For Kindig-it Design, SEMA has always been more than a car show. It’s been a proving ground, a launchpad, and a place where big ideas turned into bigger opportunities. From humble beginnings to Ridler-winning builds, here’s a look back at some of our most memorable SEMA moments.

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The Early Years: Before Kindig-it

1994 – Dave’s very first SEMA Show, working with HPC High Performance Coatings.

1999 – Dave, Charity, and Kevin attended their first SEMA together under the Kindig-it name.

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2000's: Learning, Hustling, and Building a Reputation
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2002 – A story that still gets laughs today: Kevin was pulled over on his way to Vegas, an old ticket landed him in jail, and when Dave showed up to bail him out, he got booked too (over a tint-ticket warrant). Luckily, Charity saved the day and got them to SEMA. Lesson learned: always pay your tickets!

2003 – Dave showed up with a briefcase, walking the halls and soaking in inspiration—graphics, body kits, fabrication techniques—fueling ideas for future builds.

2004 – Our first cars in SEMA: a 2004 Durango and 2003 Cavalier “Cavzilla” in the DECAH Lambo Door booth.

2007 – We brought three cars, including a ’32 Roadster and ’37 Chevy, and took home our first GM Design Award.

2008 – Designed and built a prototype Corvette for STS, plus our VW Jetta in the Black Magic booth.

2009 – Filmed with Barry Meguiar for Car Crazy, showing off our ’67 Boss Mustang Fastback.

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2010's: Breaking Through

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‍2011 – Our first Kindig-it booth in the New Products section, showcasing our patented Smooth Door Handles alongside our 1960 Corvette. We also debuted a ’64 Cadillac at the SEMA kickoff breakfast, plus our ’62 VW Bus and ’39 Buick.

2012 – Unveiled our Goodguys ’32 Ford build at the Hot Rod Industry Alliance Dinner.

2014 – A game-changer: Bitchin’ Rides had just aired, and Dave joined his first Velocity panel alongside Chip Foose, Richard Rawlings, Mike Brewer, and Edd China. That year we brought the Futurliner, parked right outside the main doors.

2018 – Our biggest year to date: 10 cars across the show and winner of the first-ever “Best on RS” belt with our ’55 Mercedes Gullwing.

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2020's: The CF1 Era and Beyond
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2021 – We unveiled the first CF1 production cars on the SEMA Reveal Stage, bringing both #1 and #2 up front and center.

2024 – A landmark year: we showcased the Ridler-winning “TwelveAir” in the AkzoNobel booth and took home “Best of the Rest.”

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Why SEMA Matters to Us

From one borrowed booth corner to ten-car lineups, SEMA has been the place where our vision, creativity, and craftsmanship have been tested against the best in the industry. It’s where we’ve grown, celebrated wins, survived the occasional fiasco, and connected with fans and builders from around the world.

And as SEMA continues to evolve, so will Kindig-it Design. We can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings.

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