| Anyone who pays attention at all to other cars on the road will have noticed in recent years the trend in automotive aftermarket design modifications making use of car body kits. Although, modifying the look of one’s car is nothing new, this particular body kit trend has come on strong in the past decade or so. Originally taking place in Japan, this particular influence on the car culture has crossed the Pacific Ocean to become firmly established in the United States. And, although the import cars continue to be the most heavily modified, they are by no means the only ones. Body kits for cars are now available for a wide range of manufacturers – Japanese, American and European.
It seems every generation has had its own trend of popular car mods so it should be no surprise to see the current one. No doubt influences have been felt from a variety of sources including films such as the Fast and the Furious, television shows such as Pimp My Ride and numerous car magazines dedicated to the phenomenon.
Of course, the early beginnings of what has become known as car body kits has its roots in – you guessed it – auto racing. As far back as the early ‘60s, if not earlier, racing car designers, mechanics and creators experimented with a car’s shape, design, and proximity to the ground. These early attempts at improved performance through “ground effects” and other aerodynamic considerations have continued to progress to yield today’s stunning array of products available for the street enthusiast.
One can find any number of manufacturers of car body kits today, especially on the internet, and many more distributors and retailers. Even car manufacturers themselves have seen the handwriting on the wall and have begun to offer their own versions of “custom” body kit design options. This may seem like everyone wants to get in on the act and profit from the trend. Which may be true. But the benefit to the consumer is that the more sellers involved, the more variety of product is available from which to choose, and the more competitive the market becomes, yielding better prices and value to you, the buyer!
So, whether you are a veteran on the car body kit scene or brand new to this still fairly new, exciting and growing arena, enjoy the variety of ways you can customize your own ride and participate in the world of cool street cars. |
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