HOT ROD kicked off its diamond jubilee at its SEMA Show booth #81060 in Las Vegas with the launch of both HOT ROD and SEMA’s first collectible NFTs. HOT ROD and SEMA jointly celebrated the 75th Anniversary of HOT ROD by unveiling two limited-edition NFTs created by KurumaNFT, which represents the first NFTs available to the public from both organizations. The exclusive anniversary NFTs, featuring two levels of rarity, were made available to the first 750 people to redeem them on MotorTrend+.
Yesterday, a HOT ROD panel at MotorTrend’s booth discussed “75 Years of HOT ROD Evolution.” The panel included McGann, ROADKILL show host and former HOT ROD editor-in-chief David Freiburger, former HOT ROD editor-in-chief Evan Perkins and “HOT ROD Garage” show host Alex Taylor, as well as other legendary contributors to HOT ROD.
“HOT ROD is excited to kick off our diamond jubilee by partnering with SEMA and KurumaNFT for the launch of HOT ROD's 75 anniversary NFTs,” said HOT ROD editor-in-chief John McGann. “HOT ROD NFTs represent the evolution from our early days of print magazines and Southern California dry lakes racing coverage to a worldwide brand that engages fans on every digital platform that embraces the HOT ROD car culture–including this new collection of HOT ROD NFTs.”
Yesterday, a HOT ROD panel at MotorTrend’s booth discussed “75 Years of HOT ROD Evolution.” The panel included McGann, ROADKILL show host and former HOT ROD editor-in-chief David Freiburger, former HOT ROD editor-in-chief Evan Perkins and “HOT ROD Garage” show host Alex Taylor, as well as other legendary contributors to HOT ROD.
“The SEMA Show and HOT ROD magazine have a long-storied history together as HOT ROD magazine publisher Robert Petersen helped produce the first official SEMA Show,” said RJ de Vera, SEMA vice president of marketing. “It’s a pleasure to continue the collaboration between the two iconic brands decades later with this collaborative NFT to help celebrate HOT ROD’s 75th Anniversary and all of their activities happening at the 2022 SEMA Show. It’s our first NFT and we’re honored to have partnered with HOT ROD magazine to provide this as a commemorative collectible to our SEMA Show attendees.”
HOT ROD is providing free access to more than seven decades of its prized archival content for the first time ever, which includes a digital version of every HOT ROD issue published prior to 2022.
“It's an absolute honor for KurumaNFT to collaborate with an iconic brand such as HOT ROD,” said Taro Koki, KurumaNFT co-founder, president and CEO. “It also feels great to be able to help HOT ROD enter the new era of Web3 through this special collaboration with SEMA and KurumaCards.”
HOT ROD is also providing free access to more than seven decades of its prized archival content for the first time ever, which includes a digital version of every HOT ROD issue published prior to 2022. Classic-car fans can access the HOT ROD digital archive by registering for a free MotorTrend+ account while visiting MotorTrend’s SEMA Show booth or visiting kiosks throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The HOT ROD digital archive contains more than 900 magazine issues published from 1948 through 2021, with every single article and photo digitally converted over the last 18 months by HOT ROD into PDFs as well as easy-to-read, digital-friendly stories, totaling more than 128,000 pages of content.
Visitors can see a legendary ’32 Ford Roadster, previously owned by former HOT ROD feature editor Gray Baskerville, displayed in the MOTORTREND booth.
Also, there are daily HOT ROD 75th Anniversary signings and giveaways at MOTORTREND’s SEMA Show booth, located outside the Las Vegas Convention Center in the Silver Lot. Visitors can see a legendary ’32 Ford Roadster, previously owned by former HOT ROD feature editor Gray Baskerville, displayed in the booth.
HOT ROD’s 75th celebrations will continue throughout 2023. Two of MOTORTREND’s premier annual events return in late summer of 2023 to celebrate HOT ROD’s 75th anniversary: the HOT ROD Power Tour and HOT ROD Drag Week. The events are expected to bring together more than 6,000 vehicles and 100,000-plus spectators next year.