SEMA is traditionally a place to see the newest and coolest builds, as well as the place to get a sense of new trends in the aftermarket and while Off-Road continues to reign supreme, this year the alternate powered vehicle build was definitely front and center. It's not surprise, of course. Ford's 280 hp Eluminator electric crate engine will retail for $3900 and is reportedly already sold out. Lifted from the Mach-E, the electric powerplant got a fitting home at SEMA in a classic 1978 F-100 pickup. But it's not the only EV powered hot rod, vintage vehicle, or cool car on display at SEMA. An EV powered 911, a Legacy EV powered Gateway Bronco, and some other rockin' rods showed that while electric may still taste a little weird on the lips of the auto enthusiast, builders are embracing the power and torque of the non-combustion engine. And just so we don't think that battery power is the ONLY game in town, Redline Oil brought a very nifty build to the table -- a hydrogen powered vintage pickup in cherry red, Project Zero is a 1948 Chevy with a fully modern engine. SEMA had a section of the show devoted to Electric Vehicles, and while these builds offered a glance at the future, the real innovation was happening in the outside lots as builders experiement with form and function.
And finally, while it's not technically a "build," the Shelby Mustang Mach-E GT concept still fulfills the spirit of an independent build. The vehicle is a true tribute to Carroll Shelby, bringing both his design and engineering sensibility and his need to look ahead to what's next. Check out the video below with Shelby America's Gary Patterson.
See these builds and more in the following slideshow.
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Ford's 1978 F-100 Eluminator Build
Redline Oil's Project Zero - a hydrogen powered 1948 Chevy pickup.
This custom Bronco is powered by Legacy EV's electric powerplant.
