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Inside the 2026 SEMA Show | The SEMA Builds Everyone Is Talking About

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SEMA is a trade show for the automotive industry, but we all know that it’s all about the cars. Being part of a SEMA build is a checkbox on the bucket list for many builders and SEMA show cars run the gamut from subtle and understated to completely over the top and unrecognizable.

Once you get past the gut-punch from the blown LS and bundle of snakes exhaust, there was some outstanding fab work to be seen throughout this C10.

Regardless of what end of that spectrum they fall on, SEMA builds are almost always inspirational. From the overall vibe of the car or truck to something as tiny as a door handle design or a clever little emblem or way of routing wires, there’s something to learn from each of these cars for those who are looking. We always leave the show lit up with possibilities for our next project.

Why yes, that is in fact a Ferrari-swapped DeLorean. Only at SEMA.

SEMA 2026 Show Car Gallery

 
The gallery below features just a few of the cars that caught our eye at SEMA 2026. If you can’t make it to the SEMA show, hopefully the following gallery will serve as a sampler of the cool SEMA builds on display. Maybe some of these cars will inspire you as much as they have us.

This Buick Special drag car was bad to the bone. That louvered hood hides a twin-turbo big block.
Here’s our Project Chevelle in the Speedway Motors booth, freshly dropped on a G-Comp chassis and otherwise freshened up for its SEMA debut.
Man this little BMW was cool. That’s bare fiberglass and there are lightening holes in just about everything.
It’s not often that you see a slammed International Travelall with an LT4 engine. This would make a cool family hauler.
We think it’s a Toyota truck. We have no idea what the engine is tucked under the back glass. We do know that it’s cool and that we would love to rip it around town for a few hours.
C1 Corvettes are almost always cool. Major bonus points should be awarded to those with straight axles and slicks.
We’re used to seeing Squarebody GM trucks that rely on trick fab work to slam them on the ground. This one has unbelievable workmanship designed to make it fly off-road.
This Granatelli-built Camaro ran over 250 miles per hour at Bonneville in the early 80’s while maintaining its street manners.
The big lowrider display outside Central Hall was inspirational. The craftsmanship on these cars is truly incredible.
Not often that you see a hot rod Rambler. As a bonus, this SC was powered by a hopped up AMC engine.
This 911 from Dusold Designs stopped everyone in their tracks. The widebody fenders hide massive rubber and the turbos were out in the breeze for all to see.
The 80’s are cool again. This Blazer and OBS truck use modern tech to achieve a retro look.
Speaking of the 80’s, you don’t often see a widebody 3rd-gen Camaro, but this was one of several that we spotted this year. Are we seeing a new trend?
Nothing to see here, just a front-engined, LS-powered, bare metal, widebody VW drift bus.
Our friends at CAL Automotive Creations debuted this wild sports car concept based on an Eric Black rendering. It’s powered by a motorsport-derived Atlas 4.2 and has outrageously great workmanship throughout.

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