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Customize your own car

Yes! There are many ways to customize your own car but what is the best way to do it so that your car looks cool? You want your car look cool and you have the needed budget for all the accessories but what you need to do is find the best way to customize it. A car will still look ugly even lots of money have been spent. An old car can look unique as long as it has something that other cars don’t, for example, a cool air brush on the body. Here today we are going to share you some tips to design your own car in the best way with least money.

First of all, it is always the first impression – the body color and the outlook. A great car will shine your eyes with perfect body colors. Choose properly the color you prefer and try to use the stimulation online programs to see the car virtually. This can avoid any regrets. Choose some special and unique colors such as white pearl, black silica, silver metallic, hot chili red, orange metallic, or any color you think it is unique. If colors does not satisfied you enough, putting a nice airbrush on the body will make it outstanding. If you have seen how Tokyo drifters design their car with air brush, you will fall in love with it. Apart from body paint, eye-catching accessories including door handle, signal lamp cover, crystal-style headlamp, and customized front grille are something cannot be done without. Chrome accessory is a must especially classic car.

In order to make a car look distinctive, a set of cool sport wheels is a necessity. Many cool ready-made wheels are available in the market and you can easily get a set of four for your car. Advanti Racing, American Racing, ASA, Avarus, Axis, BBS, ENKEI, Kosei, Lorenzo, Reaction Alloys, Focal, Foose, Asanti, Motegi Racing, Sparco, DUB, and Ultra are a few famous brands that manufacture car wheels. The key to make a car look cool is to find the best wheel size. Too small make the car look ordinary while too big make it look ugly. A little offset will make it look unique too. On the other hand, you can look for custom wheel builders to build custom wheels for your car. A set of custom wheels will make your car look stunning.

Now you have settled the exterior, it’s time to move on to interior. It is odd that a car looks good from the outside but nothing special inside. Things will be easier if you have already had a theme you love in your mind. Some people love Harry Potter while some prefer Twilight. This is one way to customize your car interior by changing the seat cover, steering wheel, dashboard design, arm rest, head rest, gear knob, and pedal according to the theme you love. In a nutshell, five main things to customize your own car are body color, air brush, accessories, wheel, and interior.

Customize Interior

November 14, 2012
Defunct British Car Manufacturers

Do you know that there were 381 British car manufacturers born in the United Kingdom over a century? 40 car manufacturers among them are still manufacturing cars and export worldwide today but the remaining 341 manufacturers have become history. Some of the defunct manufacturers appeared in the history for a few decades while some just last for a few years due to many reasons. Indeed, some of the British car manufacturers produce very limited cars in a short period of time. This is one reason why there are very unique British antique cars appear in some major antique car shows and you may not be able to recognize the car brand through the logo. Let’s see the list of car manufacturers in the United Kingdom from A to Z which on longer in business today. See also: list of car brands, list of Chinese car brands.

