Oh What Wondrous Trucks We Saw At the 2017 SEMA Show – Part 2

As promised, here’s part two of our coverage of the amazing range of trucks that were on display at the 2017 SEMA Show. These range from a classic Chevy pickup built in a very traditional style by a very young builder to an amazing restoration of an International Harverster commercial vehicle by a company looking to make a point. Let’s go!

Drive Pink 2017 Ford F-150

The process of illustrating the truck took artist Jada Paxton three weeks to complete

This black Ford was wrapped in white then hand illustrated with Sharpies for breast cancer awareness

Displayed outside the Convention Center was this Ford F-150 with probably the most personalized exterior any vehicle wore at the show. Built by Flat 12 Gallery of Texas, known for their Car Chasers television program, with parts specified and acquired by AutoNation’s Auto Gear, this pickup would stand out in any parking lot in its OEM Shadow Black paint. Instead the body had been covered entirely by a plain white wrap. Famed Sharpie artist Jada Paxton was brought into the project and in the course of just three weeks hand drew the illustrations that cover the truck. The imagery incorporates themes including the open road, the fight against breast cancer, and Drive Pink’s coast-to-coast footprint. Our prediction is that you’ll see more hand-drawn designs on show vehicles at SEMA 2018.


1973 Chevrolet C10 "Buck the Truck"

Preston's admiration for his great-grandfather, a WWII veteran, is evident in the care taken

Preston Folkestad rebuilt his great-grandather's C10 and entered into SEMA's Battle of the Builders

You may already be aware of SEMA’s Battle of the Builders, where top competitors go head-to-head for the coveted prize. But what you may not know about is that there’s a category called Young Guns, for promising builders under the age of 27. Through a series of regional competitions six were selected and awarded travel, transportation, and a display spot at the SEMA Show. One such competitor is 22-year-old Preston Folkestad, of Marion, Iowa, who rebuilt the 1973 Chevy C10 he inherited from his great-grandfather. The truck was fitted with new suspension all around, lowering the squarebody two inches. Power steering and Wilwood brakes were then added. The engine was rebuilt with an array of performance upgrades, including a K&N air filter. The exterior was sprayed in Kandy Orange over Orion Silver. A full custom interior rounds out the package. The truck is named in honor of his great-grandfather, Buck, a WWII veteran.


1973 International Harvester Loadstar

Line-X was looking to demonstrate that they're more thanjust a bedliner company

IH Cab, new frame, and Hellcat engine all combine to become one of the most interesting of the show

Say you’re a company well-known for a product used on pickup trucks but you want to spread the word that your product is equally useful on heavy equipment – how do you get that point across? If you’re Line-X, you build an eye-catching custom commercial that demonstrates your products in use. The company started with a 1973 International Harvester Loadstar 1700 cab, that’s been fully restored. Underneath they slid a more modern 2010 Dodge 5500 chassis that’s been adapted to a Kelderman four-way independent adjustable air ride suspension. For brute power, they turned to a 707 horsepower supercharged 6.2L Dodge Hellcat engine. This build was made even more impactful by the PPG Extreme Black and Copper paint, over which Line-X applied protective coatings throughout the chassis, body, and the custom front and rear bumpers.


Roland Sands Design 2017 Ford F-150

Famed motorcycle racer and designer Roland Sands ahs moved into the truck accessory market

Roland Sands debuted his new line of truck accessories. Look for them at your local parts store soon

You might know Roland Sands as a motorcycle racer. You might know him as a leading-edge designer of motorcycle accessories and custom builds. Or probably you know him as both. If not, Roland started on a motorcycle when most kids are still riding bikes with training wheels. He competed in AMA road racing for nine years, set several track records, and won the AMA 250GP championship in 1998. A spate of injuries (his first broken bone at age five) took him off the bike and into the shop. Since then his designs have been featured in magazines and television shows and have earned him several prestigious awards. Now Roland is turning his design talents to trucks. Currently, there are 21 different product categories soon to launched, ranging from front bumpers, rock sliders, and fender flares to hood scoops, alloy wheels, and more. Look for them to be available soon from your favorite aftermarket performance retailer.

That’s Not All Folks …

We have more trucks that we spotted at the Las Vegas Convention Center and environs to share with you so look for Oh What Wondrous Trucks We Saw At the 2017 SEMA Show – Part 3 to be posted soon.