Giants, Wonders, and Stingers, Oh My!

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The 2019 SEMA Show was everything we hoped for. We were surrounded by the beautiful Las Vegas weather, centered in some of the most creative mods yet! From the Jeep Gladiator to the Chevrolet Corvette C8s to the Mustang Shelbys, and the sea of Toyota Supras, we were able to dive into the awesome stories, and catastrophes, of these highly anticipated new designs.

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Our first stop, the fiery red Tazmangler Jeep Gladiator by Duval Offroad Designs. This truck is a camper’s dream, built with:

• • 285 horsepower
• • 3.6 liter V6 or 260 horsepower
• • turbo-diesel 3.0 liter V6
• • 6-speed manual (3.6-liter only) or 8-speed automatic transmission
• • part-time four-wheel-drive

This specific build was fully equipped for over-landing, inclusive of an awning, a tent, bins, communications, and a 5 inch suspension with 40 inch tires. With all this power equipped, it’s kind of hard to believe that this red giant was flipped upside down in a train accident during delivery. Mike Duval was lucky enough to get his dealer to replace the injured SUV with the last red Jeep he had. After a day’s worth of catch up, we were able to see this Tasmanian Devil-inspired beast at it’s finest.

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Mark Rossetti with aFe Power introduced us to two of the many Toyota Supras at SEMA, the Mark IV and V. The Mark V is equipped with:

• • 335 horsepower at 5,000 RPM
• • 365 foot-pounds of torque from 1,600 to 4,500 RPM
• • part-time four-wheel-drive

In comparison to the Mark IV placed right next to it, the Mark V complements its predecessor and is the perfect upgrade for tuning enthusiasts of this brand and model. Unfortunately, a week before this show, the tires of this build were pulled slightly during a dyno test, which left this beauty without power steering. Although moving it through tight turns was a challenge, Rossetti was happy that this build was more light-weight than expected. More updates to this car include charge pipes, suspension upgrades, sway bars, springs, an electronic tuner module, and much more thanks to the team at aFe Power.

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As we walked through the central hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, there was no doubt that the most awaited vehicle was the newly released Corvette C8. There were only a few of these vehicles at this year’s event, and even fewer outside of the Chevy booth. Luckily, Rick Malone, Chief Director of Ron Fellows Performance Driving School gave us the scoop on these wonders. The Corvette now comes with:

• • 490 horsepower (naturally aspirated)
• • 465  foot-pounds of torque at 5,150 RPM
• • LT2 6.2-liter V8

As for the body, getting in and out of this car can be done with ease. And with more visibility in the window and its light-weight feeling, it handles like no other car. If you are in Spring Mountain and are looking to learn to drive one like the pros, you may want to check out Ron Fellows, the official driving school for Corvette.

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Last but not least, we wanted to get all the details of the new Shelby GT500. Who to ask? Well, none other than the Mustang’s Design Manager himself, Melvin Betancourt. The GT500 has:

• • 760 hp
• • 5.2-liter supercharged engine
• • 625 foot-pounds of torque

The words that flew through the minds of the design team included “slippery,” “fluidity,” and “aero” which landed them to the jet fighter inspired body. With wider hips and shoulders added to accentuate the frame, and conscious attention to the front-end of the grill, we agree with Betancourt that this Shelby gives an impression that it’s going 100 mph standing still. This ‘Stang is no doubt a fully functional stinger.

We all know the saying “whatever happens in Vegas…” but we couldn’t keep this event to ourselves. The convention center was packed with automotive professionals from all walks of life, and an eclectic collection of cars that matched their enthusiasm. These specific modifications, and their exciting backstories, left us wanting more. To view photos of these vehicles and our other Builds of the Day for SEMA 2019, follow us on Instagram and like our page on Facebook, #SeeMoreSEMA.

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