA this year as well. The highlights being:

Though the Official Car of SEMA this year is the Chevrolet Camaro, tons of tuners are interested in working with the Dodge Challenger. The Challenger has been on sale awhile now, which has given the customizing crowd plenty of time to modify the new muscle car. I however don’t believe any will match the Challenger that Dodge brought to SEMA. Dodge is presented their Challenger SRT/10 and SpeedFactory showcased the first 700hp 440 Hemi-Powered Challenger. It has a 7.2-litre (440 cu. in.) supercharged engine and 20-inch wheels.

Hyundai and Rhys Millen Racing Partnered on a Mid-Engine V8 Genesis Coupe. The Korean automaker based the effort around Hyundai’s 4.6L V8 occupying the former backseat. Eight individual throttle bodies and JE pistons pushing compression to 11:0.1 making for a power plant exerting 500 hp, according to Hyundai.

A team representing Ford’s Fiesta Movement was at the Motor Trend Proving Grounds during the SEMA Show, offering test drives of a European-spec Ford Fiesta. Information about other drive stops, including monthly calendars, is available on www.fiestamovement.com under the “Ride & Drive” section. Visitors to the site can also sign up to receive test drive updates as they become available.

I have to say my personal favorite will be Factory Five’s ‘33 electric powered Hot Rod.

Factory Five Racing introduced an all-electric powered ‘33 Hot Rod at SEMA this week, and it’s not a concept car! Based on the award-winning Factory Five ‘33 Hot Rod, the battery electric vehicle (EV) is powered by UQM technologies electric drive and A123 Systems high-power lithium-ion batteries. It produces 300-plus HP and delivers a range of 100-plus miles with a 0-60 mph acceleration time in an estimated 4 seconds! This vehicle build by the Amp=D team is the subject of a television pilot by the same name, with filming to continue through the car’s unveiling at SEMA and beyond.

There are a few cool entrants in the Chevrolet camp as well, such as the Camaro Black Concept Car.

While there’s no hiding in a 2010 Camaro, I have to say the Camaro Black Concept suggests a stealthy approach to street style. From its matte black-finished hood and ground effects to its black wheels and red-glowing HID headlamp halo rings, the Camaro Black Concept is a wickedly sinister looking vehicle. It might make a better looking KITT on Knight Rider if the show wasn’t cancelled again, don’t you think?

There were also a few concept cars based on the Camaro platform. Imagine my delight and surprise when I found not one but two concepts of one of my all time favorite cars. The Trans Am concepts, unfortunately neither directly from GM. Fortunately, both are based on the 2010 Camaro and looking back that’s probably a good thing. After all, the original Trans Am was based on the Camaro platform as well.

The first one ended up my pick for the “GM you better build this!” statement and was submitted by the world famous John Lingenfelter. While a lot of people feel that with Pontiac’s demise there will not be another Trans Am from GM, I am not so sure about that. After all didn’t the Canadian Branch of GM take Chevy's and put the Pontiac name on them back in the 60’s and 70’s? and after looking at Lingenfelter's concept car I bet there are a few people at GM who are interested in Bringing the T/A back somehow.

The exterior of the car is based on a combination of Trans Am’s 1971-1972 and it does the task well while retaining a modern look. Featured on the concept is a full front fascia with honeycomb kidney grills and rounded-square headlights. At the rear, the vehicle bears classic Trans Am taillights complete with rear trunk spoiler.

For an authentic Trans Am look, Lingenfelter added custom honeycomb wheels. With the fully functional Shaker hood Scoop with “455 SD” script the Trans Am looks terrific and is an accurate representation of the engine’s displacement. The Lingenfelter TA concept is powered by a 455-cubic-inch LS-series V-8, producing 655 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque. This is more than even the supercharged LSA V-8 that would have been attached to the shelved Z28 Camaro. With over 200 more hp, Lingenfelter is compelled to add a 6-bolt LS9 flywheel and clutch assembly as well as heavy-duty half shafts. Lingenfelter would like to know if this concept is good enough to go into production. So don’t be shy in letting them know what you think.  I for one think GM themselves needs to build it even if all they use is the factory Camaro engines. That being said this is the one I would most like to see no matter who builds it. Having had the privilege of owning a 1971 ½ T/A as well as a 72, and a 74 SD 455 Trans Am  I always felt the 71 thru 74’s were the best looking models ever built.

But for all of you who liked the newer models fortunately The Lingenfelter Trans Am Concept wasn’t the only TA on display at the 2009 SEMA Show,with Kevin Morgan Designs debuting its version of the iconic car. Based on a slightly more modern interpretation of the Trans Am, the Kevin Morgan car takes its cues from the 1977-’78 model and is based on the all-new 2010 Camaro.

The car certainly looks aggressive with a low slung front air dam and a massive gold Phoenix on the hood. And of course, there’s the enormous spoiler and a stylish set of golf mesh wheels.

The team even went so far as to put the classic Pontiac logo into the car’s new front end.  I liked this car right until I saw it from the  back end.

Overall it was a good quality build, although some thought the gold trim on the interior was a bit excessive, but with its classic styled shaker scoop and the fact that Kevin Morgan Designs has announced a deal with the Trans Am Depot and is expected to start offering the Phoenix Trans Am conversion in the near future. It’s bound to be a hit.

By Vitale Justice

Vitale is a freelance writer and owner/operator of an independent trucking company.