{"id":46002,"date":"2009-11-11T07:00:40","date_gmt":"2009-11-11T12:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tundraheadquarters.com\/blog\/?p=2108"},"modified":"2009-11-11T07:00:40","modified_gmt":"2009-11-11T12:00:40","slug":"toyota-tundras-at-2009-sema-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/46002","title":{"rendered":"Toyota Tundras at 2009 SEMA Show"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Toyota produced two special edition Tundras for the 2009 SEMA show last week<\/strong>. The first was the “Tailgater” – a fancy tribute to country music duo Brooks and Dunn that doubles as a tricked-out mobile BBQ platform. The second was a call-back to the hot rod days of the 50’s, a regular cab short box Tundra with a flame job, moon hub caps, and a 50’s era Toyota logo.<\/p>\n

\"Toyota's<\/p>\n

Toyota's custom Tundras shown during the 2009 SEMA show.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

While they’re both cool, neither truck demonstrated a new concept or an attempt to establish the Tundra as a great canvas to work from. Still, there were a couple of neat ideas, and you have to give Toyota for trying in a down market:<\/span><\/p>\n

The Tailgater<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Brooks & Dunn Tailgater edition of the Tundra<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

This was the show-piece – the truck that Toyota really sunk some time, effort, and energy into. The stand-out features are the engraved silver door handles, the pull-out grill assembly attached to the tailgate, and the various hand-tooled leather elements in the interior.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The pull-out BBQ grill on the tailgater.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"That's<\/p>\n

That's real silver engraving – very sharp.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What’s missing? Well how about the fact this truck has a 3″ lift with tires and wheels that are too big for such a small lift. What about the fact that this “show” truck doesn’t even have a TRD exhaust<\/em> (that’s a stock pipe sticking out).<\/p>\n

The Hot Rod<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The retro call-back Hot Rod Tundra<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Wood<\/p>\n

Wood paneling in a truck bed? It's been done…many, many, many times before.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This truck almost seems like an after-thought. A flame job, some retro hub caps, and a wood-paneled bed are cool, but all these features can be found on a classic show truck at any good-sized car show. Frankly, what’s the point of tapping into a history that Toyota had absolutely no presence in<\/em>?<\/p>\n

No disrespect to the creators and artisans who built this truck , but the bottom line is ‘meh<\/em>.’ This truck doesn’t even sport a TRD lowering kit, despite the fact hot-rodders were cutting springs and removing leafs to get lower back in the day.<\/p>\n

The retro Toyota logo is cool, and the interior has some cool aspects…but if the words “slapped together” don’t apply to this interior<\/a>, when do<\/em> they apply?<\/p>\n

\"Retro<\/p>\n

Retro 50's Toyota logo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The problem with SEMA trucks is that auto manufacturers have nearly unlimited resources…taking a stock truck and doing it up is always cool, but we expect a lot more from an auto manufacturer<\/strong>. Either demonstrate a new accessory concept or package that could make it into production, show a potential styling cue, or use all your resources to make something awesome. Last year, Toyota recycled the diesel dually concept they showed in 2007. This year, they made a couple of rather tame trucks. Next year, how about one of the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n