Chapman Dodge employees soak in sights at SEMA

The SEMA trade show in Las Vegas, just concluded, and the hype surounding the popular event was as large as ever. Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram employees had a chance to check out the exhibits and the many customized vehicles transformed with production and concept parts and accessories at this year’s event.

“The SEMA show is a fun one and focuses on the newest and best ways to modify your vehicle — some are realistic, while others are pretty out there,” said Don Hamrick, general manager of Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram. “It’s a fantastic show that draws more than 140,000 visitors to our city.”

A favorite on display was the Jeep CJ66 concept, a merging of three eras of Jeep; while the body is mostly from the 1960s, the powertrain is all-new. The All-American hodgepodge incorporates three generations of Wrangler, including a 1996 CJ Tuxedo Park body. Under the hood, Mopar included its 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi crate engine to create a car capable of mauling the desert dunes.

As the in-house parts and accessories division for Fiat-Chrysler, Mopar used SEMA to launch its new “plug-and-play” Hemi crate engines, a 5.7- or 6.4-liter V-8 complete with electrical wiring system, ready for any model Dodge, Jeep or Chrysler that customers want to install it in. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Mopar went big with six concepts, from a Chrysler Pacifica people mover to the RAM 2500 truck.

Not your normal performance-style vehicle typically seen at SEMA, the Ram ProMaster Pit Stop is worth highlighting for the creativity alone. A full party station, the Ram Commercial Class 2 full-size van is customized with a hinged door that swings open and upward to reveal a bar. Mopar fitted keg refrigerators between the wheel wells, which are joined by four beer taps.

Overall, the standout was the Challenger Shakedown, a 1971 Challenger which features a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8. Inside there are the same seats used in the Viper. This is the car one would build with the luxury of unlimited funds and time.

Chapman Automotive, with four locations in Southern Nevada, is celebrating five decades of providing exemplary customer service, dedication to the community, along with an extensive selection of new and used vehicles.

All dealerships are open for sales from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parts and service are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.