Though it’s been held annually since 1967, the SEMA Convention was not always a haven for specially designed and built show cars. Even after coming to Las Vegas in 1977, custom display cars were sparse. But the last decade or so has seen an explosion of show cars, particularly since the areas outside the convention center were opened up for displays. Also during that time, the SEMA show has gained a much higher profile, thanks in no small part to the ever-evolving state of the digital world we live in. That means people from all over the world can now see in real time what was once reserved for industry insiders, and that’s made this event a hot spot for unveilings and debuts.

This year’s event, held last week, is said to have hosted something like 2,400 exhibiting companies and 170,000 people, and we can say, from being on the ground there for the entire week, that the crowds were as large as they’d ever been. Between the number of people attending and the vast array of new products on display, the automotive aftermarket and the enthusiast groups it serves would seem to be thriving.

Check out some of the coolest and most unique 'whips' from SEMA '17.