Just days before the 2011 SEMA Show opened in Las Vegas, Ford issued a press release announcing Dynacorn's new Ford-licensed '65 Mustang convertible body shell. No one expected the overwhelming response.
"It went viral," said Dennis Mondrach from Ford Component Sales. "Within days, it was on over 400 websites. Dynacorn had so many hits that its website briefly shut down."
The new body shell hit a nerve with SEMA attendees as well, proving to be one of the most talked about debuts at last November's show, especially among Ford enthusiasts. The idea that one can practically build a brand-new '65-'66 Mustang from reproduction parts seemed to spur on the interest. Learn more about the new body shell in this month's Pony Tales.
As always, the 2011 SEMA Show served as a barometer for the health and well-being of the automotive aftermarket industry. Although attendance figures had not been announced when this was written, it was obvious by the jam-packed aisles that the number of attendees exceeded the past several years. I now know how a trout feels when trying to swim upstream.
Along with trucks and imports, the muscle car segment remains hot. Unfortunately, Camaro won SEMA's "Hottest Car" award for the second year in a row in recognition as the most prominent model in exhibitor booths. It didn't seem that way to me.
Then again, I wasn't paying attention to Camaros.
While most SEMA booths feature...
While most SEMA booths feature immaculate show cars, Scott Drake attracted plenty of attention for his Mustang reproduction parts business with a '67 Mustang GT convertible survivor, as recently found on eBay by Drake sales coordinator Jerry Choate. Originally purchased from Pierce Motors in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the still mostly-original convertible is loaded with the 390 big-block, four-speed, and plenty of options. Now owned by Drake, the car will be restored during 2012. You can follow the progress by "liking" Scott Drake on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/scottdrakefans.
Every year, Ford commissions...
Every year, Ford commissions a number of companies to build their interpretation of the latest Mustang. Scott Hoag at MRT put his spin on a '12 Mustang V-6 to come up with the TKO, an eye-catching coupe with ProCharger supercharger, 3DCarbon's Boy Racer body kit, Ford Racing suspension, and plenty of other upgrades to transform the Mustang into a street legal, track-day road racer. The effort paid off when Hoag was presented with the Outstanding SEMA Design Achievement Award.
R-A Motorsports worked overtime...
R-A Motorsports worked overtime to get the Mustang Club of America's "Mystical Build" Mustang into paint so it could be displayed in the Dynacorn booth. The '67 fastback started life as a Dynacorn body shell and is currently being built as a "fun to drive" car with modern technology. It will be given away in early 2013 with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society's "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer." The Mustang will be displayed in various states of completion at 2012 MCA events.
We always look forward to...
We always look forward to seeing the Ring Brothers’ latest creation at the SEMA Show. For 2011, Mike and Jim Ring brought their new “Producer” ’65 Mustang fastback for the Royal Purple booth. Powered by a 740hp Keith Craft stroker 427 small-block, the bright orange Mustang won the coveted "Best of Show" award from Ford.
To visually demonstrate the...
To visually demonstrate the potential of the new Dynacorn body shell, Ford Component Sales brought in Laura Nemire's restored Rangoon Red '64-1/2 convertible and parked the vehicles together for much of the show.
MSD's new Atomic EFI system,...
MSD's new Atomic EFI system, which makes it even easier to convert from carburetor to fuel-injection, won a Best New Product award from SEMA. You can find more information about the innovative new system in this month's New Bits.
With its '68 Mustang sheetmetal,...
With its '68 Mustang sheetmetal, John Heerman's '12 Mustang GT had everyone talking about his creation in the Dynatech booth. Heerman bought the car new and by the time the odometer reached 1,200 miles, the bodyman from Colorado was cutting out the factory sheetmetal and grafting in the vintage '68 fastback panels, including rear quarters, trunk lid, door skins, and more.
With his ties to the '12 Boss...
With his ties to the '12 Boss 302, Parnelli Jones was everywhere at SEMA. At the AirRaid booth, the '70 Trans-Am champion and son P.J. signed autographs over the course of three days.
To promote the Mustang Customizer...
To promote the Mustang Customizer website, visitors in the huge Ford display were able to customize Mustangs on giant screens. If you missed it at SEMA, you can go to
www.ford.com/cars/mustang to dream up your own ’12 Mustang on the Mustang Customizer.
Paul Brown was standing tall...
Paul Brown was standing tall in the Eibach Springs booth with his Boss 302S. And for good reason--Paul drove his white Mustang to five wins and the GTS championship in the 2011 Pirelli World Challenge series.
The Mustang Dream Giveaway,...
The Mustang Dream Giveaway, benefitting wounded veterans and other charities, introduced its 2012 sweepstakes at the SEMA Show. Next year, the winner drives away in a pair of black and red Shelby GT500s, a ’67 and a new ’12, plus $50,000 to take care of the taxes. To enter the sweepstakes, go to
www.winthemustangs.com or call 877/700-8946.
Classic Design Concepts had...
Classic Design Concepts had a great new booth location right behind Ford, all the better for showcasing its Wyotech University Mustang. Based on the '12 Mustang GT, the car was built by Wyotech Sacramento Campus students as a pace car for the American V-8 Super Car Series. Plenty of CDC parts were used, including the company's restyling and performance packages, functional Shaker hood scoop, and RTR front chin and side splitters.
Jack Roush and NASCAR Sprint...
Jack Roush and NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Ragan signed autographs in the Sherwin-Williams Automotive display. Roush was on hand to introduce the Roush Stage 3 Premier Edition Mustang with Sherwin-Williams' new Planet Color paint. See this month's Pony Tales for details.
You know you've got a hot...
You know you've got a hot Mustang when guys ask their girlfriends to pose with it. Classic Recreations' latest GT500CR caused just such reactions in the Spectre Performance booth.
At Galpin Auto Sport's outside...
At Galpin Auto Sport's outside display, the performance arm of southern California's Galpin Ford showed off its wide-body conversion for the '12 Mustang. They also had a Boss version, dubbed Boss 302X.