By SEMA News Editors
V8 Speed & Resto Shop Opens New Engine and Machine Shop
V8 Speed & Resto Shop, a classic and musclecar restoration shop located in Red Bud, Illinois, has opened a new in-house engine and machine shop facility as it enters its 22nd year of operations.
This addition transforms the award-winning restoration shop into a comprehensive, one-stop destination for automotive enthusiasts, offering everything from factory-original engine rebuilds to 1,000-plus hp custom powerplants, company representatives said.
The new engine machine shop was designed to provide total quality control over every stage of the engine-building process. By bringing machining, assembly and testing entirely in-house, V8 Speed & Resto shop ensures that every component meets stringent specifications and aesthetic standards that match the high quality of their entire organization.
"By controlling the process from the first sonic check of the block to the final dyno-tuning session, we deliver a level of precision and reliability that is sometimes lost when outsourcing," stated V8 Speed & Resto shop CEO Kelle Oeste. "And having a top-level body and paint shop in-house, we can deliver custom engines, run-in and baseline tuned, show-quality finished, and ready to drop into restorations or show cars. This makes us a great B2B outsource for high-end shops building SEMA Show cars that need a one-stop custom engine solution."
Beyond complete engine builds, the facility provides à la carte machining services, including flywheel surfacing, valve jobs, block boring and parts cleaning. A key feature of the V8 Speed & Resto process is the focus on the customer journey; clients receive regular photo and video updates of milestone moments, including the first startup and leak-verification sessions on a dedicated test stand.
This expansion solidifies V8 Speed & Resto Shop's position as a leader in the classic car and muscle car industry, combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge performance engineering, the shop said.
For more information, visit v8speedshop.com.
Fat Fender Garage Launches Dedicated Chassis Division
Fat Fender Garage, the Gilbert, Arizona, custom truck builder and parts manufacturer, has launched Fat Fender Chassis, a new division under the Fat Fender Garage umbrella dedicated to engineering and crafting complete two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive chassis.
The chassis packages are designed for classic Ford trucks and engineered to handle modern performance with the same level of detail and craftsmanship Fat Fender Garage is known for, the company said.
"We've spent over a decade building custom chassis for classic trucks, and with this move, we're bringing all of that knowledge in-house," said Jason Noel, CEO of Fat Fender Garage. "With Fat Fender Chassis, we're vertically integrating our process to engineer and manufacture our own foundations, ensuring every build meets our exact standards."
To meet the growing demand, Fat Fender Garage has invested heavily in state-of-the-art manufacturing tools and technologies, including a 4,000-watt CNC laser cutter and four fully equipped fabrication stations, to ensure the precision, reliability and unmatched craftsmanship Fat Fender Garage is known for.
The chassis will be available in two- and four-wheel-drive configurations, as well as bare-metal frames for those looking to tailor the chassis to their exact specifications. Rollout will start with classic Ford trucks before expanding to Chevy trucks, with options for ABS, traction control and active suspension available later. Designations and offerings include:
Two-Wheel Drive:
- FF Street--Coilover Chassis: A subtle ride height adjustment, keeping your vehicle's classic charm intact, while offering a smoother ride and sharper driving dynamics.
- FF Sport--Coilover Chassis: An aggressive drop in ride height for high-performance driving and aesthetics.
- FF Air--Air Suspension Chassis: The ultimate in low, customization and a smooth ride.
Four-Wheel Drive
- FF 4x4: Standard (six-lug)
- FF 4x4: Heavy Duty (eight-lug)
Each chassis is engineered for specific model years and powertrain configurations.
For more information, visit FatFenderGarage.com.
I-CAR Opens Call for 2026 Board of Directors Candidates
I-CAR is now accepting applications for its 2026 Board of Directors election, the organization announced.
"Strong governance is vitally important to the future of I-CAR and the industry we serve," said I-CAR President and CEO Kyle Thompson. "We invite experienced, mission-driven leaders to consider bringing their perspective to the I-CAR Board of Directors and hope to be in the fortunate position of providing our voting members with a strong slate of diverse candidates."
Board members serve three-year terms and play a critical role in guiding I-CAR's strategic direction. The board is committed to advancing strategies that realize its vision of ensuring every person in the collision repair industry has the information, knowledge, and skills required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs.
The board seeks a slate of candidates that reflect diversity and a broad range of industry perspectives. Candidates should demonstrate proven leadership, industry influence and a strong understanding of and commitment to I-CAR's mission and inter-industry model, organization representatives said.
For more information on open board seats, how to apply and more, visit i-car.com/governance.
Kahn Media Receives Creative, Business Awards
Kahn Media, a marketing agency specializing in the automotive, outdoor and lifestyle markets, received two Hermes Creative Awards: a Platinum Award for its content creator-led coverage of The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering and a Gold Award for its white paper on how firearms brands can be discovered without advertising. A Stevie American Business Award was also granted to Kahn Media for its extensive email marketing campaign with Heidts.
"We are extremely pleased to receive these honors from the Hermes Creative Awards and the Stevie American Business Awards," said Kahn Media President and CEO Dan Kahn. "In 2026, we have worked tirelessly to build our teams with the best employees, expand our innovative services and deliver even more value to our clients. These prestigious awards validate those efforts, and I look forward to even further growth this year."
Kahn Media's received the Hermes Creative Awards Platinum Awar, in the Social Media and Creator Content/Social Campaign category for its influencer-led coverage of The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. As an exclusive events at Monterey Car Week that is limited to 6,000 in-person guests, the Kahn Media campaign expanded the event's reach far beyond the physical venue, the company said. Kahn Media developed and executed a comprehensive social media campaign that combined strategic creator partnerships, real-time event coverage and collaborative content with automotive brands and participants. The results significantly expanded The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering's digital footprint, organically adding more than 10,000 social media followers in three weeks and generating more than 40 collaboration posts with multiple creators and brands.
Kahn Media was also honored with a Stevie American Business Award for its email marketing efforts for Heidts, a manufacturer of chassis and suspension components for hot rods and musclecars. After performing a full audit of Heidts' marketing efforts, Kahn Media developed a scalable, data-driven email marketing campaign to create a new owned channel to drive direct sales, foster repeat purchases and strengthen customer relations. Using a combination of automated and bespoke emails modernized Heidts' marketing efforts, resulting in a 700% month-to-month increase in online revenue and a 2,000% ROI. Email marketing also accounted for 80% of the company's total revenue.
For more information, visit kahnmedia.com.
