The SEMA Show in Las Vegas is a great event if you like aftermarket car upgrades and various equipment for SUVs and pickup trucks, but sometimes it's a nice place to find restomods. Ringbrothers is one of the companies that bring one or two new restomods at each edition, and needless to say, it's doing a great job at combining classic designs with modern features and drivetrains. Well, Ringbrothers did it again this year, but unlike previous events, the 2017 SEMA Show hosted the public debut of a truly special car. While most tuners usually go with Fords, Chevys, and Dodges for their restomod projects, Ringbrothers picked a 1972 AMC Javelin this time around. Yup, this underrated competitor for the Big Three muscle cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s got a complete makeover with all the bells and whistles Ringbrothers is known for.

Granted, choosing a Javelin for such a project may seem like a weird choice with much more popular muscle cars around, but it's great to see that big companies like Ringbrothers is trying something different for a change. And needless to say, the Defiant! turned out great. It's not only the coolest AMC restomod yet, but it also puts most projects from this year's SEMA Show to shame. Keep reading for the full details.

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What makes the AMC Javelin AMX Defiant! By Ringbrothers special?

Much like any Ringbrothers creation, the Defiant! is a significant makeover of the stock vehicle. It's a Javelin AMX on steroids. Brutal and modern.

Most of the car's notable features, such as the round headlamps, the pointy grille, and the arched fenders are still there, but everything else from the windshield to the nose has been redesigned. Arguably the most interesting fact here is that Ringbrothers moved the front wheels and arches forward by 6.5 inches in order to eliminate the original car's long overhang. But the firm didn't modify the stock fenders. These were removed and replaced by custom-made, carbon-fiber ones. The bumper was also replaced with a more menacing element that reminds of modern race cars. Finally, the engine hood gained a massive bulge to make room for the supercharged engine.

The remaining side body panels were modified too. While the rear fenders became wider, the side skirts now feature side-exiting exhaust pipes. The A-pillars and the roof are finished in black, just like the upper front fascia and the center section of the engine hood. The wheels are new too and feature a twin-five-spoke, dual-color design with high-performance tires.

Modifications are rather subdued around back, where the ducktail spoiler, taillights, and bumper were kept in stock form. However, Ringbrothers did add a two-piece diffuser and a new emblem between the thin and long taillights. Rounding off the custom Javelin AMG is a sparkly gold color that keeps some of the car's classic vibe alive.

Interior changes aren't as radical, but the instrument cluster gained a machine-turned metal finish. There's also new leather upholstery, modern floor mats, and slight changes to the steering wheel and center console. Classy!

Under the hood, the AMX is no longer a Javelin. While the 1972 model was powered by a naturally aspirated V-8, this modern rendition draws its juice from a modified version of the Dodge Challenger Hellcat's 6.2-liter V-8. A bit blasphemous for AMC loyalists I guess, but hey, this is a restomod after all. The V-8 is topped with a 4.5-liter supercharger that raises the power from the Hellcat-standard 707 horsepower to a whopping 1,100 horses. All that oomph is channeled to the wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission connected to the rear wheels via a carbon fiber driveshaft. Six-piston brakes provide stopping power.

The muscle car rides on a custom front subframe originally designed for a Camaro and fitted with modern sway bars and RideTech suspension components. A Chevrolet 12-bolt rear end is mounted on a four-link suspension designed by the Ringsbrothers.

The original Javelin might not have been that impressive compared to the competition, but this thing is something else. But as it is the case with Ringbrothers builds, the Defiant! will remain unique. But I'm sure they wouldn't say no to another AMC-based project should you want one.

Read more news on the 2017 SEMA Show.