A

Abbey (1922)
ABC (1920-1929)
Aberdonia (1911-1915)
Abingdon (1902-1903)
Abingdon (1922-1923)
Academy (1906-1908)
Accles-Turrell (1899-1901)
Ace (1912-1916)
Achilles (1904-1908)
Adams (1905-1914)
Adamson (1912-1925)
Addison (1906)
Advance (1902-1912)
AEM (1987)
Aero Car (1919-1920)
Aeroford (1920-1925)
Africar (1982-1988)
AGR (1911-1915)
Airedale (1919-1924)
AJS (1930-1932)
Albany (1903-1905)
Albany (1971-1997)
Albatros (1923-1924)
Alberford (1922-1924)
Albert (1920-1921)
Albion (1900-1913)
ALC (1913)
Alex (1908)
Allard (1899-1902)
Allard (1937-1960)
Alldays & Onions (1898-1918)
Allwyn (1920)
All-British (1906-1908)
Alta (1931-1947)
Alvechurch (1912)
Alvis (1919-1967)
Amazon (1921-22)
André (1933-1934)
Anglian (1905-1907)
Anglo-American (1899-1900)
Anglo-French (1896-1897)
Angus-Sanderson (1919-1927)
Arab (1926-1928)
Arbee (1904)
Archer (1920)
Arden (1912-1916)
Argon (1908)
Argyll (1899-1928)
Argyll (1976-1990)
Ariel (1898-1915; 1922-1925)
Arkley (1970-1995)
Armadale (1906-1907)
Armstrong (1902-1904)
Armstrong (1913-1914)
Armstrong Siddeley (1919-1960)
Armstrong Whitworth (1904-1919)
Arno (1908)
Arnold (1896-1898)
Arnott (1951-1957)
Arrol-Aster (1927-1931)
Arrol-Johnston (1896-1928)
Arsenal (1898-1899)
Ascot (1904)
Ascot (1928-1930)
Ashley (1954-1962)
Ashton-Evans (1919-1928)
Asquith (1901-1902)
Aster (1922-1930)
Astra (1954-1959)
Astral (1923-1924)
Atalanta (1915-1917)
Atalanta (1937-1939)
Atlantis (1981-1986)
Athmac (1913)
Atkinson and Philipson (1896)
Atomette (1922)
Attila (1903-1906)
Aurora (1904)
Ausfod (1947-1948)
Austin (1906-1989)
Austin-Healey (1952-1971)
Autotrix (1911-1914)
Autocrat (1920s) (see Hampton)
Autovia (1936-1938)
AV (1919-1924)

B

Baby Blake (1922)
Baker & Dale (1913)
Bantam (1913)
Barnard (1921-1922)
Barnes (1904-1906)
Batten (1935-1938)
Baughan (1920-1929)
Bayliss-Thomas (1922-1929)
Bean (1919-1929)
Belsize (1901-1925)
Berkeley (1956-1961)
Bifort (1914-1920)
Billings-Burns (1900)
Black Prince (1920)
Blériot-Whippet (1920-1927)
Bond (1948-1974)
Bound (1920)
Bow-V-Car (1922-1923)
BPD (1913)
Bradwell (1914)
Brotherhood (1904-1907)
Brough Superior (1935-1939)
Breckland Technology (2000-2009)
Britannia (1913-1914)
British Salmson (1934-1939)
Broadway (1913)
Brooke (1901-1913)
BSA cars (1907-1926; 1929-1940)
Buckingham (1914-1923)
Buckler (1947-c.1962)
Burney (1930-1933)
Bushbury Electric (1897)

C

Calcott (1913-1926)
Calthorpe (1905-1926)
Cambro (1920-1921)
Carden (1912-1923)
Carlette (1913)
Castle Three (1919-1922)
CFB (1920-1921)
Centaur (1974-1978)
Chambers Motors (1904-1929)
Charawacky (1894-1914)
Chater-Lea (1907-1922)
Chota (1912-1913)
Christchurch-Campbell (1922)
Clan (1971-1974)
Clan (1982-1985)
Clarendon (1902-1904)
Climax (1905-1909)
Cluley (1921-1928)
Clyno (1922-1930)
Connaught (1952-59)
Coventry Motor Company (1896-1903)
Coventry Premier (1912-1923)
Coventry-Victor (1926-1938)
Crossley (1904-1937)
Crouch (1912-1928)
Crowdy (1909-1912)
Croxted (1904-1905)

D

Dalgliesh-Gullane (1907-1908)
Dawson (1919-1921)
Deasy (1906-1911)
Dellow (1949-1959)
De Lorean (1981-1982)
Diva (1961-1966)

E

Eadie (1898-1901)
Economic (1921-1922)
Edismith (1905)
Enfield (1969-1973)
Ekstromer (1905)
Electric Motive Power (1897)
Electromobile (1901-1920)
Elswick (1903-1907)
Elva (1958-1968)
Emms (1922-1923)
Endurance (1899-1901)
Esculapeus (1902)
Evante (1983-1994)

