Modding cars - how did it start then?
Discussion
Reading another MaxP thread, I wonder when and how modding cars started.
Was it in the early 70s, when manufactures started to do hot hatches like the BMW 2002 turbo?
It's been fitted with spoilers, wider wheels and body decals. So was the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 and some Opels and Ford Capri.
These Capri-style coupés were often retrofitted with some kind of rear window louvres, as originally seen on the Lamborghini Miura
IMHO in the early 80s, they started to tune up engines and add some elements like wheels, decals and chromed exhaust end pipes to the outside of the car, to distinguish it from standard cars
Later, I guess, people started to buy only the outside elements to look at least a bit more sporty
Anecdotes anyone?
Was it in the early 70s, when manufactures started to do hot hatches like the BMW 2002 turbo?
It's been fitted with spoilers, wider wheels and body decals. So was the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 and some Opels and Ford Capri.
These Capri-style coupés were often retrofitted with some kind of rear window louvres, as originally seen on the Lamborghini Miura
IMHO in the early 80s, they started to tune up engines and add some elements like wheels, decals and chromed exhaust end pipes to the outside of the car, to distinguish it from standard cars
Later, I guess, people started to buy only the outside elements to look at least a bit more sporty
Anecdotes anyone?
Maxy Power modifiying can be quite risky/expensive if you go to extremes, most modifications follow fashions, you try and sell a wide arched Festa now, after spending thousands on kit and wheels 
and manufactures can get it wrong by being late on the bandwagon, 3 spoke alloy wheels anyone?
and manufactures can get it wrong by being late on the bandwagon, 3 spoke alloy wheels anyone? quote:
I agree with 50's America.
Before Max Power that is for sure
MG should have been one of the earliest then.
I think, they've modded cars before 1900; but today it's a consumer/society/individualisation (sp?) thingy isn't it?
Maybe the roots for that mysterium could be found in 60s touring car racing?
I've got some bolt on goodies produced in the 1920's, sure they weren't the first. They include a nice cable operated bypass for the silencer and a universal air scoop to mount atop a downdraft carburettor.
(I didn't know BMW made a hot hatch 2002 Turbo Bodo, nor Gsxrblue a mini in 1949).
(I didn't know BMW made a hot hatch 2002 Turbo Bodo, nor Gsxrblue a mini in 1949).
No no no no - long before that - I have driven a heavily modified model T ford, 1910, basic unit 3.0 litres developing 24 horsepower - add enlarged sidedraught carb, Frontenac cylinderhead, plus a diff with selectable gear ratios (basic T has only 2 gears, this gives it 4) etc etc(all contemporary upgrades of the time).means that there actually is a 0-60 time! (estimated about 34 horsepower!)..I guess that as long as there have been cars, there have been modifications!
The 750MC runs a class for modified Austin 7's
www.motorsnippets.com/750mc/racing/formulae/750_trophy.html
Basically, take an Austin 7 and make a racing car out of it, bearing in mind they could test on public roads, this must count as modifying.
www.motorsnippets.com/750mc/racing/formulae/750_trophy.html
Basically, take an Austin 7 and make a racing car out of it, bearing in mind they could test on public roads, this must count as modifying.
Also, lots of bolt-on-boy faves started out on "real" cars. Take the wide arches on quattros - pretty soon factories were putting flared arches on all sorts of lesser cars like the old M3 and Integrales, and then as surely as rust follows filler they started appearing on Golfs, Escorts and the other rubbish. No joke - a guy said to me the other day (of the quattro) "Nice body-kit, mate. Where d'ya get it?"
quote:
quote:
(I didn't know BMW made a hot hatch 2002 Turbo Bodo, nor Gsxrblue a mini in 1949).
You're right, gnomesmith, it's not exactly a hot hatch - it's more hot than hatch.
It features a lot of the elements, which are popular to fit to a dull shopping car.
I like the way the turbo graphics are in reverse so you can read them in your mirror and know to get out of the way. Wonder if this is where ambulances got the idea from?
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