CAL Auto Creations Brings Three Builds to SEMA
The custom shop will show a 1955 Bel Air, a 1962 Chevy and a collaborative build with Roadster Shop at the SEMA show.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Car Culture
CAL Auto Creations is bringing three custom car builds to the SEMA show, including a 1955 Bel Air displayed in the BluePrint Engines booth and a 1962 Chevy shown in the Speedmaster booth. A third build, Il Mostro Americano, is a collaboration with Roadster Shop and is not yet complete.
Why it matters
The SEMA show is a major showcase for the custom and aftermarket car community, and the builds highlight how specialty shops combine engine, chassis and drivetrain components from different suppliers. The collaboration with Roadster Shop shows how custom builders are pooling expertise on high-profile projects.
The 1955 Bel Air runs a 598-inch BluePrint Engines big-block Chevy with a Bowler 4L80E transmission and a 9-inch rear end. The Il Mostro Americano chassis will carry 18-inch wire wheels once the build is finished.
The players
CAL Auto Creations
CAL Auto Creations is a custom car shop that designs and builds show-quality vehicles for national automotive events.
Roadster Shop
Roadster Shop is a custom chassis and car builder known for its Fast Track chassis and performance vehicle platforms.
BluePrint Engines
BluePrint Engines is an aftermarket engine manufacturer that supplies high-displacement crate and custom engines to performance builders.
The details
The 1955 Bel Air, designed by Eric Black, sits on a modified Art Morrison frame with Ridetech coilovers and Baer six-piston brakes. The 1962 Chevy uses an LS7 disguised as a 409 W engine on a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis, with body and paint work by CAL Auto Creations using Sherwin-Williams products.
Timeline
Article published on November 2, 2026, about the CAL Auto Creations SEMA builds.
Car Culture Context
Builds like the 1962 Chevy that pair modern LS7 power with a period-correct 409 W appearance continue a long-running restomod trend that transplants late-model engines into classic American bodies. The SEMA show remains the main annual venue where such restomod builds are unveiled to the aftermarket industry.
Enthusiasts who want a similar restomod can look at how the LS7 and Fast Track chassis are used here as a reference for planning a classic-body swap. The Ridetech coilover and Baer brake choices show the type of upgraded suspension and stopping components readily available to home builders.
The takeaway
Custom builds like these show that classic American bodies can carry modern drivetrains without losing their period look. Enthusiasts planning similar projects should weigh the engine, chassis and braking choices together rather than treating each upgrade in isolation.
Further reading
Explore more custom builds and enthusiast coverage in the Car Culture section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MotorTrend.
