SEMA 2025 just wrapped in Las Vegas, and if you're feeling FOMO about missing it... same. The automotive world's wildest builds, weirdest ideas, and most questionable modifications were all under one roof. I wasn't there this year, but next year? Let's change that. If you want to meet up at SEMA 2026, hit reply and let me know. We'll make it happen. Seriously, let’s do it.

Quick note... this email is longer than usual because SEMA deserves it. When fabricators, tuners, and manufacturers have unlimited creativity and limited oversight all in one place, you can't just skim the highlights. Here are the builds that actually caught my attention.

Battle of the Builders Had Some Serious Heat
This is probably my favorite part about SEMA in recent years…Battle of the Builders. It’s basically the combination of all the old Discovery channel car shows and motorcycle build competitions combined.

Troy Trepanier's 1936 Ford Roadster took the top prize. It was the perfect blend of classic hot rod design with modern engineering...exactly what that competition is supposed to showcase. When a '36 Ford looks that good and still drives like a modern car, you know someone did their homework.

But the Top 12 and Top 4 finalists were packed with incredible builds. Tim Franklin's 1960 Porsche 356 Custom made it to the Top 4 after his team rebuilt a car that was in terrible shape into a crazy custom. It has modern electronics, electric A/C, and disc brakes...all designed and built in-house. Only the wheels were outsourced.

John Sarkisyan brought his '71 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman nicknamed "Final Boss"...which is actually the chassis, powertrain, and complete interior of a 2024 S63 AMG mated to a fully custom 600 Pullman body. It produces 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque. That's not a restomod...that's a time machine with anger management issues.

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Toyota Went Full Send on Electric Performance
Toyota built a bZ Time Attack concept that took their 338-horsepower electric platform and cranked it past 400 hp with custom ECU tuning. They widened it by 6 inches, dropped the suspension, added a full FIA-spec roll cage, threw on a massive rear wing, and somehow squeezed 305-width Continental race tires on it. It had upgraded brakes from Toyota's 86 and Corolla race programs. This thing was engineered for circuits and hill climbs...Toyota showed everyone they're serious about EV motorsports and it looked angry. I’m here for it.

Toyota Also Built a Camry GT-S and an Off-Road Corolla Cross
Because apparently one Toyota wasn't enough, they also showed a performance-oriented Camry GT-S with input from their CALTY design studio, and a Corolla Cross Nasu Edition with custom off-road suspension and 3D-printed components. Toyota flexed at SEMA and I'm here for it.

Infiniti Built a 1,000-HP GT-R Powered Luxury SUV
Infiniti's QX80 R-Spec is what happens when someone asks "what if we put a GT-R engine in a three-row luxury SUV?" The 3.8-liter twin-turbo VR38DETT was built by Tsunemi Ooyama, one of the hand-picked engine builders from the GT-R T-Spec Takumi Edition, and it's capable of 1,000 hp. It sits on 24x12-inch wheels wrapped in 315-width tires, has GT-R carbon ceramic brakes, a widebody kit inspired by the GT-R T-Spec Takumi, wears a Skyline-esque Midnight Purple wrap, and it sounds incredible. Will it ever see production? Absolutely not. Is it awesome anyway? Absolutely yes.

Bisi Is Back In A Minivan…Type R
If you’re an old school Honda fan, you probably know the name Bisimoto. Bisi Ezerioha, the man behind Bisimoto Engineering has been at this a long time and this year he built a Honda Odyssey Sport Type R Tribute and it was exactly what you think. Ridiculous? Absolutely. Do I respect it? Also absolutely. The sliding doors stayed, the Type R intentions were real, and the whole thing was beautifully absurd. As they say, if it ain’t a Type R, it ain’t a tight car…

Vintage Builds That Actually Mattered
Ron Jones Garage brought a 1973 VW Thing like no Thing you’ve ever seen before. It made the Top 4 at Battle of the Builders with over 350 custom-machined components and a Porsche 930 engine stroked to 3.2 liters. Meanwhile, someone dropped a twin-turbo V-8 into a 1989 Lotus Esprit, which is either brilliant or blasphemous depending on who you ask. I'm leaning toward brilliant.

The Overlanding Scene Showed Up
Is this considered glamping? Overglamping? This Lexus GX 550 "Tannimal" proved that overlanding builds don't have to sacrifice luxury. It was rugged, capable, and still nice enough that you won't hate yourself after 500 miles of dirt roads, at least not because of the ride. The overland community continues to be one of the more impressive corners of the SEMA universe in my opinion.

Hondata Is Keeping B-Series Dreams Alive
On a personal note, this gets me excited… Hondata launched the BPro, a modern engine management system specifically for Honda B-Series engines. It brings current tuning tech to classic engines...better control, improved power delivery, advanced customization. They also showed a K20C-swapped EK hatchback running both BPro and KPro systems with track-ready suspension that still worked for daily driving.

If you've ever owned a B-Series Honda, this is the kind of product that gives guys like me a new found purpose for hoarding old Honda parts. Modern power, modern tuning, classic platform. That's the formula. [insert Dwyane Wade I Love It GIF]

Keep driving (and dreaming about SEMA builds you'll never finish),

- Nick

Founder, PURSUIT OF SOMETHING

Currently adding "SEMA vendor" to my POS goals list...

About Pursuit of Something: I'm Nick, and I'm building a community for everyone who's ever had a complex emotional relationship with a machine that doesn't care about them. Through YouTube videos, this newsletter, and way too much time in my garage, I document the beautiful chaos of automotive ownership.