It goes without saying that, almost without exception, aftermarket body kits detract from the overall appearance of the cars to which they are applied, at the same time that they express the unique individuality of their owners/appliers. Seriously, it’s like adding a mustache to the Mona Lisa, or putting clothes on Kate Upton.
But what about factory body kits? You know there have been a ton of them, do they do a better job, tarting up their respective cars, seeing as they come from the company that designed the car in the first place? I’m going to say that’s more the exception rather than the rule, and my thoughts around this were first formed when following a GMC Acadia on a recent drive home, one that had a factory – or at least dealer – applied body kit, which was hideous.
In fact, I’m having hard time deciding if there has ever been a factory body kit that has been good looking. I need your help in finding if such a creature exists. What do you think has been a car or truck that actually looks good with a factory body kit?
Image: LineOne.net
Hooniverse Asks- What Car or Truck Actually Looks Good With a Factory Body Kit?
By Robert Emslie
Feb 11, 2015
Jeff Glucker
Obvious answer is obvious: Peugeot 205 GTI and Renault 5 Turbo 2.
<img src="http://www.larevueautomobile.com/images/Peugeot/205-GTI/Exterieur/Peugeot_205_GTI_002.jpg" width="640/"><img src="http://www.lrm-collection.fr/Photo_big_Renault_5-turbo-2_1983_2159_4.jpg" width="640/">
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/vgQ97Nd.jpg" width="600">
Alfa Romeo released a limited edition version of the 75 in the UK only, with the "Veloce" body kit, which is by far my favorite look for this car.
<img src="https://h-a.d-cd.net/2e83c3u-960.jpg" width=500 /img>
Can we grandfather the Hammer into being a factory body kit?
But even the Hammer can't touch this:
<img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/evo2_seiteli_01_zpskkkoliic.jpg" width=512>
That wing shouldn't work, but it does.
My my my my…
Early first model W124, rubbing strips to doors, unpainted bumpers.'86,'87
<img src="http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Mercedes-W124-aero.jpg" width="400">
Second series W124, plastic cladding to doors and sill, matching but different colour to bumpers.10% lower drag. Bumper insert bump strips unpainted.
<img src="http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachments/w124-e-ce-d-td-class/380380d1307764384-any-good-w124s-mb-pictures-garage-benzes.jpg" width="400">
<img src="http://paultan.org/images.paultan.org/uploads/2007/04/w124.jpg"width="400">
I'm a bit biased, of course.
<img src="http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/96919/96919_Front_3-4_Web.jpg" width=500>
Barf.
Smoke *all* the tires!
3rd Gen Toyota 4Runner basically needed the body kit.
Here it is without:
<img src="http://cimg.carsforsale.com/478828/24E7CF4F-8CA0-4965-B12A-0C7F7DF27375_1.jpg" width="500/">
Here with:
<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/puravida417/2002 Toyota 4runner Sport 4×4/IMG_0047.jpg" width="500/">
(As the 1994 Ford Lightning only had a front valence for a "body kit" I'll save my ultimate bias for another day.)
Hideous both ways.
Opinion every way.
The base truck just needed the big wheels and tires. Wheels make the vehicle.
The SRT line does a very nice job as the kits are subtle. Nothing gaudy and atrocious.
<img src="http://www.autosspecs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/jeep-grand-cherokee-2012-2.jpg" width="300"> <img src="http://newcarreleased.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/2014-chrysler-300-srt8-white.jpg" width="300"> even back to the old SRT Rams<img src="http://images.thecarconnection.com/med/2004-dodge-ram-srt-10-srt-10_100030445_m.jpg" width="300">
I don't mean to offend, but there has never been a spoiler on a pickup that was not gaudy and atrocious.
I've always thought the IROC treatment was pretty well integrated.
<img src="http://exporg.com/asset/iroc-z-camaro.jpg" width="700px"/>
3rd-gen Camaro (Firebirds, too – I love me some GTA)
<img src="https://autopolis.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/1992rs.jpg"width=500>
Great minds.
And you have the same amount of "p" as me.