F

Fairthorpe (1954-1973)
Frazer Nash (1924-1957)

G

Galloway (1920-1928)
Garrard (1904)
Garrard & Blumfield (1894-1896)
Geering (1899-1904)
Gerald (1920)
Gibbons (1917-1929)
Gilbern (1959-1973)
Gilbert (1901)
Gilburt (1904-1905)
Gill (1958-1960)
GN (1910-1925)
Godfrey-Proctor (1928-1929)
Gordon-Keeble (1960-1961; 1964-1967)
Grose (1898-1901)
Guy (ca1919-1932)
GWK (1911-1931)
Gwynne (1922-1929)
Gwynne-Albert (1923-1929)

H

Hampton (1911-1933)
Healey (1946-1954)
Hewinson-Bell (c.1900)
Hill & Stanier (1914)
Hillman (1907-1976)
Horstmann Cars (1914-1929)
HRG (1936-1956)
Hubbard (1904-1905)
Humber (1896-1976)

I

Iden (1904-1907)
Imperial (1901-c.1906)
Imperial (1904-1905)
Imperial (1914)
Invacar (1947-1977)
Invicta (1900-1905)
Invicta (1913-1914)
Invicta (1925-1950)

J

James and Browne (1901-1910)
Jappic (1925)
Jensen (1936-1976; 1983-1992; 1999-2002)
Jensen-Healey (1972-1976)
Joel-Rosenthal (1899-c.1902)
John O’Gaunt (1901-1904)
Jowett (1906-1954)

K

Karminski (1902)
Kieft (1954-1955)
Kingsburgh (1901-1902)
Kyma (1903-1905)

L

LAD (1913-1926)
Ladas (1906)
Lagonda (1906-1964)
Lambert (1911-1912)
Lammas-Graham (1936-1938)
Lanchester (1895-1956)
Land Master (1970s-1980s)
Lee Stroyer (1903-1905)
Lems (1903-1904)
Lester Solus (1913)
Leuchters (1898)
Leyland (1920-1923)
Light Car Company/LCC
Lloyd (1936-1950)
Lonsdale (1982-1983)
Lotis (1908-1912)
Lucar (1913-14)

M

Madelvic (1898-1900)
Maiflower (1919-1921)
Marauder (1950-1952)
Marcos (1959-2007)
Marendaz (1926-1936)
Marlborough (1906-1926)
Maudslay (1902-1923)
MG (1923-2010)
Mini (1959-2000)
Morris (1913-1983)
Motor Carrier (1904)

N

Napier (c.1900-1924)
Napoleon (1903)
Neale (electric car) (1896)
New Carden (1923-1925)

O

Ogle (1960-1972)
Omega (1925-1927)
One of the Best (1905)
Oppermann (1898-1907)
Orpington (1907-20s)

P

Palm (1922-1923)
Palmerston (1920-1922)
Panther (1972-1992)
Paramount (1950-1956)
Paydell (1924-1925)
Payze (1920-1921)
Peel (1955-1966)
Peerless (1957-1960)
Perry (1913-1916)
Phoenix (1903-1926)
Phoenix (1905)
Piper (1967-1975)
Projecta (1914)

Q

Quadrant (1905-1906)
Quasar-Unipower (1968)
Queen (1904-1905)

R

Railton (1933-1950)
Railton (1989-1994)
Ralph Lucas (1901-c.1908)
Rapier (1933-1937)
Reliant (1952-2002)
Rex (1901-1914)
Rickett (1858-1860)
Ridley (1901-1907)
Riley (1898-1969)
Rochdale (1952-1968)
Rodley (1954-1956)
Roper-Corbet (1911-1913)
Rover (1904-2005)
Rudge (1912-1913)
Russon (1951-1952)
Ruston-Hornsby (1919-1924)
Ryley (1901-1902)
Rytecraft (1934-1940)

