The very first street car to come from legendary racer Richard Petty’s own shop sold for a solid $130,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdate, AZ over the weekend. Built by Petty’s Garage, the Challenger SRT8 is a prototype for a future production model is features the 0001 serial number. Along with the custom body and a long list of suspension modifications, this Challenger features a HEMI V8 built by Arrington Engines to produce 585-hp and 560 ft-lbs of torque. It has also been painted a special (and trademarked) Petty Blue paint made specially by BASF.

All proceeds of the sale will go to the Petty Family Foundation, including charities like the Victory Junction and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

GALLERY: Petty’s Garage Dodge Challenger SRT8

See after the jump for more details on the Petty’s Garage Dodge Challenger SRT8:

Carroll Shelby’s own tuning company Shelby American has announced the return of the GT350 model, debuting it at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale 45 years after the original GT350 was released.

Based on the new 2011 Mustang GT, the GT350 gets a Ford Racing supercharged mated to the stock car’s 5.0-liter V8 to make roughly 500-hp – which shouldn’t be hard considering the stock motor already makes 412-hp. The engine also gets some bling with Blue Shelby GT350 valve covers and billet caps.

In addition, the GT350 conversion includes a complete aero kit with a dual central-exit exhaust system, 19-inch Cragar wheels, Goodyear tires and a Baer six-piston front brake setup up front. Several changes have been made to the suspension with Ford Racing springs, struts, sway bars and adjustable camber/caster plates.

“In 1964, Ford Motor Company asked Shelby American to turn their secretary’s car into a race winner to help them sell Mustangs,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby American. “Our Shelby GT350 ruled its class at the track and was feared by GM and Chrysler owners on the street. Enthusiasts have anticipated the GT350’s return since it went out of production in 1970. Now my band of hot rodders has created a car worthy of the name.”

All GT350 conversions are performed at Shelby American’s facility in Las Vegas for a price of $33,995 (plus the cost of the car). Yikes!

GALLERY: Shelby American GT350

Official release after the jump:

A big part of the SEMA Show each year (both in terms of quantity and, well, size) is the truck and off-road industry. Some trucks get lowered suspensions and some lifted, some run on supercharged 4-cylinders, while others rely on massive turbocharged diesel units. Yet despite all that divides some truck lovers from others, they all seem to equally love to modify their rigs – often to the extreme.

We’ve gathered together a collection of all (or almost all) of the trucks at the 2009 SEMA Show for you to peruse. We also explored some of the trucks in more detail, including the Dodge Ram Bianco, DeWALT 2011 F-Series Super Duty, the new 411-hp F-150 SVT Raptor, the Toyota Tundra Hot Rod and the Chevy Silverado ZR2. You can find more on those trucks after the jump.

GALLERY: Trucks of the 2009 SEMA Show

For more on the Dodge Ram Bianco, DeWALT 2011 F-Series Super Duty, the new 411-hp F-150 SVT Raptor and the Chevy Silverado ZR2, see after the jump:

It’s just a concept for now, but Shelby Automobiles Inc., is hoping there’s enough interest to go ahead and start building production versions of this muscle truck. Called the F-150 Super Snake Concept, the Shelby-inspired vehicle is based on a 2007 F-150 regular cab and lists extensive modifications to improve handling, styling and power.

For starters, there’s a Whipple supercharger kit under the hood, helping the 5.4-liter V8 pump out 475-hp. Handling is helped out by a big set of 22-inch wheels and a suspension that has been lowered by 3-inches. And inside those wheels is a set of Baer six-piston brakes. As for style, the truck gets a complete aero kit, including a new hood. Additional modifications include a Borla exhaust 3:73:1 rear end and a custom interior.

“Carroll Shelby pioneered the muscle truck segment over 20 years ago,” said Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Autos. “Our team built this concept F150 Super Snake to see if the public is ready for another high performance Shelby truck. We took the same approach to this project as we do for every Shelby. With its ‘look at me’ styling, earth shattering power, stop-on-a-dime brakes and go cart-like handling, it’s a balanced performance truck that’s as desirable to drive as it is to look at.”