Are you my doppleganger? Or am I yours?
I need a drink.
HoonBalls – "I see your P is as big as mine."
The time stamp says that you beat me by six minutes, but I assure you that your post wasn't there when I composed mine. There's no way that I spent 6 minutes looking at 3rd-Gen F bodies as I waded through Google image results, right?
I agree about the Camaro, but prefer the scoop-less version above.
My wifes' UK MkII Ford Mondeo Zetec S – Ford fitted the ST24 bodykit to the last few made to use them up! We loved the look when we bought it & still do! Sorry – no image.
That's close to what we got here as the Contour SVT.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Ford-SVT-Contour.jpg"width=500>
Are we talking just a factory-optional body kit that was applied to a model, or a submodel that wore modified bodywork?
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v620/garymorgan/cars/M3photoshoot161.jpg" width="720">
Any M3 works well under this definition.
It wasn't much of a looker when it first came out, and it still wasn't much of a looker with the street-oriented "SC" appearance package, but I think it was surely improved.
<img src="http://www.allcarz.ru/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/foto-honda-element_01.jpg" width="700px"/>
I agree. I didn't dislike the Krom edition of the Cube as much as the standard Cube, either.
"The Nissan Cube, Krom edition — when you're a lonely road warrior surrounded by hordes of traffic, it's the answer to your prayers."
<img src="https://thunderclam.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/conan-the-barbarian_screengrab_conan-praying-to-crom.jpg", width="500">
[After some Google image searching: ooh, OK. I see what you did there, Nissan.]
Can I nominate my daily driver? I really like the body kits on the C36 AMG.
<img src="http://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/mercedes-vehicles/218324d1316192500-1997-mercedes-benz-c36-amg-img_20110710_092602.jpg" width="600">
Since I (and Kiefmo) already nominated the F-body, I'll give a shout out to the Fox. The F-body looked better with the body kit than without. The Fox Mustang looked good enough in LX trim, so I hesitate to say that the GT looks better, but the question isn't what looks better with the factory body kit, just what looks good with it, and the GT looks good.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Mustang_5.0_T-top.jpg/800px-Mustang_5.0_T-top.jpg" width="500/">
Never liked this GT body kit. The scoops were too much and not well integrated, in my view.
I prefer this one:
<img src="http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/1979-1980-1981-ford-mustang-17.jpg" width=600>
<img src="http://www.automobilesreview.com/uploads/2012/08/Canepa-Cadillac-CTS-V-Wagon-Body-Kit-03.jpg" width=500>
Is a lengthened roof line considered a body kit?
Naw but new bumper and hood are. I think this had a little extra over the regular nip/tuck the V's got though.
I'm not even sure it looks good but it does get the point across…
<img src="http://preview.netcarshow.com/Dodge-Charger_Daytona-1969-1024-02.jpg"width=500>
Is that (and its brother the Plymouth Superbird) the longest front overhang of any production car?
renault super 5 GTT and GTE
<img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6178/6186518744_fb209151d0_o.jpg?width=1024&height=770" width="600">
<img src="http://www.j-spec.com.au/f15946/1988-Mitsubishi-Starion-GSR-VR_widebody_01.jpg" width="600">
Thats not an M5 but 5-series something with factory body kit
<img src="http://www.carsbase.com/photo/BMW-5_series_E39_mp2_pic_68105.jpg">
Lose the black kidney grille and M6 style wheels and we'll talk.
Since the Peugeot 205 and both iterations of the Renault 5 Turbo are taken, I'm nominating the Renault Alliance GTA. For comparison, here's a standard Alliance 2-door:
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/WHtBLDj.jpg" width="500/">
And here's the GTA convertible (had a hard time finding a decent picture of the hardtop):
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/mjI3lBy.jpg" width="500/">
The differences aren't night and day, but it's enough to change the character of the car with some very minor tweaking to the overall shape.
let's have look on the factory build Renault 11 Turbo Zender!
