New Products and Technology

Top 10 New Products for Street Rods/Custom Cars from 2008 SEMA Show

Brake kits, wheels and gauges were among the new street rod and custom car products most popular with buyers at the 2008 SEMA Show. SEMA used a new digital tracking method at the 2008 New Products Showcase, allowing buyers to scan product barcodes and receive product details via printout or e-mail.

Who was doing all that scanning? More than 9,400 were retailers, followed by warehouse distributors (3,900), repair/service/installers (3,900) and builders/fabricators (3,500).

There were nearly 100 products entered in the Best New Street Rod/Custom Car Product category. The following are the top 10 of most interest to buyers (click on the manufacturer's name for more product details):


1: Air Ride Technologies ShockWave v3.5
Airspring/shock absorber combinations utilizing an internal ride height sensor to ease installation of LevelPro control system.


2: Auto Meter American Muscle Gauge Series
Features a hybrid metal dial with Hi-Def LED illumination.


3: Classic Performance Products Brembo Big Brake System for GM Muscle
Exclusive partnership with Brembo Brakes, CPP offers GM AFX musclecar brake kits.


4: Mattson’s Radiator/The Fan Man Side Winder Fan
Features brushless motor, 2400 cpm and 1 5/8-inch center thickness. 17 5/8-inch outside diameter adjustable motor location.


5: Morrison Motorsport -71 Flat Billet SuperCharger Tophat
Eight-throttle EFI top hat assembly to suit 6/8-71 supercharger. Constructed of 6061-T6 billet aluminum.


6: Energy Suspension LS1 to small-block Chevy Chassis Complete Engine Mount Set
Performance polyurethane mounts, heavy-duty steel conversion plate and mounting hardware.


7: Rodtana Design Rodtana GT
20-inch forged alloy for street rods, muscle rods, modern and classic. Custom fitments and finishes including color match, brushed and rally striping.


8: Air Ride Technologies AirCan ShockWave Cover
Accessory to the 7000 and 8000 series ShockWaves. Designed to improved cosmetic appearance and allow the unit to be installed closer to other components by containing the air spring inside an aluminum container.


9: Classic Performance Products 1960–87 Chevrolet C10 Truck Modular 13-inch SOS
Modular 13-inch SOS kit for 1960–87 Chevy pickups. New design helps solves tire-to-fender interference commonly found with lowered trucks.


10: Aicona Wheels TiRM
Ti Wheels' tuner wheel featuring an optional inner-painted stripe.