S

Santler (1889-1922)
Scootacar (1957-1964)
Scott (1921-1925)
Sheffield-Simplex (1907-1920)
Sheppee (1912)
Siddeley (1902-1904)
Siddeley-Deasy (1912-1919)
Simplic (1914)
Sinclair (1984-1985)
Singer (1905-1970)
Skeoch (1921)
Skirrow (1936-1939)
Smith & Dowse (1900)
Sports Junior (1920-1921)
Squire (1935-1936)
SS (1934-1945)
Standard (1903-1963)
Star (1898-1932)
Sterling (1987-1992)
Storey (1920-31)
Straker-Squire (1906-1925)
Strathcarron (1998-2001)
Sunbeam (1899-1937; 1953-1976)
Sunbeam-Talbot (1938-1954)
Swallow (1931-1934)
Swallow Doretti (1954-1955)
Swift (1900-1931)

T

Talbot (1903-1938)
Tamplin (1919-1925)
Tiny (1912-1915)
Tornado (1958-1964)
Tourette (1956-1958)
Toward & Philipson (1897)
Trident (1965-1978)
Triumph (1923-1984)
Trojan (1922-1936; 1962-1965)
Turner (1951-1966)
Tyseley (1912-1914)

U

Unipower (1966-1970)
Urecar (1923)
Utopian (1914)

V

Vale (1932-1935)
Valveless (1908-1915)
Vanden Plas (1960-1980)
Vapomobile (1902-1904)
Velox (1902-1904)
Vulcan (1902-1928)

W

Warne (1913-1915)
Warwick (1960-1962)
Weigel (1906-1909)
Whitlock (1903-1932)
Wigan-Barlow (1922-1923)
Wilbrook (1913)
Williamson (1913-1916)
Wilson-Pilcher (1901-1904)
Wolseley (1896-1975)
Woodrow (1913-1915)
Wrigley (1913)

X

Xtra (1922-1924)

British Cars

October 2, 2012
Car brands Americans love

Have you ever wondered what are the car brands Americans love or hate? Here we have done an online research involving 1000 Americans from different states to list out the top ten car brands they love. Fortunately, there are five US car brands appeared to be Americans’ top choices when they are considering buying a new car while the rest are mostly Japanese and European cars. However, some of the top marquee we expected to be appeared in the list did not receive good response according to our survey results. Let’s see what the Americans love to drive and hate to drive. See also: list of car brands, list of Chinese car brands.

Lexus (Japan)

In 2011, the total sales of Lexus vehicles in the U.S. are 247,907 units. This amount had outsold Mercedes-Benz by 2,715 units. Today, the Japan born Lexus is the top luxury car brand in the U.S. Most Americans prefer Lexus when they are buying luxury cars. That’s the reason why we see more and more Lexus cars on the street today including the Lexus LS, Lexus IS 250, and Lexus IS350.

BMW (Germany)

Americans love Be-My-Wife, love the Germany born BMW. The BMW 3 Series is BMW’s best-selling model and also one of the most popular cars in the U.S. for many years since 1980s. Besides the 3 Series, BMW X5 is also a popular car in the midsize luxury CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) segment.

Toyota (Japan)

Ladies and gentlemen, it is the Toyota Camry. In May 2012, the 2012 Toyota Camry is the best-selling passenger car. The Toyota Camry is also a car name that often appeared in the top 10 best-selling cars in the U.S.

Honda (Japan)

Honda is a household car brand that Americans love the most. Honda Accord, Honda Civic, and Honda Fit are top choices for Americans when they consider buying a car, either new or used. This is because 100,000 km does no harm to a Honda Civic engine and we have tested that. As for Accord, the biggest competitors are Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat, and Chevrolet Malibu.