Shelby hasn’t yet confirmed if it will offer this package but we imagine its in the cards. If so, it will be available for the 2003-08 F-150.

GALLERY: Shelby F-150 Super Snake Concept

Official release after the jump:

As a brand, Hummer’s time in the spotlight is pretty much over, although if there is something that can save the brand it might be a core group of enthusiasts and a strong motorsports background. While Hummers are best known for being excessive street machines, unlike a lot of SUVs, they are actually incredibly capable off-roaders.

And so despite the brand’s near disappearance for the marketplace over the past year, Hummer was in attendance at the 2009 SEMA Show displaying two special edition street machines and two off-road racing trucks – including the incredible Robby Gordon Off-Road Dakar Hummer.

Gordon has raced a Hummer in off-road events since 2008, and last year places third overall in the grueling Dakar Rally. This year, the Hummer team and Gordon have their sights set on first and it looks like they have the truck to do it.

Hummer claims the race-truck is based on an H3, but with what appears to be an entirely carbon fiber vehicle, we’re not sure there’s much of the factory car left. It’s a tube-chassis vehicle and while it is built for serious off-roading, Gordon will be comfortable inside thanks to a fully enclosed cockpit with air conditioning. As for the engine, Hummer will only say that it is based on a production GM V8.

The 2010 Dakar Rally starts January 1st and we’ll be sure to check in on how Gordon and his crazy carbon Hummer are doing.

GALLERY: Robby Gordon Off-Road Dakar Hummer

Official release after the jump:

Over the past year or so Steve Saleen’s new project, SMS Supercars has released high performance versions of the Camaro, Mustang and Challenger. This week at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show, SMS announces the introduction of SMS Superparts, a division of the company that will sell the parts individually through a distribution network.

“We are excited to launch our newest addition to the SMS Supercars family right here at SEMA, where it all happens,” said Steve Salleen. “To have a strictly SMS Superparts display was a conscious choice on my part. I wanted to underline the importance of the aftermarket business, the passion of the enthusiasts and the true Steve Saleen fans.”

Saleen also included a second announcement, the introduction of the SMS 296 supercharger for the 2005-10 Mustang. This new blower is expected to produce output of 475-hp, with higher output packages reaching all the way to 650-hp.

For photos of the new SMS 296 Supercharger installed on a 2010 Mustang, as well as a Sour Grape Green 2010 SMS 570X Challenger, check out the gallery below.

GALLERY: SMS Superparts Cars at SEMA

Official release after the jump:

One of just two vehicles worthy to flank the Mobil 1 booth at the 2009 SEMA Show is the Hennessey HPE700 LS9 Camaro. As the name suggests, under the hood there’s a supercharged LS9 motor lifted from a Corvete ZR1. The easy-to-remember HPE700 name isn’t entirely accurate, however, as the engine has been tuned somewhat to deliver closer to 725-hp. As for torque, it’s rated at 741 ft-lbs from just 3200 rpm.

Hennessey claims the ZR1-powered Camaro will scoot to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and run the quarter mile in 11.3 seconds at 126 mph.

Talking with John Hennessey he told us that the HPE700 is very much the theoretical love child of a Camaro and a Corvette ZR1, with that theme continuing to more places than just under the hood. The car also gets lots of carbon fiber parts, like a carbon rear lip spoiler, carbon side skirts and a carbon fiber front splitter. There’s even a ZR1-inspired hood with a glass section to view the powerful LS9.

GALLERY: Hennessey HPE700 Camaro

There was no doubt that the focus of Ford’s SEMA Show booth was the all-new 2010 Mustang, with a total of nine modified Stangs, plus the all-new Cobra Jet model. Ford originally scheduled eight cars, but it looks like Galpin Auto Sports snuck in a second entry. The cars were built by tuner shops, race shops and even in-house, with most of the cars featuring parts available to the public – rather than one-off custom items made just for the SEMA Show. After all, the Mustang continues to be the most popular car to modify in the world.

