The only legitimate complaint anybody could or should have about SEMA is that their feet hurt after walking all day. That’s it. If you are a gear head, you might as well listen for the angelic choir and the harp music once you enter the Las Vegas Convention Center…it is that good, and is consistently that good, every year, even in spite of the more cheesy stuff that is present. I could go on and on, but screw that, let’s get straight to my first round of favorite rides from the show:

How can you not love a clean, well done C-10? It was hard…damn hard…to pick any as a favorite. After wandering around the entire area, it was more like that infamous toy store line: “Collect ’em all!”

“Rally Innovations” involving a well striped Mustang and amber fog lights in the grille. I could get behind this thing all day long. Oh, and Ford: I know that this Mustang’s striping says “Mach 2.3” since it’s an EcoBoost car, but take a hint: MACH 1.

This is the automotive equivalent of a bouncer telling you to get lost.

This is JDM. Your Acura RSX with Integra name badges isn’t. This is the kenmeri Skyline, or more accurately, the C110 generation (1972-77). I wonder if Nissan was studying up on Chrysler’s design language when the penned that nose? Either way, this Nissan was gorgeous.

It might as well have been the Year of the Brodozer at SEMA. For the most part, I wasn’t interested, but this GMC gave me hope. Diesel guys: this is how clean and purposeful looks: work ready, but polished up with just a little bit of jewelry. Subtlety goes a long ways.

We all are sold on this Chevrolet. Just stunning.

Classic, with small detail touches and a slight sinister bent. Nice. Dig the frenched-in antennas.

I’m no VW fan, but this bus was a knockout inside and out. Good color combination.

I love low riders for the paint…some exceptional talent here. This 1975 LTD was just begging to be cruised up and down the strip all night long.

Because Trans Am. Las Vegas Motor Speedway is just up the road, guys…

How much does a kidney go for on the black market again? This is the second time in a row that I have found a 1957 Buick that I would slap my mother on live television for.