SEMA 2019 Hot Rod Trends… the Bold & the Beautiful

With the 2019 SEMA show recently over, industry professionals and enthusiasts alike will be cataloging what’s hot and what’s not in the world of aftermarket design. And while it’s impossible to predict everything that will take 2020 consumers by storm, we can say that some trends will surely be sticking around. Here, we take a look at some builds from SEMA 2019 and try to anticipate what hot rod trends we can expect to dominate in the new year. What we can promise is that hot rodding will continue to be redefined.

Super Supras

Despite the market’s lackluster reception of the new Toyota Supra, the resurrected icon was well-represented at this year’s SEMA show. In fact, forty-three Supra builds were present, making it feel like a jointed effort among tuners to say, “This is the definition of badass.”

Personally, I was very taken by Rutledge Wood’s Hyper Boosted Supra. This thing has a beautiful custom wide body, excellent color scheme, and puts out a beastly 750 hp.

Though, it’s the Heritage Edition—dreamed up by Toyota’s VP of Marketing—that seems to be raking in the praise. Hailed as the Supra that Supra fans wanted all along, it features a fresh body kit, appropriately big rear wing, and MK4-inspired headlights and taillights. We can’t help but feel like Supra lovers will be bringing pictures of this build to their local shop saying, “THIS! This is what I want it to look like!”

That said, wide body kits and heritage-inspired restyling features were what most SEMA Supras were boasting, signaling we should expect something similar to crop up on the aftermarket over the next year. In fact, renowned Japanese brand Rocket Bunny already has Pandem Aero kits available for a cool $8,200.

Life Needs Color!

One great thing about SEMA: all forms of car culture collide in one place. And, as the saying goes, “Variety is the spice of life.” The builds don’t always have to be practical and they don’t always have to make sense, but they do have to stand out.

Originally, I had planned to point out some of the classic European restomod/customs that seem to be signifying the rise of an American trend meeting vintage perfection. And personally, I love this trend. The 1974 Type-E Jaguar that Chip Foose and his team whipped up is a perfect representation of it. Another build that blew me away was Race Service’s 1991 Ferrari 348 sitting outside the convention halls.

Looking at the other unique builds from SEMA (mostly outside the main arena), signals more than just an appreciation for classic rides or a desire to subject them to an aftermarket glow-up. From a healthy dose of Japanese tuner culture and muscle cars to what can only be called truly wild experiments in fabrication, so many people are spicing up their automotive lives with variety.

Basically, people are thinking outside of the box unlike ever before. Builds like the Ferrari 348 and the Type-E Jag are telltale signs that even the savvy are ready to break the rules—in all of the right ways. I hope I’m right in saying that in the coming months we’re going to see less traditional builds that are still sensational in every way.

Battle of the Builders/Pro-Touring

Is pro-touring making even more waves? I certainly feel safe in saying yes. Why? The top four rides of Battle of the Builders (Hot Rod, Truck and Off-Road, Sport Compact, and Young Guns) were all pro-touring/restomod builds. Even when looking at the top 12 finalists, the trend of revamping classics with modern touches is evident.

As Bryce Green from Kindig-It Design pointed out in our interview with him on hot rod market trends (check it out here), younger audiences are beginning to fill in the car culture vacancies left by Boomers. And with them comes a demand for modern comfort and convenience, advanced technology, and reliable performance. “Most of our clients, they want the look of an old car but they want to be able to get in it, turn the key, and know it’s going to run,” explained Green. “So, we’ve really geared our builds toward that mentality, from the looks all the way down to functionality.”

With that being said, expect to see plenty of power-adders and performance-oriented products continue to populate the aftermarket—particularly for a growing list of older applications. Additionally, retrofitted infotainment tech (stereo, Bluetooth, touchscreens, etc…), lighting kits, and upholstery/interior trim will round out the consumer expectations for modern comfort.

While this trend is exciting to watch, I do wonder how long it will last. All trends are cyclical, right? So, as EVs hit the streets in mass form, will future car nuts call for a return to true restorations in a bid to hold onto the past? Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Trucks Goin’ Nuts

Relax, just because pro-touring is on the rise doesn’t mean rugged trucks are fading out. In fact, we’re seeing that just because a rig is built for practicality, versatility, and carving its name into Mother Earth’s most rocky trails, that doesn’t mean it can’t be comfortable and tech-friendly too.

The New

Obviously, SEMA 2019 was dominated by the Jeep Gladiator. And while most builds showcased rooftop tents and beefy suspension upgrades, some—like the Hennessey Maximus—sported a noticeably more luxurious street vibe. (Sure, it can still conquer the rough road, but at $200,000 a pop why would you let it step off pavement??)

With more trucks pulling extra shifts these days as daily drivers, family haulers, work rigs, and playthings (thanks to their ever-increasing prices), expect to see more amenities baked in at point-of-sale and cropping up on the aftermarket. The insane number of new products for the Gladiator and new Ford Ranger is a perfect example.

The Old

Also peppered throughout the show were many classic trucks and SUVs—a trend we’ve been tracking on the auction front for awhile now. As mid-century trucks and early model SUVs continue to make an impression on the block, expect to see those applications join more manufacturers’ product listings.

The Unexpected

Also making an impression in this segment was Brad Deberti’s Tacoma TRD drift truck. Debuting in the Alcon Brakes booth, this midsizer rides on a custom DeBerti chassis and pulls power from a 900-hp NASCAR engine. New shocks, brakes, wheels, tires, exhaust, and wild rear wing and diffuser round out the race-ready upgrades.

While you can argue that crazy concepts are the whole point of SEMA, it’s worth pointing out that DeBerti isn’t afraid to let his builds see daylight—and some abuse. This truck has already taken quite the beating, bombing through hills and over rocky terrain, proving that guys in this realm are looking for new ways to shake things up a bit.

We’re already seeing a return of the all-American hot rod pickup craze as more classic rigs get the aftermarket treatment. But look out for a rise in speed and performance-oriented midsizers, as the segment begins to swell again among automakers.

Electric Vehicles

Wondering how in the world EVs can factor into hot rod trends? While most exhibitors at SEMA 2019 did a pretty good job of ignoring the massive industry shift currently taking place, a few are working to get ahead.

Holley Performance has teamed up with Don “Big Daddy” Garlits to charge into the future of electric vehicles, building the world’s quickest and fastest electric drag car. Dubbed “Swamp Rat 38,” it currently holds the 1/4-mile record for electric cars with a 7.235 @ 189.04! Yes, it’s completely electric and to add to the twisted nature of this beast, it’s chain-driven.

Now, we all know that EVs can be fast cars—that’s not really what’s surprising here. But, generally speaking, hot-rod lovers have always seemed to be a bit resentful of their existence. So, to see them entering the world of drag racing ushered in by a legend and going that fast, all points to a seriously interesting new trend.

Whether you’re on board with EVs or wish they would fizzle out, expect to see more builds like this, as aftermarket suppliers innovate products to serve the segment. Additionally, Aftermarket News points out that because “EV motors have about 20 moving parts [compared to] the 2,000 moving parts in internal combustion engines, many parts will be phased out, including: fuel system parts (fuel tanks, pumps, filters, etc.), engine parts (oil and air filters, spark plugs, starters, etc.), exhaust system parts (mufflers, oxygen sensors, catalytic converters, etc.), multi-gear transmissions, and clutches.”

In their place you can expect to see more single-speed gear boxes, motor controllers, electric motors, regenerative braking systems, electrically driven water pumps, steering pumps, and air conditioners.

See anything we missed? Let us know in the comments.