First up is the 3dCarbon Mustang, which recreates the “Boy Racer” Mustang that the shop first built back in 2005, based on the previous generation car. Bright red with white stripes, this car takes take the Stang’s classic lines and add some wild sport compact-themed aerodynamics. Still, in person it was somewhat underwhelming. What is more impressive, however, are the rest of the car’s modifications with a complete Steeda suspension setup, a Brembo brake upgrade and NC Forged three-piece 22-inch wheels.

The only convertible of the bunch is from Galpin Auto Sports and as much as we mocked the Ford Vehicle Personalization Mustang when we first heard of this lineup of cars for SEMA, the Galpin car is our new whipping boy. It’s not all bad, with a pretty aggressive widebody conversion although as much as we like the wheels (a set of massive Forgiato rollers), they just don’t seem right on a Stang. The real travesty, however, is out back where an overly ornate rear diffuser just makes us nauseous. Under the hood there are 550 ponies thanks to a Ford Racing super pack, and as silly as those wheels might look, the rear 345 tires will be needed with all that power.

For more on Ford’s 2009 SEMA Show Mustangs and galleries of each car, follow the jump:

Hurst Performance Vehicles used the 2009 SEMA Show to expand its product lineup significantly with the introduction of Performance Series versions of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. Both cars appeared in predominantly white livery with black and gold detailing.

The Hurst Performance Series Camaro features a Magnusson Supercharger, Hurst Competition/Plus shifter with a Hard-Drive shift handle and AirSpeed spoiler. The kit also includes an Eibach suspension, Magnaflow exhaust system, Hurst black-chrome forged wheels with BF Goodrich KDW tires and a unique Katzkin leather interior. Output from the Camaro’s V8 engine has been raised to 600-hp! Just 50 Performance Edition Camaros will be built.

As for the Performance Series Mustang, it will come with a Roush supercharger, Willwood brakes, Eibach coilovers and sway bars, a Magnaflow exhaust, a new front lip spoiler, 20-inch wheels and BF Goodrich KDW tires. Of course, there will also be a Hurst Competition/Plus manual shifter with a gold anodized Hard-Drive shift handle. A Katzkin leather interior is also a part of the package. Power from the supercharged 4.6-liter V8 is rated at around 435-hp.

“I am very pleased to officially announce that Hurst is once again mixing it up in the middle of the muscle car wars,” states Nate Shelton, Chairman of Hurst Performance Vehicles.  “Hurst made
history by building some of the most collectible muscle cars ever for Ford, GM and Mopar, and we are doing it again!”

“We have been stunned by the overwhelming success of the Hurst/Hemi-Challenger; collectors and dealers have snapped up every single one that we can build,” said Ron Flint, President of Hurst
Performance Vehicles. “For the lucky few that step up, a Hurst/Mustang or Hurst/Camaro may prove to be the best investment they’ve ever made.”

GALLERY: Hurst Performance Series Camaro

The Lingenfelter Trans Am Concept wasn’t the only TA on display at the 2009 SEMA Show, with Kevin Morgan Designs debuting its version of the iconic car. Based on a slightly more modern interpretation of the Trans Am, the Kevin Morgan car takes its cues from the 1977-’78 model and is based on the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.

The car certainly looks aggressive with a low slung front air dam and a massive gold Screamin’ Chicken on the hood. And of course, there’s a big ducktail spoiler and a stylish set of golf mesh wheels.

The team even went so far as to built a classic Pontiac logo into the car’s new front end.

On the whole, we like it more than the Lingenfelter design, although the gold interior accents are definitely excessive.

Kevin Morgan Designs has announced a deal with the Trans Am Depot and is expected to start offering the Phoenix Trans Am conversion in the near future.

GALLERY: Kevin Morgan Designs Trans Am