<img src="http://voitures.renault.free.fr/albums/1983_-_R11/grise_RENAULT-11-turbo-zender-3959.jpg" width="600">
GM sure has done a lot of body kits, and most were pretty awful. Some were still lovable for their quirkiness like the Eurosport VR. Many were not (pretty much all the Pontiacs made in my lifetime). Perhaps because of the sheer numbers, some GM body kits were actually pretty good. I always liked the Cutlass Ciera International Edition:
<img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2014/03/22/21/36/1986_oldsmobile_cutlass_ciera-pic-4446453973752638418.jpeg" width=512>
Also from Oldsmobile, the Ninety-Eight was a pretty classy design:
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/91-96_Oldsmobile_98.jpg" width=511>
I'm with you on the Sierra, but that Ninety Eight is awful.
The LSS, on the other hand:
<img src="http://www.all-carz.com/data_images/oldsmobile-lss/oldsmobile-lss-11.jpg">
Porsche 924.
<img src="http://car-from-uk.com/ebay/carphotos/full/ebay142028959057257.jpg" width="720">
Porsche 924 Carrera GT.
<img src="http://www.artandrevs.com/_img/galerie_prods/39_629.jpg" width="720">
The standard 2-door Fiat 131
<img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2704/4381801534_d2d4db9199_b.jpg" width="600">
and the awesome 131 Abarth
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/hSYt0jt.jpg" width="600">
Now if only they did they same with this…
<img src="http://img7.autonavigator.ru/carsfoto/1280/8767/121214/Fiat_131_Wagon_1974.jpg" width="600">
<img src="http://www.civictyper.org/images/ek9.jpg">
Biased answer:
Before:
<img src="http://www.autodetective.com/_upload/photos/ford/taurus/1990/13707.jpg" width="600">
After:
<img src="http://www.01autoinsurance.com/images/fraud/1990-ford-taurus.jpg" width="600">
Subtle, but it works.
Flares and wings never did hurt the Escorts
<img src="http://portaldosclassicos.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/maxresdefault.jpg"width="500">
<img src="https://amoritzgt.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/ford_escort_rs_coswort1.jpg">
For those who like it boxy.
<img src="http://www.topgear.com/au/assets/cms/87aec10f-bbcb-4881-92e8-049946da1543/670x377Image.jpg?p=110327_11:08" width=500>
<img src="http://autocognito.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/1989-peugeot-405-mi-16.jpg" width="666">
<img src="http://www.saab-blog.com/images/189.jpg" width="666">
<img src="http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=234947&stc=1&d=1366728621">
Needs moar Thunderbird
<img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Spring-Carlisle-Auction-Auctions-America-Mozilla-Firefox-3192011-114929-AM.bmp.jpg" width="500"/>
<img src="http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2011/06/LilRedExpresscollection_02_700.jpg" width=500>
Standard Commodore '95 VR 3rd gen
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/1995_Holden_Commodore_%28VR_II%29_Executive_sedan_%282011-11-30%29_01.jpg/1024px-1995_Holden_Commodore_%28VR_II%29_Executive_sedan_%282011-11-30%29_01.jpg" width="500">
HSV Commodore VS with Callum designed bodykit.
<img src="http://resources.carsguide.com.au/dp/images/uploads/HSV_VS_GTS-w.jpg"width="500">
I love the HSV GTS bodykit on the monaro!
<img src="http://www.hsv.com.au/images/cars/VY2/CoupeGTS.jpg" width="600">
Hard to isolate the impact of the body kit with all of the aesthetic awesomeness spewing forth from the hood bird and shaker, but:
Firebird Esprit:
<img src="http://jimsuva.typepad.com/.a/6a0133f3b4d1c3970b017d401bc523970c-pi" width="600">
Trans Am:
<img src="http://www.motorera.com/firebird/1978/78transam5.jpg">
The last gen ford probes look downright awful in non GT form.
It has to be the Mercedes 190e 2.5 (or if you have to 2.3) 16v 'Cosworth'. My father owned one from new until 2011 when we sadly sold it. I really do think that the 'modifications' are rather tasteful.
<img src="IMAGE URL" width="600">
<img src="IMAGE URL" width="600">