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Hot or Not: Custom Paint Jobs
Oct 12 2009 by Sara Lacey
I love to see everyday objects transformed into something unusual. With the help of my two backseat test riders, I’ve noticed lots of cars with custom paint jobs and decals. Spotting those snazzy-looking cars is the new favorite topic of our I-Spy car game. In an everyday life that can include too much time in the car, it’s fun to see something different on the road.
I’m not the only one who thinks this. Upscale car manufacturers allow customers to select from a variety of custom paint colors for their new cars. Automakers also use these custom jobs to build a buzz and promote their brands. Lexus recently covered an IS 350 in tennis-ball felt for tennis’ U.S. Open, and each year, a famous artist gives custom paint job to a BMW as part of the automaker’s BMW Art Cars project. Of course, my favorite part of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” is the fabulous paint jobs on the participant’s vehicle.
At MotherProof.com, we’ve had test cars from BMW and Volkswagen with decals declaring the car’s environmental friendliness. Even our Chief Mama, Kristin Varela, found a gem in the “Shaggin’ Wagon’s” custom paint job. While not quite the same as Suzy Someone in her pink VW Beetle, it’s still interesting.
I do love Suzy Someone in her pink Beetle and Larry Lexodus in his glittery-red Lexus IS. Are custom paint jobs Hot or Not? What are some of the interesting paint jobs you’ve seen on the road? Tell us in the comment section below.
Sorry, but I’d say most are an insult to the cars’ designers. It’s a free country, so do what you want with your own property. Just be prepared for the serious depreciation you’ll encounter at resale or trade in. Regarding “upscale car manufacturers” and their custom colors, you can rest assured that the palette was pre-approved by the car’s designers. Taking it beyond that falls in line with 22” wheels, gold-plating trim, and vinyl roofs…