Don't get us wrong, we love SEMA. What other show can be relied upon to deliver such volume and variety of lifted trucks and supercars, all featuring the latest rims and wraps? But in the sea that is the SEMA show floor, how do you find the hidden gems?  We spent time at the event and found five projects that stood out to us. They may not be flashy, but they’re fabulous. 

Check out these five unique projects from SEMA 2016: 

Ring Brothers Cadillac Madam V

^{_{Photo Credit: Nolan Browning}}

The Ring Brothers outdid themselves yet again this year. They started with two 1948 Cadillac Sedanette fastbacks and two Cadillac ATS-Vs. The goal was to create a classic Cadillac design that felt exactly like a modern car inside the cabin and under the hood. The standard ATS-V motor, a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V-6 making 464 horsepower, looks right at home and most modern features still work - including GM’s On-Star service. The RB team demonstrates an amazing attention to detail. Quintessential example: creases in the hood and trunk to match the crease in the modern Cadillac logo.

Toyota 86 With Ferrari 458 Engine Swap

^{_{Photo Credit: Nolan Browning}}

Toyota bid farewell to their Scion brand this past year, but the Scion FR-S lives on as the Toyota 86.  To keep the enthusiasts interested, the Toyota 86 SEMA project swapped out the stock 2.0L 4-cylinder for a Ferrari 458 V8 engine. The frame was extensively modified to shoehorn the massive 4.5L motor and its 570hp inside the small car. This type of project has that just-right amount of absurdity that keeps SEMA interesting and us coming back.

Acura NSX GT3

^{_{Photo Credit: Nolan Browning}}

This car is critically important as Honda and Acura let enthusiasts know that they are getting serious about performance again. With this new successor to the original NSX, the team is going racing. And the GT3 will participate in next year’s Pirelli World Challenge and IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship series. The Acura NSX is looking to stand out amid sports cars that have years of racing pedigree and compete against them with hopes of finding the podium. If the NSX GT3 races as good as it looks, they may have a winner on their hands.

Porsche 997 Slant Nose

^{_{Photo Credit: Nolan Browning}}

Some may remember the wild Porsche slant nose designs of the 1970s that improved the aerodynamics and helped lead the brand to multiple victories. The design later made its way to customer vehicles in the 1980s and is wildly popular among enthusiasts. A company called Old & New Japan is selling this new kit designed by Kei Miura – the man behind the popular Rocket Bunny designs. This new Porsche 997 Slant Nose stopped most enthusiasts at SEMA in their tracks and may be well worth the nearly $15k price tag for some Porsche fans.

Dodge Shakedown Challenger

^{_{Photo Credit: Nolan Browning}}

Mopar is getting into the business of selling performance crate motors this year at SEMA and helped promote this news with the awesome Shakedown Challenger. This 1971 Challenger body features the new Mopar 392 crate motor, which is the 6.4L HEMI with 485-hp found in the modern SRT vehicles. To further emphasize the Shakedown’s “old-meets-new” design, the front and rear of the Challenger feature portions of the 2017 Dodge Challenger including rear LED tail lights and front grille.