The New Trends on Vehicle Custom

Over the years, many different trends in car accessories have come and gone. Trendy fads that were once popular include neon underbody kits, slid-out 13-inch spoked wheels, neon washer nozzles, headlight and taillight covers, air shocks, and giant rear spoilers, to name a few. Today there are many of the same styles from the past that are still popular but with a slightly different interpretation or style.

One such item that has come and gone over the years is tinted automotive custom lighting and taillight covers. These items were very popular in the mid to late 1990s and sales slowed in the early 2000's. However, many people still like the look of blacked-out headlights without the many disadvantages of Lexan covers such as ill-fitting parts, problems with covers coming loose due to double-sided tape installation, and the biggest downside of these items: dramatically reduced light after the break-in Darkness. These products have also been scrutinized by local law enforcement officials over the years for their light reduction that caused many accidents.

While many customizers still like the look of tinted headlights and taillights, the latest trend is to actually tint the factory or aftermarket headlights, position lights, and taillights. There are companies that sell kits that use some kind of film to make this project happen; However, the problem with these kits is that it is difficult to achieve full coverage, often leaving gaps around the edges uncovered. The most reliable way to tint car lenses is to actually spray them with car paint. Starting with a black base coat, the painter reduces the transparency of the color by adding thinner and then spraying this onto the light. The light is then clear coated and wet sanded to create a very glossy, glass-like finish. In the past, many of the custom lighting options on the market were only available to owners of popular models like Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Dodge Neon, Ford Focus, etc. By painting the factory lights, this is a custom lighting option for the owner of any vehicle, not just the most popular models.

The next items popular today in the auto accessory space actually got their start in the truck accessory industry and have only recently made a crossover. One trend making a comeback in the auto accessory space is chrome trim. Historically, many cars have seen chrome trimmings on every imaginable edge of the car including door edges, gas cap, trunk lid, rain guard, etc. Instead of using universal stick-on chrome trim, today many parts are custom made for specific vehicles and are meant to look like as if they were factory made. These items include chrome door handle covers, mirror covers, pillar post covers, rocker covers, custom headlights for cars and taillight covers, and even chrome rain and insect screens. Most of these items are easy to install by installing them over the factory parts with double-sided adhesive. These items are made specifically for each vehicle and can greatly enhance the look of a base model vehicle when used in moderation.

Another item that also had its beginnings in the truck aftermarket is custom grilles. Over the years, custom grille packs have been popular with many car enthusiasts. However, these items were often hard to find for cars, and many vehicles that included these products had items custom made by custom auto repair shops or by their owners.

Today there is a wide range of grilles for cars, trucks and SUVs. These include billet grills, chrome mesh grills, honeycomb style speed grills, chrome factory style grille shells, custom aftermarket chrome grille shells, aluminum mesh and many different styles of grille overlays including flames, "punch out" and many other different designs . The current and most popular style is the chrome grille, which is similar to the mesh grilles found on Bentleys. Companies that offer this type of grille include EFX, Grillecraft, T-Rex, Strut, and Precision Grilles. These grilles are often more expensive than the billet style grille, but the finished product is far more impressive on many vehicles than what the billet style grille can offer.

Many companies have recognized the appeal of upgrading the on-vehicle grille for consumers and have made tremendous strides in the availability of items in this space. Today, almost every make and model of vehicle has a custom grille option that allows this type of customization on almost any car.

These articles are just some of the latest trends in the auto accessories industry. As previously described, many of these items have been around for years but have found different styles or interpretations in today's market. Hopefully some of the items from the past will never return, but only time will tell.

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