Compiled by Cristian Gonzalez
A new band of builders is readying their project vehicles to take the stage at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas for the ultimate car-building competition: Battle of the Builders (BOTB) Presented by Mothers Polish. The annual competition sets out to find the most well-built and innovative vehicles in the automotive aftermarket across four unique categories: 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road; Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck; Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic; and Young Guns (contestants 29 and under).
In the short period leading up to the SEMA Show, a four-judge panel comprised of industry leaders will narrow the field from hundreds of vehicles to 40--10 from each category--which will be announced on the first day of Show Week at the BOTB stage in North Hall (booth #10168). As the week progresses, the contenders are further winnowed as the competition intensifies.
BOTB is an exciting outlet that showcases the creativity, ingenuity and style driving the current state of the aftermarket. Winners walk away with unmatched bragging rights, along with new marketing and networking opportunities. What makes BOTB especially unique is that once the final four builds are selected--one from each category--the builders themselves come together to decide who among them deserves the top honor.
What follows is a sneak peek at a small handful of contending cars, trucks, hot-rods and more, and what about their construction makes them unique. Keep an eye on SEMA News for more Battle of the Builders vehicle previews, and visit SEMAShow.com for event scheduling. Can't make it to Vegas this November? Be sure to follow along on SEMA Live, the SEMA Show's live virtual broadcast capturing all key moments of BOTB and the biggest activations happening during Show Week.
JOHN WARGO
'69 CHEVROLET CAMARO
Category: HOT ROD & HOT ROD TRUCK
With battleship gray exterior paint, John Wargo appropriately names his '69 Camaro, DSTROYR. Hidden beneath the molded hood top sits a Borowski 427 LSX engine, ready to crank out 780 hp from its smoothed-out engine bay. Roadster Shop's Fast Track chassis delivers the old musclecar modern pro-touring performance with updated geometry and C7 Corvette spindles. A bright yet tasteful orange leather interior, accented with custom neon glowing, juxtaposes the gray exterior. Details like the flushed glass, smooth belly pans, tucked bumpers, integrated roll cage and a beautifully leathered paneled trunk space hint a unique passion and care for this build's fabrication.
ERIC WOLF
'22 BMW M2
Category: YOUNG GUNS
R44 Performance in the United Kingdom has perhaps crafted, in their words, "one of the most technologically advanced competition-spec drag-racing builds." Partnering with Tom Wrigley Performance (TWP), this uniquely engineered G87 M2 was the first to be converted from RWD to 4WD with an xDrive conversion using G80 M3 components and a built-up gearbox featuring DEKA Clutches' Stage 3 transmission upgrade. Carbon driveshafts deliver 1,400 finely tuned hp to Vossen Wheels—manifested by the TWP built motor and Precision's 8385 Next Gen Sportsman single turbo. One look at the gutted and caged interior shows this Bimmer means serious racing business. For a well-documented breakdown of this right-handed drag car, check out r44performance.com.
STUART WILSON
'73 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER SCOUT II
Category: HOT ROD & HOT ROD TRUCK
Velocity Restorations ups the ante in classic-car builds with its Founder's Edition '73 Scout II. The Scouts have always embodied the square, ruggedness classic SUVs were known for, and this build blends that vintage grit with modern engineering. The LT1 V8-powered Scout rides on a Roadster Shop Legend Series chassis with independent front suspension for modern comfort while retaining the spirit of old-school durability. Finished in Everest Green with a hardtop, roof rack, off-road lights and a bespoke interior, it's reimagined for both the showroom spotlight and any mountain trail. Custom-machined billet and exclusive Forgeline wheels complete this show-stopping build.
CHRISTOPHER MALLOY
'91 NISSAN PAO
Category: SPORT COMPACT, IMPORT PERFORMANCE, LUXURY & EXOTIC
This ultra-rare '91 Nissan Pao blends vintage charm with coastal flair. Finished in aqua gray with wood-panel vinyl accents and topped with a carbon fiber surfboard, it's a nostalgic nod to surf culture with a JDM twist. Imported from Japan via the United Kingdom in 2018 by The Import Guys, S&M Auto Body fully restored the Pao and it's maintained by Axis Motorsports and Zenith Auto Garage, both located in Las Vegas. The build features VTO wheels, a CarPlay stereo and a 1,000cc engine producing a galloping 54 hp. Proudly representing Team Hybrid and NRG, it's a rolling statement of style, soul and story.
GREG ADAMS
'75 FORD F-600
Category: HOT ROD & HOT ROD TRUCK
Greg Adams shares his vision of what Ford might've created with this massive build. His '75 Ford F-600 dually pickup is powered by a 5.9L Cummins diesel engine, paired with a narrowed F-650 rearend and an E-450 front axle, all connected through custom steering links. The body features repurposed Ford OE components—from the '68 Ford Super Duty hood scoops to a Bronco-skinned tailgate—in order to boast a modern look that nods to Ford OE body styling. F-600 fenders are seamlessly grafted into an F-250 bed to create that aggressive dually stance, finished in a color Adams describes as "a Wendy's Frosty with a bit of orange pearl."
Attendee registration for the 2025 SEMA Show, November 4-7 in Las Vegas, is now available online here. Online registration for qualified professional attendees is $75 per person through Friday, September 26. Starting September 27, the rate increases to $100 for both online and onsite registration. A SEMA Show badge includes access to both the SEMA Show and AAPEX.
For updates on SEMA Fest, the one-day musical and motorsports festival on Friday, November 7, or to purchase "SEMA Show Friday – Open to the Public" tickets, visit semafest.com.
