It’s true, modified cars are works of art and they’re all about creative expression. Just the same, there’s a tendency for that self-expression to fall into common themes, as modifiers follow the trends they like, or try to emulate other vehicles they find cool. Creative expression isn’t immune to peer pressure, after all. SEMA’s cornucopia of hot rods and ultra-modified cars provides a microcosm of the customizing world every year, and it’s easy to see the trendsetters and the current trends on display.
And then there are the unconventional ones. The cars that don’t seem to follow any trend–or take one so far that it becomes something else! Today, Driving Fans gives you a selection of eleven of the SEMA cars that are bold enough to march to the beat of their own drums, boldly going where no car has gone before…sometimes with good reason. But whether you think, “Man, I wish I’d thought of that,” or “They did WHAT to a WHAAAT?” you have to respect them for it!
1. Chopped Studebaker fastback coupe woody. This blend of about five different automotive genres, applied to a formerly awkward-looking early-’50s Studebaker, is awesomely graceful.
2. Honda’s Mean Mower. Honda Racing modified this lawnmower so it’s capable of 133mph. And it still cuts grass. Aww, yeah.
3. Volkswagen Rabbit. Looking ready for LeMans, this Rabbit’s got all of the race mods usually reserved for Porsches or Corvettes/
4. GMC bus. It’s a 1956 GMC school bus with horns. I think we’re done here.
5. Freightliner hill-climb truck. Hill-climb semi trucks are pretty insane objects all on their own, and don’t lose any of their appeal when shined up for a car show.
6. Nissan Quest. Because sometimes, you have to slam and VIP-style a minivan, that’s why. The stylish Quest looks surprisingly good decked out like a gangsta ride.
7. ??? We’re not sure what’s going on here, or if we’d want to be anywhere nearby when this demonic creation is fired up. If you wait long enough, Ed Roth’s “Rat Fink” will probably show up to drive it.
8. Ford Bronco. This one’s not so wild, or so unusual, but it’s an elegant and clean restomod that makes us want one.
9. We think there’s a Ford Model A somewhere in there, but we could be wrong.
10. Chevrolet (?) panel van. What’s the point of having a speed shop if you’re afraid to turn your skills loose on the shop’s parts hauler?
11. Rolls-Royce Ghost. It’s hard to modify a Rolls-Royce without making it corny, but this matte/gloss respray even manages to make the blacked-out Rolls-Royce grille look good. Not so certain about the gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy, though.
