Gallery: highlights from SEMA 2012

This is how you pronounce Giant Room Full of Sometimes Questionable, and Occasionally Wondrous Cars in American - SEMA.

It stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association, it was started by customising luminaries Dean Moon and Vic Edelbrock, and it's a meeting point for the world's aftermarket tuners, purveyors of colossal wheels, paint companies and, in the last few years, carmakers...

Yep, actual manufacturers want to get in on the £17.2bn tuning industry, and GM, Ford, Lexus and Scion (Toyota's America arm) this year, among others, offered up some polarizing metal to the invite-only crowd.

But we got ourselves a ticket and we packed our camera, so click on for some fan-ruddy-tastic pics from the exhibition...

Now watch our attempt at tuning

Racing for the whole family...

This is what happens if you leave James May in a scrap yard.

Shovel-nose Impreza will be poplar in Alaska. 

Is it terrible that we like this? ANSWER: Yes. 

Matching beach cruiser is insanely cool. 

Dominic Torretto's fallen on hard times. 

More - the new Less in Las Vegas.

IS NOTHING SACRED, SEMA?

Ferrari FF stills grins despite the red satin wrap...

This Datsun's more like it - they don't build 'em like they used to. 

This Fiat 500 beach cruiser actually looks quite cool. 

Zibar off-roader looks fit for Helmand. Please send one to the usual address...

Only in America would you take superb at going around corners...

...and undo everything so it could go fast in a straight line.  

Kill it. Kill it before it lays eggs. 

This is what we all feared...

There's a Porsche Boxster lurking under this old Karmann Ghia.

Ronal McDonald found a parking spot inside. 

These real-life Hot Wheels cars are more than little awesome.  

A Camaro in drag. 

Ford custom looks velvety smooth. 

Custom legend Chip Foose manages to hide a colossal amount of labour in this Cadillac Eldorado. Can you spot how different it is to the original? 

Hit "like" if you think a satin wrap, split rims and low job (no sniggering at the back) buthc up the new VW Bug. 

Dishy. 

Nice. Till you get a speed bump. 

Build the NSX already, Honda!

For when your colossal Raptor's not colossal enough. 

Because SEMA.

We're sure removing most of the suspension's improved this 911's handling no end.