The SEMA Show is where automotive excess meets some genuinely brilliant engineering. Every year, Las Vegas becomes home to some of the wildest builds imaginable, and the 2026 edition is no different. While there’s plenty of horsepower, and a few questionable builds, we’re particularly fond of the restomods that are unveiled at the show every year. Here are five of the coolest ones we’ve come across this year.
Datsun S30 with a Nissan Z heart
The original Datsun S30 is already one of the most beautiful Japanese sports cars ever made, but Formula Drift champion Chris Forsberg has given it a rather interesting makeover. Nissan’s S30 concept swaps the original straight-six for the modern Z’s 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged VR30DDTT V6, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. Nismo upgrades and Garrett PMAX turbos should push power beyond the Z Nismo’s 420 bhp, although an official figure hasn’t been announced. There’s also plenty of carbonfibre, including the bonnet, fenders, hatch and spoiler, while the Seiran Blue paint and bronze wheels give it a rather tasteful finish. It’s a modern Z wearing the skin of one of its ancestors, and we’re all for it.
Ringbrothers’ 1965 Pontiac GTO ‘Billie’
Ringbrothers has a reputation for building some of the most spectacular restomods around, and ‘Billie’ is another fine example. Based on a 1965 Pontiac Tempest, which has been transformed into a GTO, the car has been widened by five inches and features extensive carbon-fibre and billet-aluminium detailing. Under the bonnet sits a supercharged 6.2-litre Chevrolet LT4 V8 producing 650 bhp and 881 Nm of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic. It also gets a Roadster Shop chassis, Fox coil-overs and six-piston Brembo brakes. The blue paint and open-top configuration are the icing on the cake.
Fat Fender Garage’s 1956 Ford F-100 GT/FX
This isn’t your average vintage pickup. Fat Fender Garage has reimagined the 1956 Ford F-100 as a sport truck, taking inspiration from the Ford GT. Dubbed GT/FX, it gets a hand-fabricated steel body, widened arches, integrated running boards and a rather aggressive rear diffuser. Power comes from a supercharged 5-litre Coyote V8 producing 800 bhp and 900 Nm, sent through a 10-speed automatic. A bespoke chassis, modern suspension and updated cabin complete the package. It’s a classic truck with the sort of performance figures that would make a modern sports car sweat.
Trick Rides’ 1968 Ford F-100 ‘Tricky’
If the GT/FX is a modern muscle truck, ‘Tricky’ takes things to another level. This 1968 Ford F-100 4×4 features a full carbonfibre body, making it one of the most interesting applications of the material we’ve seen on a classic pickup. The body panels are made using prepreg carbon fibre, allowing for greater control over the material’s weight and structural properties. It sits on a Roadster Shop RS4 chassis and gets a supercharged Coyote V8 with over 700 bhp.
CAL Automotive Creations’ 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
The Bel Air is one of those cars that looks fantastic even when left alone, but CAL Automotive Creations has given this 1955 example a serious performance upgrade. It packs a massive 9.7-litre BluePrint Engines V8 producing 741 bhp and 1000 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a Bowler automatic gearbox, while the car sits on a heavily modified Art Morrison chassis with RideTech coil-overs. The body has been subtly reworked, with custom quarter panels, a redesigned grille and bespoke paintwork. Inside, it gets modern instrumentation, climate control and a billet-machined centre console. It’s a classic American cruiser with enough power to make the rear tyres very nervous.
