Jalopnik: customization

Flavor Flav's Spare Tire Is The New Carbon Fiber Which Was The New Matte Black

Mark Arnold — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:20:00 EDT

Spotted on the back of Flavor Flav's pimped-out Russian UAZ, sources indicate this could be the next big trend in SUV customization at this year's SEMA show, supplanting carbon fiber which was, as everyone remembers, the old matte black. [via EnglishRussia]

What Happens When A Mopar Makes Sweet Love To A Ford?

Travis Hudson — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EDT

The result is what the Avenger should have looked like. It's also the closest thing possible to the Centaur of motor vehicles — a pony car with a Ram-headed Charger front end. [CarScoop] [Carscoop]

Auto Bandage Magnet: Tacky Or Not?

Travis Hudson — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:20:00 EDT

Dealing with minor body damage is an inevitable part of being a car owner. That mom with the stray shopping cart, or careless car-door-opener can put a ding in our body and your heart, but the car bandage magnet is a cute way to remedy those problems, at least if you're a 14-year-old girl, or an adult woman who thinks she's a 14-year-old girl.

These bandages are actually magnets, and possibly better looking than having a nasty ding visible. They could also be funny for when you accidentally ding someone else. Forget about leaving contact information — just slap a bandage on it and you're ready to flee the scene. [Product Page via NA]

BMW iDrive Is Getting More "Updates"

Travis Hudson — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:40:00 EDT

BMW's ~~unholy~~ technological tour-de-force iDrive continues to get additional impressive features. This time around, iDrive is going super-customizable with unique screensavers, backgrounds, sound effects. Of particular interest, via iDrive users will now be able to make performance tweaks like adjusting engine boost levels and transmission shift points. So, how does it work? That's where the fun lies.

The iDrive can be customized and updated from any Internet-enabled computer thanks to GSM telematics (think cell phone technology), which automatically feeds updates to the car. It can also be updated using a USB flash drive, burned CD, or from the inside of the car itself. Check out the link for even more iDrive goodies. [Bimmerfile]

The Link Between Cars, Web 2.0: Hood Stickers!

Travis Hudson — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT

We usually save all of the Web 2.0 shenanigans for our brethren at Valleywag, but this was too ridiculous to not include. One of the founders of Twitter has gone off an launched Infectious. Infectious is a company that designs and sells vinyl car stickers. Just what was needed!

The artwork, which has a tad of a cool-factor, is done by a variety of somewhat famous artists. We're sure that most of you are disappointed that Infectious is currently only in a private beta phase with an official launch coming sometime this summer. [Infectious; Techcrunch]

What's Up With The Japanese Scooter Tuner Crowd?

Travis Hudson — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:20:00 EDT

Japan rightly sits near the top of the world's strange automotive trend setters. What is cool in the United States now is so two years ago for our pals over in the land of the rising sun, so it pains us to speculate that overly gaudy tuner scooters will be the next big trend over here. Hell, people are already installing media centers in them. Our Japanese-savvy friends over at Pink Tentacle have rounded up some of the more unusual looking tuner-scooters from Japan and we're more confused than titillated. A low rider scooter? That's just asking for trouble. [Pink Tentacle]

Mysteries Of Car Customization: Torn Moonroof Edition

Travis Hudson — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Gee golly, I wonder what would cause a tear of this magnitude in the roof of a poor and innocent Lexus? Click for the answer, with a bonus video!

Oh, it's because the owner, Frankie Rio, decided to use a Lexus GS350 for one of those subwoofer decibel competitions. You know, Frankie, there's a reason beater vans are popular for these kinds of competitions. Vans are a lot cheaper and generally, hold many times the speakers, and are made like brick shithouses. Hopefully this display of wanton destruction at least won the competition to pay for the repairs. Who are we kidding? This 159.5 dB monster is probably being held together right now with duct tape and some super glue.
[FloridaSPL via Audiojunkies]

Scion Speak, Because Kids These Days Think Graffiti Is Groovy

Travis Hudson — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:45:00 EDT

Scion Speak is a new online custom graphics generator from the company that brought you the Hako. Don't think the factory dubs and the chrome skull gear lever are custom accoutrement enough? Now you can create free semi-custom coats of arms from a selection of hundreds of graffiti artist designed templates. Once you're done, you can save your design and take it to a sticker maker or paint shop and pay real money to have it made.

I threw together the un-official Jalopnik Scion crest above and plan to make stickers out of it that will adorn every single review vehicle that we come across. (Not really, PR folks)

Apparently, Scion held focus groups in which Scion drivers said they would like a build-your-own, canned creativity, graffiti generator. I know you enjoy your Scion, but a cheesy crest, really? [Scion Speak via CarScoop]

"Spitzer" My Ride Decks Out El Camino With Propane Grill

Travis Hudson — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:30:00 EDT

What is a Maximum El Camino Day without a scene from everyone's ~~favorite~~ car customization show? This episode from season five has the gang from Galpin Auto Sports converting an El Camino into a tailgating machine complete with a propane grill and condiment dispenser. Yes, propane.

If things couldn't get worse, the owner of the El Camino is reportedly a Raiders fan. Putting a propane tank in the back is just asking for an El Caminocide to occur. R.I.P. you ugly Camino and damn the assholes that did this to you. [MTV; LA Times]

Now We're Trucking! Barris Mustang-Camino Ranchero

maustin — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 18:40:00 EDT

We'll be honest, we were getting tired of the Camino posts. In Davey G.'s absence it's hard to maintain a maniacal fervor for the Camino. We were beginning to lose faith. Then we saw this beautiful custom Mustang truck conversion and we were saved. Hallelujah! Whether you're rocking out Limp Bizkit on the way to SuperCuts or cruising the strip in front of your local bowling alley, this Mustang does it all — with class! And it can be yours for only...

$29,500!

Take a close look at the bed, it's absolutely perfect for filling up with ice and bottles of brew. And it's got the Mach 1 shaker hood. It's totally a quality custom job — all the way down to the My-Name-Is-George-Barris logo on the speedometer...paying honor to the King of the Customizers. As for the top — well — it doesn't exist, so this Mustang's only good in fair weather.

Barris Mustang Custom Pick-up 2000 [Beverly Classics]

Related:
More el-caminos [internal]