2016 SEMA Corvette Coverage

Corvettes at the 2016 SEMA event.
Corvettes at the 2016 SEMA event.

Text and Photos By Wayne Ellwood

The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. SEMA had several displays that featured the Chevrolet Corvette in them. The 2016 SEMA event took place October 31 – November 3, 2016, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

As we look at the 2016 SEMA Corvette Coverage we want to highlight that this is the 50th anniversary of SEMA. The organizers created special badging and organized a number of special events to celebrate this long and successful history.

SEMA has been working on our behalf in many areas, always to good effect. One function of SEMA is to monitor state and federal activities as they affect the transportation industry and to make sure the voices of all concerned parties are heard. They do a truly remarkable job, on this front.

Of course, any of the industry partners who shared such a significant landmark were eager to jump in, and show their visible support.

Chevy Display at the 2016 SEMA Show

In this case, Chevy presented some special versions of its Camaro, which is also 50 years old in spirit but fresh in design.

The SEMA event, which is actually an industry-wide convention-exposition, is another of their major accomplishments.

However, for Corvette fans, GM’s focus was on the Camaro.

Regardless, SEMA’s “Battle of the Builders” drew a large number of specialty builders and tuners eager to enhance their already well-established reputations. There was a multitude of suppliers who were eager to present their wares. And finally, a number of smaller builders had their car on display as stand-alone representations of their work.

I’ll tell you about these, and their display cars. Just click on the links to bring you into each individual Corvette coverage that was on display at the 2016 SEMA event.

2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport on display at 2016 SEMA.
2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport on display at 2016 SEMA.
Chevrolet Chaparral 2X VGT Concept
Chevrolet Chaparral 2X VGT Concept
MOBIL-1 display had a red-hot C7 Chevrolet Corvette built by Retro Designs

MOBIL-1 display had a red-hot C7 Chevrolet Corvette built by Retro Designs

C1-style conversion is owned by Doug Graf and was built for him by CR Coachworks

1959 C1-style Conversion by Doug Graf and Built CR Coachworks

C7 Custom Corvette built by ESCC Motorsports and Stage 7 at the 2016 SEMA event.

C7 Custom Corvette built by ESCC Motorsports and Stage 7 at the 2016 SEMA event.

EDELBROCK PERFORMANCE DISPLAYED LARRY FITZGERALD’S RED 1963 CORVETTE

EDELBROCK PERFORMANCE DISPLAYED LARRY FITZGERALD’S RED 1963 CORVETTE

TOYO TIRES Displayed a wildly styled C6 ZR1 by Jon Sibal Design at the 2016 SEMA event.

TOYO TIRES Displayed a wildly styled C6 ZR1 by Jon Sibal Design at the 2016 SEMA event.

TREAD WEAR TIRES LOGOS displayed a C7 Corvette with Red Chrome Wrap

TREAD WEAR TIRES LOGOS displayed a C7 Corvette with Red Chrome Wrap

MOTHERS POLISHES DISPLAYED AT WHITE CALLAWAY C7 CORVETTE

MOTHERS POLISHES DISPLAYED AT WHITE CALLAWAY C7 CORVETTE

BESPOKE CREATIVE KIT FOR A C6 TO LOOK LIKE A C7

BESPOKE CREATIVE KIT FOR A C6 TO LOOK LIKE A C7

EZ-UP CANOPIES DISPLAYED A CUSTOM 1961 CORVETTE

EZ-UP CANOPIES DISPLAYED A CUSTOM 1961 CORVETTE

RPM ROLLBARS / CORDES PERFORMANCE RACING

RPM ROLLBARS / CORDES PERFORMANCE RACING

2016 SEAM COVERAGE – QUICK JACK

2016 SEAM COVERAGE – QUICK JACK

OPTIMA ALLEY – BATTERY ULTIMATE STREET CAR CHALLENGE

OPTIMA ALLEY – BATTERY ULTIMATE STREET CAR CHALLENGE

Madam X – 1939 Cadillac 60 Special four door

NON-CORVETTES OF NOTE AT SEMA 2016

2016 SEMA COVERAGE – OTHER NOTES CONTINUED

2016 SEMA COVERAGE – OTHER NOTES CONTINUED

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