2006 SEMA Show by TCC Team (10/30/2006)
All our coverage from the Las Vegas aftermarket extravaganza.

By: Rex Roy

Photos by: Rex Roy

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Hot rods of every description grace SEMA's three halls. You'll find everything from Model As to Willys, and one Foose creation powered by a V-12 engine from a Lincoln Zephyr. These totally customized cars and trucks are here to entice buyers to spend time in the host exhibitor's booth. The vehicles showcase paints, wheels, and all manner of other hardware.

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While not initially unusual among the displayed, upon closer inspection Jay Losi's 1932 Ford stood out. It featured an all steel body and a dual supercharged Hemi built on an all-aluminum Donavan block. Output is a claimed 1100 horsepower.

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In a move that typifies the weirdness at SEMA, car constructor Leif Tufvesson showed a hot rod that would make Sweden 's late King Gustav proud. The Caresto V-8 Speedster makes use of Volvo's Yamaha-sourced V-8 midship. What does a Volvo hot rod have to do with anything? Nothing. But that's no reason not to build it and acquire corporate money to sponsor the car's construction.

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While it may seem just as odd as a Volvo rod, this 1967 Volvo Amazon is much closer to whatever mainstream SEMA is. Exhibiting the kind of craftsmanship found on the best tuner cars from around The States, this little wagon sports a 600 horsepower from a turbocharged Volvo 2.8-liter in-line six.

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