Gentex Corporation is bringing its automotive visibility technology to the center of the custom-car scene at the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The supplier is showcasing automatic-dimming mirrors, digital rearview displays, dimmable sun visors, and its HomeLink vehicle-to-home automation system.
The technology will also be showcased in two major custom builds, including a 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible by Ringbrothers and a 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda created by Classic Car Studio.
The display highlights how equipment commonly associated with modern production vehicles can be integrated into classic restorations and high-performance custom builds.
Gentex Brings Digital and Automatic-Dimming Mirrors to SEMA
Gentex is best known in the automotive industry for developing electronic mirrors and driver-visibility technologies supplied to major vehicle manufacturers.
At SEMA 2026, the company is demonstrating how these products can also serve the aftermarket, where builders often combine classic bodywork with modern electrical systems, interiors, and performance components.
One of the products receiving attention is the GNTX-R automatic-dimming rearview mirror. Developed specifically for custom vehicles, it combines a slim carbon-fiber substructure with frameless, chrome-ring glass.
The mirror is available in red or black and is designed for applications ranging from classic restorations and custom builds to supercars, tuners, and drift vehicles.
Its main function is reducing glare from headlights behind the vehicle. The system uses light sensors, a microprocessor, and Gentex’s electrochromic technology. When the sensors detect excessive glare, an electrical signal changes the properties of the material inside the mirror, darkening the reflective surface to reduce the brightness reaching the driver’s eyes.
This is particularly useful during nighttime driving, when bright headlights from a following vehicle can make it harder to maintain a clear view. Unlike a manually adjusted mirror, the automatic-dimming system responds to changing light conditions without requiring the driver to reposition the glass.
The GNTX-R is already available through the Ringbrothers online parts store, rather than being a product that will only appear as a SEMA prototype. That allows custom builders to incorporate the technology into their own projects.
However, installation compatibility and wiring requirements should be checked before ordering, particularly when fitting the mirror to an older vehicle with a modified electrical system.
Gentex is also displaying its Full Display Mirror, which takes rear visibility beyond a conventional reflective surface. The system uses a rear-facing camera to transmit video to a screen integrated into the rearview mirror.
This can provide a wider, less obstructed view behind the vehicle when passengers, headrests, or cargo block the traditional line of sight.
An important feature is its dual-mode operation. Drivers can switch between the digital camera display and a conventional mirror view. The traditional mode also retains automatic-dimming functionality. This flexibility is useful because a camera view may become difficult to use if its lens is covered by dirt, water, or ice.
Other products at the booth include automatic-dimming exterior mirrors, dimmable sun visors, and HomeLink, which allows compatible vehicles to operate garage doors and other home automation devices.
Together, the products demonstrate how a mirror can become more than a reflective surface, serving as an integrated location for electronic features and driver convenience.
Ringbrothers Reveals Billie, a Reimagined 1965 Pontiac GTO
The first custom vehicle making its debut at Gentex’s booth is Billie, a heavily modified 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible developed by Ringbrothers. The project combines classic American muscle-car styling with extensive body modifications, modern chassis engineering, and selected Gentex technology.
The vehicle’s design was led by Gary Ragle of Ragle Design. One of the most noticeable changes is its widened body, with the fenders and doors extended by 2.5 inches on each side.
This gives the GTO a broader stance while retaining the proportions that make the original model recognizable. The body also incorporates redesigned carbon-fiber components, including the hood, door skins, and front valance.
Underneath, Billie uses a Roadster Shop chassis and suspension rather than relying on the original vehicle’s factory architecture. This provides a modern foundation for the custom build and supports the engineering changes required to handle its revised dimensions and performance hardware.
The interior receives the same attention as the exterior. Ringbrothers has created a fully bespoke cabin, incorporating Gentex’s GNTX-R automatic-dimming rearview mirror.
Its inclusion is significant because it demonstrates how a relatively compact electronic component can fit into a custom interior without disrupting the vehicle’s carefully designed appearance.
Billie also illustrates a growing direction in the restoration industry. Builders are increasingly combining vintage designs with modern chassis systems, electronic equipment, and contemporary materials. The objective is to retain the character of a classic vehicle while making it more suitable for modern driving expectations.
The GTO’s appearance at the Gentex booth also gives the mirror manufacturer a practical demonstration of its aftermarket ambitions. Instead of showing the GNTX-R on a display stand alone, Gentex can demonstrate how the product fits into a finished custom car. That makes the technology easier for builders and enthusiasts to evaluate in a real installation.
Classic Car Studio’s 1,200-HP Plymouth ‘Cuda Highlights More Gentex Technology
The second major reveal is Brownfinger, a custom 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda developed by Classic Car Studio, the St. Louis-based restoration and custom vehicle builder. While Billie emphasizes a redesigned classic muscle car with modern components, Brownfinger takes a more extreme performance approach.
The car sits on a Roadster Shop FAST TRACK chassis and is powered by a DSR Performance 7.0-liter Hemi V8 producing a claimed 1,200 horsepower.
That output places the build firmly in high-performance territory, far beyond the specifications of an original production ‘Cuda. Its golden-bronze finish and aggressive stance further distinguish it from a conventional restoration.
The powertrain is only one part of the project. The FAST TRACK chassis provides a modern structural and suspension foundation, allowing the builders to develop the vehicle around its high-output engine.
This type of chassis conversion is common in ambitious restomod projects because it can accommodate contemporary suspension and steering components while retaining the appearance of a classic body.
Brownfinger also showcases a broader selection of Gentex products than the GTO. Its equipment includes a full display mirror, automatic-dimming exterior mirrors, and dimmable sun visors.
The combination highlights how electronic visibility systems can be incorporated into a vehicle that originally left the factory decades before digital rearview technology became common.
The Full Display Mirror is particularly relevant in a custom vehicle. A traditional rearview mirror can be affected by the vehicle’s interior layout, rear-window dimensions, and objects placed behind the seats.
A camera-based display can provide a more useful rearward image when those physical obstructions limit visibility. The ability to switch back to a conventional mirror also gives the driver an alternative when camera visibility is compromised.
Gentex’s dimmable sun visors add another convenience feature. They use electronically controlled technology to adjust transparency, helping manage sunlight without relying entirely on a conventional fixed visor.
Combined with automatic-dimming mirrors, these features show how a classic car can gain modern visibility equipment without changing its original exterior identity.
Both custom vehicles will be presented at Gentex’s booth, number 23889, in Central Hall’s Hot Rod Alley. Their reveals are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. on November 3, hosted by automotive presenter Jarod DeAnda. The 2026 SEMA Show runs from November 3 through November 6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
For Gentex, the two reveals are more than opportunities to display custom cars. They demonstrate how its technologies can move between factory-installed equipment and the specialist aftermarket.
The GNTX-R offers custom builders a compact automatic-dimming mirror, while the Full Display Mirror brings camera-based rear visibility to older vehicle designs.
The company’s SEMA presence also highlights the role of specialist builders in introducing technology to enthusiasts who might not otherwise consider it.
Billie and Brownfinger show two different approaches to modernizing classic American muscle cars, with Gentex products integrated into both. The event gives the supplier a chance to connect with potential customers and demonstrate how its visibility systems can fit into future custom projects.
