No Shortage of Passion, Cool Cars & High Energy at SEMA Show 2025

Words & Photos by James Maxwell

With over 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Center, it’s a huge task to see everything at the annual SEMA Show in just four days. According to SEMA headquarters, the 2025 event had some 2,300 exhibiting brands, which included 500 first-time exhibitors. Walking the aisles, there was lots of energy with people working the booths and the buyers who attended the show, plus a good deal of new products on the show floor.

When the SEMA Show originally moved from Southern California to Las Vegas, it took place in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Over time, it expanded to the North Hall, South Hall (upper and lower) and North Hall. It now also takes up the huge new West Hall, as well as the parking lots, which were packed this year with show cars and performance exhibitions (drifting and burnouts included). Everywhere you went, there was excitement.

Internal combustion was alive and well at the SEMA Show. The photos in these online galleries reflect mostly “American Performance,” with some taken during daytime hours (and the buzz of the show floor), while others were taken after hours, making it possible to capture the vehicles without the crowds. This first of three SEMA photo galleries on THE SHOP focuses on trucks, vans and SUVs. New trends, plus the best of the latest builds, are represented.

2026 Ram CRAFTSMAN Racing Truck

Mopar’s exhibit area showcased one of the new 2026 NASCAR race trucks. Ram announced its return to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series earlier this year.

Ken Blocks’ 1977 Ford F-150 ‘Hoonitruck’

The 1977 Ford F-150 “Hoonitruck” that Ken Block made famous in his “Gymkhana” video series. Featuring a radical 914-horsepower twin-turbo EcoBoost Ford V6 (from the Ford GT Le Mans program) and all-wheel drive. At the 2025 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, it sold for (no reserve) $990,000.

Ram 1500 Big Horn ‘Dude’ Concept Truck

Based on a Ram 1500 Big Horn, the latest “Dude” concept features a Sublime Green exterior that calls back the vintage Dude C-stripes in contrasting satin black, running the full length of the truck. Power comes from a 5.7L HEMI with 395 horsepower aided by a Mopar cold air intake. A custom front splitter and side sills accent the lowered stance.

Lowrider Ice Cream Truck

With custom graphics by Mr. Cartoon of Los Angeles, this former milk truck, a 1963 International Metro, received a Chevy V-8, hydraulics, 13-inch Zeniths, a custom interior and then the wild airbrushed art.

1949 Dodge Power Wagon

A great deal of 3D technology and CNC fabrication was used to widen this 1949 Dodge Power Wagon body into a modernized 4th Gen 2013 RAM 2500 truck platform with suicide doors. This radical show truck features a 6.7L Cummins diesel engine.

1948 Diamond T 404 Rig

This 1948 Diamond T 404 rig was built by Arizona High Test. It features a 24-valve 5.9 Cummins diesel with a P-pump swap and compound turbos. A full, one-off custom frame with drive and tag axles was built by Porterbuilt. The custom interior by Ceballos Customs contrasts modern style with the original red paint and includes modern air conditioning by Restomod Air.

Bronco Roadster Concept

Ford showcased its one-of-a-kind Bronco Roadster concept to celebrate 60 years of the Bronco. A throwback to the original 1966 bare-bones “U13” version built for ranchers and off-roaders, it’s a tribute to Bronco’s roots.

1967 Kaiser Jeep M715

The 1967 Kaiser Jeep M715 is a light military truck that was referred to as “the five-quarter (ton)” as it had a 1 1/4-ton payload from the factory—also called the 5/4 Jeep. These were the first U.S. tactical vehicles to use primarily commercial vehicle components. This version has a V-8 (GM LS crate engine) and TH400 transmission (from Magnitude NP205 Twin Stick Transfer Case) and Currie F&R HD 60 axles (5.38:1) with ARB Air Lockers.

1988 Jeep MJ Comanche

Built by Rockstar Performance Garage for client Scosche Industries, this fully outfitted 1988 Jeep MJ Comanche has been totally reworked to be the ultimate off-road/rock crawler/utilitarian machine. With a wheelbase that has been stretched to 120 inches, it features Patriot Liner paint, a Go Fast custom camper, a Chevy 5.3L engine and a 45-gallon fuel cell with transfer system.

Customized Jeeps

Scattered throughout the Convention Center halls, as well as the outside areas, were numerous customized Jeeps.

1967 Ford F-250 ‘Highboy’ 4X4

The 1967 Ford F-250 “Highboy” 4X4 came from the factory with a higher stance than a regular 4X4 (due to the use of a “divorced” transfer case, which caused the front end to sit higher off the ground). To level out the truck, Ford used 4-inch lift blocks on the rear leaf springs. Their frames measured 33.5 inches wide—a narrow model from the F-350 trucks. This featured truck now has a slightly wider F&R axle width than the originals.

1968 Chevrolet C10 ‘Survivor Build’

This vintage Chevy short-wheelbase C10 pickup from 1968 is now a high-performance machine. With a Wegner Motorsports LS3 (376-ci) and a Whipple 1.9L supercharger, it delivers 1,000 horsepower on E85 fuel. A Roadster Shop C10 Fast Track model solid axle 9-inch differential was incorporated in the build, along with a Bowler 8HP90 transmission and 18-inch rolling stock.

1970 Chevrolet C10 ‘Lucy’ Crew Cab

This is Chris Pate’s “Lucy” 1970 Chevrolet C10 custom one-off factory-look 4-door crew cab with custom MIT interior. It features an injected LS powerplant, is well-detailed front to rear, and has a lot of red.

Ford KG1 FORGED Six-Wheeler

In front of SEMA, there were numerous big, lifted 4WD trucks, and this particular Ford KG1 FORGED rig had the four rear wheels moving back and forth (remotely) as people walked by. It features a ton of detailed suspension components.