Body Kits and Car Modification

Body kits and upgrades can be great ways to personalize your ride. Some cars, such as muscle cars, use body kits to make their already fearsome looks even more pronounced. However, for every well-modified Mustang there tend to be several cars out there with owners that have no sense of style whatsoever. Some body and modifications kits work, others don’t. Let’s take a look at some of them.

2002 C5 Corvette (fifth generation)

To be completely honest, the fifth generation of Chevrolet Corvette was never that good looking to begin with. In production from 1997 to 2005, the Corvette C5 reeked of lazy 90s car design. That being said, this body kit doesn’t really help matters. Not only is it badly put on, but the multiple spoilers on the back of the car will give you enough room to mount a surfboard, ironing board, and several planks of wood, all without damaging the already terrible aerodynamics.

The only positive thing I can say about this one is that it at least provides good comedic value and gets a genuine laugh out of me.

Rating: 2/10

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser

The Chrysler PT Cruiser was well known for being one of the ugliest cars in existence during its lifespan. Running from the turn of the century to 2010, the Cruiser was marketed as a sporty family car, but was actually anything but. It wasn’t very quick and the hideous looks meant that it wasn’t exactly very sporty. On top of that, the limited room and uncomfortable ride meant that it failed on the “family” aspect as well. The body kit here seeks to add a bit of flair to the Cruiser’s generally bland looks and, overall, it succeeds. It isn’t beautiful or anything, and I still would never consider buying one, but at least it has some personality now. 

Rating: 7/10

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertable

If the PT Cruiser was the spawn of hell, the convertible was the devil himself. Slow and awkward looking, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible remained one of the worst cars in its class throughout its ten year lifespan. In its final year, the optional V8 engine you could have fitted in the Cruiser was actually worth more than the car itself. So when it came to body modifications, there was nowhere to go but up. 

While not quite as good looking as the hard top Cruiser in the previous entry, this one at least tries to draw attention from the terrible roof line with a paint job that certainly catches the eye. The front, while rather odd looking with a body kit fender that doesn’t seem to fit properly, is still better than the original. As I said, nowhere to go but up. Still wouldn’t be caught dead in one though.

Rating: 5/10

2016 Ford Mustang RTR S5

Now this is a body kit done right. While it might have the look of a 2016 Ford Mustang GT at first glance, there are some subtle differences. Made by car modification company RTR, which literally stands for Ready To Rock, this body kit is made for their Mustang S5. Keeping the shape of the normal Mustang, the S5 ads small details such as interestingly shaped grill lights, a new front end, a reworked hood and front splitter. All of these features, together with the amazing styling and paint work, make for one beautiful and powerful muscle car.

Rating: 9/10

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Returning to the land of interesting mistakes hideous and eyesores for a brief moment, we find this absolute mess of a muscle car. Once a reasonably good looking 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, the owner has seen fit to transform it into any car owners worst nightmare. Sporting solid donk rims, an oversized hood and a disgusting gold-green paint job, even the comedic value of this car isn’t enough to save this one. It also loses several points because, unlike previous entries on the list such as the Corvette C5 and the PT Cruiser, the normal 2012 Camaro ZL1 isn’t actually a bad looking car.

Rating: 1/10

2002 Aston Martin Vanquish

Here we see the classic example of a beautiful cat being messed with in a way that was definitely never intended. In the late 90s and early 2000s, car design was seemingly stuck in a rut, with even the most stylish of car companies turning out complete duds. However, in 2002, the same year as Ferrari’s truly disastrous Maranello, Aston Martin released the Vanquish. The car was a thing of beauty, sleek and stunning with a brilliant V12 engine underneath. However, German car modification company Mansory decided it needed a different look. While not downright horrible, the car’s more squidgy body shape, along with  the black hood and roof, remind me of the awkward looking early 2000s Dodge Viper. While not bad, it just can’t hold a candle to the original.

1964/1965 Ford Mustang GT

Here we have an example of taking everything to the max. Wide-body wheel arches, check. New rims, check. Loads of new vents and a huge hood-scoop, check. However, even though it’s totally over the top in almost every way possible, it doesn’t look bad or awkward. Everything is done to show the power of the modified 5.0 liter Mustang V8 under the hood. A powerful look for a powerful car, enough said.

Rating: 10/10