Has anyone shot at you recently? Tried to blow you up? If so, you don't have to take that crap anymore. The folks over at Conquest Vehicles, Inc. have trotted out the fully armored Knight XV (pictured here) and it can be yours for only $295,000. This vault on wheels was positioned outside of the North Hall at SEMA and it's built using ballistic hardened steel and up to 2.5-inch-thick glass. Its core is an F-350 commercial platform chassis so parts are easily available no matter where you are in this world. It rolls on 40-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Radial MTZ tires with ballistic run flats. Standard equipment includes night vision and rear op camera systems. Now all they'll be able to hurt is your feelings. More info: www.conquestvehicles.com.
If there is a subvert trend at SEMA this year it's probably flat paint. We've seen a bunch of vehicles coated with flat. The flat goodness varies in intensity, but we've seen everything from Vettes to Silverados that are shine-free.
Speaking of flat goodness, our Trailhugger H3 Alpha project has been quite popular during its stay at the GM booth. It's flanking a trophy case with the 2008 Four Wheeler of the Year trophy we awarded to Hummer for the H3 Alpha. Interestingly, it's seems Trailhugger is probably the most-touched truck in the show. It seems everyone wants to physically feel the texture of flat paint. We're cool with that, just don't step on our blue suede shoes.
Traxxas radio control trucks rock, and this was the first year that Traxxas has appeared at the SEMA show.
They brought scores of cool rigs including this new exocaged Summit model. Yes, the exocage is functional.
This thing is bumpin'. We're talkin' T-Lock remote locking front and rear differentials; high/low transmission offering a 70:1 super-low ratio; waterproof electronics; E-Revo suspension with gobs of travel and articulation; beadlock-style wheels; and a Castle Creations Mamba Monster brushless motor. Hit up www.traxxas.com.
Last but not least, the Cheap Trick Avalanche by RealWheels. We don't even know where to start. Sure it'll never go off-highway, but who cares. This thing is a Cheap Trick fans dream. Actually, if you like music it's a dream. See that dude playing Rock Band? While he was playing there was smoke, lights and even lasers.
The truck is centered around guitars and it has even been autographed by guitarist Rick Nielsen (who resides in the 815 near the Four Wheeler Midwest Bureau). Check out the outside rear view mirrors. Those are trick (no pun intended).
This dude isn't Rick Nielsen. He's Jhan Dolphin, the project coordinator. He's showing off the custom Hamer guitar that resides in the project. He wasn't down with bangin' out some riffs, but he says he got to hear Nielsen bust out some licks on this guitar, which is cool enough for us.
SEMA has been fun, but I've had enough of looking at 'wheeling products and talking about 'wheeling so tomorrow I'm leaving Las Vegas for the Hump N Bump trail ride in Logandale.