Muscle Car UK at SEMA 2019 SEMA 2019 is the biggest motor show in the world. Not open to the general public but only to people active in the motor industry, SEMA has something for everybody, whether you’re a sprayer, mechanic, car salesman or vehicle wrapper. People fly from all over the world every year to witness this giant three-day spectacle in Las Vegas, USA. For petrol heads like us, it was… well, picture Charlie Bucket walking through Willy Wonka’s factory and you’ve got a pretty good idea. We were most unsettled: usually, it’s our factory that makes people’s jaw drop. What To See at SEMA 2019 The variety of cars at SEMA 2019 is incredible; some of the modifications that vehicle owners install blew us away! Now, we know we were in the USA, where cars aren’t cars unless they take up the whole road, but there were pickup trucks with raised suspension and massively increased wheel size that looked like monsters. Supposedly, the 2006 Pixar movie Cars occurs in a post-apocalyptic world where humans are extinct but cars have gained sentience as a side-effect of long-term exposure to radiation. We’re not saying SEMA is the Indus Valley equivalent to that universe, but… let’s just keep a tight hand on those nuclear reactors, okay? The Stands of SEMA 2019 In a similar vein, some of the cars at SEMA 2019 looked like they were straight out of a Hot Wheels packet. The inner child screams with delight at this one. Later on, we found an actual Hot Wheels stand, where we could confirm that the owner’s time, love and money were well spent. Breathtaking level of detail. Then came the Ford Motorsports stand, where their team explained some exciting prospects for the future of the company. After the announcements we were treated to a show of modern Ford Mustangs losing rubber as they spun, drifting and doughnut-ing their way around a giant ball of tires. A sight to behold, and a level of noise to match. With our inner child satisfied we moved on to the Shelby Mustang stand. This was by far one of the most popular stands in the whole of the convention, and unfortunately, we could barely get close to any of the cars. However, excitement levels went up again at the sight of these backdraught Cobras. As readers may know, we custom-produce Cobras and Speedsters ourselves in Henfield, England. So this was a little piece of home in a wildly exotic setting. The price tag is stunning, but so are the cars! These beasts come with the 5.0L V8 Roush engine, pushing out a whopping 550HP. . We battled our way through the crowds to see the Richard Patty stand. A bit of background first: Richard Patty was a NASCAR driver with the most NASCAR Cup Series wins. A combined total of 200! This was where he was presented the “Wrap like a king” trophy for best vinyl wrapper of the show. Also on show was his team’s mean race car. Curiosities of SEMA 2019 We decided to head back out and look at some of the more unique and interesting vehicles that were on show. We came across a seriously powerful speedboat, about the size of a small island. The imagination that some people must have to think of some these concepts is astonishing. However, the main show we came for was the unveiling of the electric Mustang for release in 2020. The meshing of classic and ultra-modern is sometimes a thing of true beauty. The Mustang Lithium is all-electric with over 900 horsepower and over 1000 lb-ft of torque. This silent beast is complemented with Brembo brakes all round. It has 20-inch alloy wheels, and a chassis lowered by another inch. The touchscreen system inside the car offers four different drive modes: Valet, Sport, Track and Beast. It is our professional opinion that the palms of even the most stringent of purists present were itching to try it. Unfortunately, this car is likely to stay as a one-off as it merely showcases the company’s collaboration with Webasto, who produced a one-off hood to show off their battery and thermal management tech. Shame! Would you like to see any of these in our UK Showroom if they ever became available? Do you think that a Pony should have a roaring V8 strapped in? Let us know! Muscle Car UK is the UK’s leading specialist Mustang and Muscle Car dealership. We import American muscle cars from the US, restore them here in the UK, and re-home them with our delighted customers. For more updates, news and tips, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. All cars on our feeds are available and up for sale. Looking for something specific? We can help. We also provide service and restoration on any car, classic or otherwise. Ask For A Quote Liked This Article? More Like This: The Dodge Charger – Classic Muscle Car 2020 Review Everything You Need to Know About Classic Car Financing in the UK