By SEMA News Editors
SEMA has announced that the SEMA Best Engineered Vehicle of the Year Award has been presented to Kuhnhausen Metal Concepts' '66 Chevrolet Corvette named "Serious66."
The vehicle, which was coincidentally also announced as a Top 12 vehicle in the 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders presented by Mothers Polish, was designed to "merge American heritage with European refinement in a one-of-a-kind creation."
The mastermind behind the build is Kyle Kuhnhausen, owner of Kuhnhausen Metal Concepts in Creswell, Oregon, who said the following about when he heard he won the award: "You had to pick me up off the floor. I was floating. And to get that recognition amongst all these great cars at SEMA, it just reinforces the fact that I'm on the right path."
"I'd like to thank SEMA for putting this on and giving professionals like me the chance to shine, show off our work, connect with new clients, and help keep this industry moving forward," Kuhnhausen continued. "I also want to thank my dad--he's my right-hand man on these projects. It's amazing to share those bonding moments with him, and now sharing this award together makes it even more special."
"And of course, I want to thank my family, especially my wife. Without her support and patience with all the late nights at the shop, none of this would be possible," he concluded.
The Kuhnhausen Metal Concepts' '66 Chevrolet Corvette build features:
- An engineered PWR North America cooling package.
- A GM LT4 Supercharged direct-injected dry-sump oiled engine.
- A ZF8HP paddle shifted 8-speed with operational electronic clutch pedal.
- TurboLamik TCU control.
- A Dakota Digital HDX instrumentation.
- Custom leather interior by BUX Built.
- Art Morrison GT Sport IRS chassis.
- Strange S60 differential.
- Tru-Trac Posi.
- JRi double adjustable coilovers tuned by Ultimate Performance.
- Forgeline R56 wheels.
- Woodward Roadrace rack & pinnion.
- Wilwood AERO brakes.
Even better, Kuhnhausen made it easy for SEMA News readers who want to learn more about the build by providing a complete gallery featuring more than 2,000 photos across 100-plus albums, plus detailed write-ups, at this link.
You can see the pristine build in the SEMA Battle of the Builders, presented by Mothers Polish, at North Hall, Booth #10168, throughout the rest of the SEMA Show, concluding today, November 7.
The SEMA Best Engineered Vehicle Award aims to inspire more engineers to enter the automotive aftermarket by highlighting their impact on the automotive specialty-equipment industry and placing a spotlight on the symbiotic relationship between a vehicle's design and engineering.
Designed to emphasize engineers and their impact on the industry, the award honors a featured vehicle at the SEMA Show that demonstrates exceptional engineering throughout the entire vehicle, or an aspect of the car that goes beyond just physical appearance.
"I'm extremely proud to be here. It's an honor to present this award," said Luis Morales, SEMA Director of Vehicle Technology and Product Development. "Every time you come to the SEMA Show, you want to see what the builders are doing to push the envelope, what's new, what's exciting. Behind all of that creativity is the engineering--the part most people don't see. It's the behind-the-scenes work that brings these incredible products to life. It's about innovation: what's different, what's been improved, and how many countless hours have gone into perfecting these vehicles."
That sentiment was echoed by Karen Salvaggio, who is the vice president of Business Development at Scorpion EV and also serves as the SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) Select Committee member.
"We're proud to see so many incredible builds nominated for SEMA Best Engineered Vehicle. We had an outstanding group of cars this year, and honestly, my judging team had their hands full. The level of engineering on display across the Show--from one end of West Hall to the far side of South Hall--is truly incredible," said Salvaggio. "But this particular award is about more than looks. It's not just about great paint or bolt-on parts. This award honors creativity, innovation, problem-solving and true engineering excellence. The vehicle built by Kyle Kuhnhausen, with his father Chris, who is here to accept the award, stood above the rest."
Attendee registration for the 2025 SEMA Show, November 4-7 in Las Vegas, is still available online here. Online registration for qualified professional attendees is $100 per person, with badge pickup on-site on the SEMA Show campus. A SEMA Show badge includes access to both the SEMA Show and AAPEX.
Hotel reservations, including for several new properties in Las Vegas, are available at the guaranteed lowest rates exclusively for Show attendees through SEMA's official hotel provider, onPeak.
For more information about the 2025 SEMA Show, visit semashow.com. Sign up for updates on SEMA Fest at semafest.com.
