Corvette Goodies Galore!

Each fall, the automotive aftermarket descends en masse on Las Vegas like an invading army, filling the Las Vegas Convention Center (as well as its parking lot) and the Sands Convention Center with the most incredible array of car-related hardware a guy (or gal) is likely to ever see. There's some of everything: concept and show cars, replacement and hi-po parts, accessories, tires, wheels, tools, gadgets, widgets, and doodads of every kind. In short, it's a mind-boggling assortment of goods and services. Which means it's a perfect opportunity to find out what's new and hot in the automotive aftermarket.

It'd be an understatement to say that everybody who's anybody in the field shows up. The OEMs don't miss the chance to get in on the fun; GM had a massive display, featuring everything from elephantine SUVs and trucks, to the Tiger Shark concept vehicle (see "What If...", Dec. '01), right down to supercharged Cavaliers and Sunfires. And among the aftermarket suppliers, everyone from Mom & Pop's Parts right up to big dogs like Edelbrock and Holley are on hand, showing off their latest and greatest.

A newcomer to the show is bound to feel overwhelmed (as this writer was and did last year). There's just so much to see, and not enough time. In this case, a small case of Corvette-induced tunnel vision can be a good thing. Once outfitted with a good pair of walking shoes, hit the aisles. It's hard to ignore the skyscraper-high trucks, yacht-like SUVs, booming stereos, scantily clad models signing autographs, and the flock of imports (most of which are ready to collapse under the weight of all the stickers they're wearing). Doing so, however, means you can concentrate on the good stuff--and there's plenty of good stuff for Corvette owners. On top of that, more than a few companies choose America's Sports Car as the ideal display vehicle for their wares.

This month's Product Preview features a nice chunk of new goodies from SEMA, and we'll show you at least a few more here. You may not be shopping for Corvette goodies now, but you may be after seeing some of the new stuff that's soon to hit the market.