Take a closer look at the best handling cars on show at SEMA 2014.
Toyo Tires has a long tradition at SEMA, and the brand’s dedication to matching whatever extremes tuners can come up is seeing the Proxes range of tyres create a legacy of popularity. White TOYO PROXES was written down the side of almost every headline-grabbing build of SEMA 2014, on builds as diverse as they were detailed, excessive or mind-blowing.
One of our personal favourites was a brilliant collaborative combo build, bringing together some of BMW’s finest work. The hashtag heavy builds saw the big body BMW #VonDoom towing a classic airhead R75 motorcycle, known as #LilDoom on top of trailer #TheRaft.
@iamstanchen
With ultra-low profile provided by Accuair, timeless mesh wheels from HRE shod with Proxes, interior appointments by Recaro and more custom work than we have space to write about, VonDoom is the ultimate in low and slow touring.
Stretched and slammed, this Smart car says everything about SEMA. Take a sensible package, double its width, slam it as low as it will go and stuff as many go fast bits onto it as it can take.
Next to the Smart Car was a special LS400. The long term project of Elvis Skender, owner of Stance Nation, the VIP Lexus has been in a constant state of evolution, and continues to be a showcase for the extremes of the stance movement in the USA.
A year ago, the car was white with Work Meisters. A year later it has a deep blue paint job and brand new Work Meister M1R three piece wheels with polished bronze lips, matte bronze faces and gold hardware, with more subtle details and work under the panels that would take hours to fully appreciate. Regardless, Toyo Proxes remain the way that the Elvis stays in touch with the ground. At least when the car isn’t totally aired out.
With a striking colour and big bulges that border on Bōsōzoku, this bright pink, well-grounded WRX STi carries the latest on body kit styling.
Huge works style fenders keep the spotless dish of the RSV Forged wheels and the sticky Proxes R888’s comfortably in the shade. Hard to miss in any context, the WRX sports the latest word in widebody from Volkommen Design, coupled with functional aero from AeroFlow Dynamics that would provide time attack-esque levels of downforce.
The Urban Outlaw Magnus Walker displayed three of his coveted Porsche 911’s at SEMA, all shod with Toyo Proxes. Displayed at Toyo Treadpass, his 1978 911 SC wears meaty R888’s on its flat black 16-inch Fuchs alloys.
With its half roll cage, paint chipped tri-colour paint and utilitarian modifications showing fans that this car is regularly using the extra grip afforded by the Proxes, the simplicity of Walker’s style coupled with the subtle detail he seems to inject into every build has won him legions of fans.
A former track car that spends much of its time howling through California canyons, this 911 SC is the vehicular embodiment of the ‘get out and drive’ philosophy that underscores Walker’s passionate contribution to the automotive scene.
Power specialists Bulletproof Automotive take everything good about Nissan’s flagship GTR, then magnify them. Looking ready to storm the Tokyo Bay Aqualine at 300km/h this R35 is a customer car known only as ‘Overbunny’ that has been understandably gathering online attention throughout the build. The body work on the GTR mixes Overtake and Rocket Bunny parts combined with a fresh chrome blue wrap for a seriously one-off look.
Credit: Super Street Magazine
Bringing the JDM touch to the late model generation of 911, the Fastes 997 brings a serious race car feel to a car designed to be used on the road. Reportedly owned by a Japanese GT300 driver, the car oozes with touches usually reserved for cars that park in pit garages rather than under carports.
Planted on Proxes, mesh wheels by work are an ode to the Japanese home of the German sports car (though we would not say no to a set of LMs). With few stickers and no livery on the car’s exterior, the clean look of may entice 997 owners to chase a chubbier look for their pride and joy.
Sitting on Proxes 4 Plus, this 1949 Chevrolet Suburban brought a classic touch to Treadpass, in fine company next to a Bel Air riding on R888’s. With a worked small block, black widow exhaust and ever popular Accuair air ride suspension management system it ensured that none of the sporty young bucks on show could lay claim to be lower.
