Car Junkies! Rate These Car Mods From Best To Meh
- by Ursula Nizalowski
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Since the beginning, cars have been subjected to modifications or ‘tuning’ in the technical sense. Although nowadays, tuning refers to altering a car’s engine as opposed to the exterior and interior which is referred to as a ‘Mod’. These were especially popular between World War II and the recent restrictions on greenhouse gases emitted by car exhaust, where ordinary people with some mechanical skills and knowledge would modify their cars to either make them perform better or look cooler compared to the standard model that’s produced in factories. Another use for modified cars is auto racing, although they use cars that are specifically designed for race purposes as opposed to everyday use.
Though this tradition still continues today, a few factors have come along that have had an impact on car mods. The first was Japanese performance cars, which were privately imported to Europe and North America during the 1980s and '90s after a decade of not exporting them outside the domestic market. Because there wasn’t a significant market for them in the United States, they had very little competition and sold well. This, in turn, led to the increase in economy and compact cars which performed well at lower costs thus allowing amateur drivers to modify them more easily compared to other car models. So rate these car mods from best to meh and see where your taste lies!
S2k with Full JDM Mod
Compared to most cars, this Honda S2000 (abbreviated as S2k) has been fully modified with parts from the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) of cars. It also comes with aerodynamic rearview mirrors made by Spoon as well as a Paxton supercharger inside it.
E92 BMW 335i Full Mod
With a CSL Style Trunk upgrade as well as Carbon Fiber Performance rear bumpers, this fully modified car also has its exhaust system replaced by Corsa Cat-Back Exhaust along with BC Racing Coilovers Carbon Fiber Kidney Grilles and an OEM Performance Aero Front Lip.
Nissan Silvia Mad Max-Themed Mod
Created by Mighty Car Mods in anticipation for Mad Max: Fury Road, this modified car combines the body of a Nissan Silvia with parts from a Holden Commodore including its V8 engine. It was also fitted with armor, chain-link fence window protection, and a large front bumper.
Lamborghini Gallardo Batmobile Mod
Made from 2003 to 2013, Lamborghini Gallardos have been one of the best-selling sports cars in the world. Then recently, two guys skilled in engineering took a Lamborghini Gallardo car added lots of carbon fiber and created their very own Batmobile.
Nova Kit Car
From 1971 to 1975, the former British company Automotive Design and Development Ltd (or ADD) made this kit car using the combination of a fiberglass shell a VW Beetle chassis and other parts. After ADD went under, various companies continued the kit's production.
Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray Body Kit
Created by the German tuning company GeigerCars, this Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray body kit comes with an Eaton supercharger that gives the V8 engine an extra boost of power, KW 3-way adjustable coilover sports suspension, and is painted Motor Sport Gold.
2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack "Project Hulk"
Named for its green coloring, this modified car’s body kit was made by Liberty Walk who gave it front and rear wheel arches that are flared with a large bootlid spoiler and the side skirts are extended as well. It also comes with custom carbon fiber splitters.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI with N-Spec Body Kit
Part of the N-SPEC series of body kits made by ings, the Japanese tuning company, this one is made specifically for the Subaru Impreza WRX STI model which includes a custom bumper and front grille along with sideskirts and a rear bumper.
Shelby Wide Body Kit
Available for the 2005-2014 Shelby cars and Ford Mustangs, this official body kit is made from lightweight fiberglass and is an OEM-quality fit which integrates style-wise with the body lines of the car once it’s installed properly.
Fifth-Generation Camaro with 1969 Retro Kit
Available for fifth-generation Camaros only, this retro kit made by Lingenfelter replaces the front end and hideaway headlights, which are optional, with the kind that’s modeled after a 1969 Camaro. It also comes in RS and Non-RS flavors with their own unique perks.
MK6 GTI with Airbag Mod
Painted Cloud White, this bagged car has an Airlift V2 management system and Airlift Slam XL bags in place of its suspension. Some other upgrades include gloss black-colored grills and rear valance and no side markers along the front bumper.
2006 Ford F-150 with Snow Plow and Road Salt Spreader
In Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Mouse Motorcars modified this Ford F-150 Model truck made in the year 2006 with a snow plow on the front bumper with additional headlights attached. Then on the rear bumper, there’s a complementary road salt spreader.
2006 Smart Fortwo with Front Skis and ATV Tracks
A handmade creation by Tod Anderson, a mechanic living near Ottawa, Canada who owns the company Autobahn Tuning Inc., this smart car had its front wheels replaced by skis while the back ones were replaced by ATV tracks so it could move better through snowy weather.
Geo Tracker with Corvette Engine
Originally, the Geo Tracker (also known as the Chevrolet Tracker) had a 1.6-liter four cylinder engine. But now, its original engine has been swapped with an LS1 from a Corvette capable of 350-horsepower. Exterior-wise, this car is painted charcoal black with a low gloss texture.
Audi A4 with BMW X5 Wheels
From the S-Line series of models, this Audi A4 compact car made by the German manufacturer Audi since 1994 has been fitted with wheels from a mid-sized SUV BMW X5 car made by BMW which is also a German manufacturer.
