It’s hard to choose a favorite at SEMA, mainly because there are hundreds of participants, each with its own take on the automotive business, but this particular concept caught our eye. And it isn’t even finished.

The hot-rod in the making is called the Ruptured Duck, and it has nothing to do with its current characteristics – or lack thereof. According to Brycen Smith, the man who’s going to build it for the next SEMA show, the car is inspired by the World War II B-25 Mitchell bomber, nicknamed Ruptured Duck, that took part in the Doolittle Raid on Saturday, April 18, 1942.

The wooden frame is actually the car’s body buck, used to help hand-built the metal body panels. Smith says the Ruptured Duck will also feature a transparent rounded nose section with a thin metal skeleton, in order to evoke the B25’s “bubble cockpit”. In fact, there will be a plethora of throwbacks to the plane, including a four-panel windshield.

Underpinned by a modern running gear, the automobile will draw its power from a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder Ford crate engine – usually found on the Mustang – that’s good for 310 hp and 434 Nm (320 lb-ft) of torque. It might not sound that intimidating, but in a hot rod that weighs next to nothing it’s enough to get you into trouble.

And that’s not the only element borrowed from the Mustang, as the project will also feature the Ford’s independently sprung rear axle and gearbox.

Once finished, the car will be auctioned off, with 45 percent of the proceedings going to charity. You can check out the build in progress at Lateral-G forums.com.

Photo Gallery

VIDEO