Ford Fusion with Lip Kit
Made by All-Fit Automotive, this lip kit for the Ford Fusion can fit just about any bumper no matter what size it is or the side skirts for that matter. It not only protects the car but also makes it more aerodynamic.
B8/B8.5 Audi S4 with Dynamic+ Lowering Springs Mod
Though the B8/B8.5 Audi S4 is a perfectly good model of car, there are ways of improving it through different upgrades including this Dynamic+ Lowering Springs upgrade which improves the car’s suspension with better handling reduced understeer and offers OEM+ ride quality.
Chevy Camaro with SMD Halo Light Kit
Available for the Chevy Camaro RS model made between 2010 and 2013, this ColorShift SMD Halo Kit made by Oracle Lighting can be installed into the car’s headlights and change their natural color using a remote control that comes with the kit.
Xbox Center Console and Steering Wheel Mod
Instead of a regular center console, this car has been fitted with an actual Xbox console to replace the car’s. It also comes with two Xbox controllers, with one placed into the steering wheel itself while the other is placed in front of the gear shift.
Lexus with Shiny Coat
Apart from having a slightly larger spoiler than usual, the main feature this Lexus model has to offer is its shiny coat of paint. Combining purple and turquoise colors to create an iridescent effect, it enhances the car’s overall aesthetic instead of clashing with it.
Lamborghini Gallardo with Avenger-Themed Paint Job
In 2015, graffiti artist Rene Turrek from Germany decided to give this ordinary Lamborghini Gallardo an Avengers-themed paint job. Using thermochromatic pigments, the car looks purple at a glance but when cold water is splashed on it an image of Captain America appears on the hood.
Nissan EXA Mod
Back in the late 1980s and early '90s, modified versions of Asian cars were quite popular. This Nissan EXA, for example, has several modifications including white vinyl carpeting and a red spray-painted interior. It also has rear speakers in the trunk.
2007 Custom Ford Mustang
Available on eBay in 2011, this customized 2007 Ford Mustang was present. It has a hand-formed body made from steel, a 1950 Nash-style front grille, headlights taken from a 2008 Lotus Elise, taillights from a 1989 Cadillac, and Lamborghini-style doors.
Custom Corvair Van
Also known as the Chevrolet Greenbrier, this 1963 Corvair Van was customized from the front to the rear bumper. Using sheet metal and steel, it’s been given fender flairs while the spoiler and running boards have been welded together taken out and then welded to the body in one piece.
Toyota Prius Mod
A modified version of a Toyota Prius, it not only includes a body kit but also spoilers canards and four titanium exhaust tips in the back (though they’re not visible in this picture). It also has LED headlights and is painted a metallic brown color.
Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR Roadster Mod
Cosmetically, this car has been given several modifications including being wrapped in chrome all across the body with a black racing stripe along the top of the bonnet, tinted windows, Matte Black paint, and blue alloys of the multispoke variety.
Bosozoku-Style Special Production Car
Originally a motorcycle subculture, Bosozoku also described a certain type of modification to the bikes which involved crazy exhausts and ridiculous changes to the body. But when FIA introduced Special Production Cars into their Group 5 racing, cars like this one started showing up.
Pontiac/Oldsmobile/International Harvester Car
Combining parts from two different cars, namely the Pontiac and Oldsmobile, as well as the International Harvest truck this car was sold on Craigslist under the claim that it has working airbags and breaks with the only downside being that the AC has a low freon level.
Mercedes-Benz SLR "Red and Gold Dream"
Made by a guy from Switzerland who has his hand in a lot of businesses, including running his own museum of customized cars and motorcycles, this Mercedes-Benz SLR has not only been given gold plating but is also decorated in rubies.
Dragster Car Mod
Typically called ‘Diggers’, Dragsters are cars that have been specifically designed for drag racing in official competitions. This one, though, has been fitted with two Tractor-sized wheels in the back making a hybrid that combines two vehicles made for different purposes.
1964 Impala Donk Car Mod
Popular in places like New Orleans Memphis and Miami in the United States, ‘Donk’ car modifications involve taking a car and extending it high enough to be fitted with larger wheels and rims such as this 1964 Impala for instance.
Honda "Fart Can" Exhaust Mod
Compared to a regular exhaust system, a ‘fart can’ is a type of muffler that has a wide enough exhaust port to make a car sound louder when attached to the back of it. This Honda, for example, has twenty-three fart cans.
1993 Miata Limited Kachow Edition
Made from a 1993 Miata, this car is meant to be a tribute to Lightning McQueen from the Cars trilogy of films. With hardtop and soft-top options, it has new tires and a battery. Also, the custom details can be removed if desired.
1975 Trabant Horse-Cart Mod
Ranked Number 27 in Time Magazine’s list “50 Worst Cars of All Time,” the 1975 Trabant was not only notorious for heavy pollution due to its two-stroke 18-horsepower generator but also being made of recycled materials body-wise. Yet here, it’s been modified into a horse-drawn cart.
Nissan Sentra Cardboard and Duct Tape Body Kit
Made since 1982, the Nissan Sentra has undergone several changes from being rebranded as a compact car to growing in size in general. Then someone got the idea to create a body kit for it made out of cardboard and duct tape.