Buick (United States)

Yes, Buick is a local car manufacturer born in the United States. The brand received many positive comments from our survey results. Among the brand, Buick Lucerne and Buick Enclave are two most popular Buick cars preferred by Americans.

Cadillac (United States)

Cadillac is yet another American car brand founded over 100 years ago and now owned by General Motors (GM). Perhaps the high performance, daring design, long-history, and groundbreaking technology are what make it a successful brand?

Dodge (United States)

Dodge is an America-based car brand founded in 1900. With a few notable cars such as the Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Ram, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Viper, and Dodge Caravan, the brand stay on the top list steadily.

Lincoln or Mercury (United States)

Lincoln and Mercury are two famous US car brands owned by Ford Motor Company.

GMC (United States)

Try to look for any GMC cars when you are out on the street everyday. The chances of seeing a GMC car is pretty high as they are almost everywhere. In 2007, GMC used to be General Motor’s second-largest-selling cars after Chevrolet.

Hyundai (Korea)

Thanks to Hyundai American design center located in California which develops designs specially for US markets, Hyundai cars have received good response in the recent years compared to early days. The Hyundai Genesis was named the 2009 North American Car of the Year and Hyundai Sonata was awarded “Top Safety Pick” from IIHS.

Based on the results from the survey, we made a conclusion that Americans prefer high quality cars and the price tag must reflect all value found within the car itself and after-sales service from manufacturers. That’s one main reason why we see some biggest car manufacturers are now offering 10 years warranty on their cars. Quality says it all.

September 28, 2012
British Car Manufacturers
Here is your delicious A-list of current British car manufacturers from A to Z you ever hunted. United Kingdom is one of the few countries that built cars before 1900s. The first car brand founded in the UK is Rickett which built steam-powered car in 1860. Since then, more and more British car brands appeared in the history. Without any surprise, there are 381 British car manufacturers since 1858. 40 of them are currently still manufacturing and selling cars. Some of them are now world’s famous car makers including MINI, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Bentley, Aston Martin, Lotus, Land Rover, Jaguar, Daimler, and Caterham. See Defunct British Car Manufacturers for the list of car brands that is no longer in the business. See also: list of car brands, list of Chinese car brands.

List of current British car manufacturers
1. AC (since 1908) – One of the few notable AC cars are AC Cobra.
2. Ariel (since 1999)
3. Ascari (since 1995)
4. Aston Martin (since 1921) – Aston Martin makes cars like no others, otherwise why James Bond always use it?
5. Bentley (since 1919) – The Bentley was born inEnglandand it builds high-performance cars with discreet British elegance. If it talks, it must have a very sweet British accent.
6. Berkeley (since 1991)
7. Bristol (since 1946)
8. Brooke (since 1991)
9. Caparo (since 2006)
10. Caterham (since 1973)
11. Connaught Motor Company (since 2004)
12. Daimler (since 1896) – One of the earliest car manufacturers in United Kingdom.
13. Eterniti Motors (since 2010) – A new comer in automobile industry.
14. Farboud (since 2004)
15. Aquada (since 2004)
16. Ginetta (since 1957)
17. Grinnall (since 1993)
18. Invicta (since 2004)
19. Jaguar (since 1945) – One of the very famous car brands in the world.
20. JZR (founded 1989)
21. Land Rover (since 1948)
22. Lea-Francis (founded 1903)
23. Lister (founded 1954)
24. Locost (since 1995)
25. Lotus (since 1951)
26. McLaren (founded 1969)
27. MINI (since 2001, the original Mini was introduced in 1959) – Millions of MINI have been sold worldwide since 2001, anymore to say?
28. MK Indy (since 1996)
29. Morgan (since 1910)
30. Noble (since 1998)
31. Nova (since 1971)
32. Prodrive (since 1984)
33. Radical (since 1997)
34. Rolls-Royce (since 1904) – Rolls-Royce is a British car manufacturer that produces luxury cars and supply the finest machine worldwide. The factory is currently located at the Goodwood plant in West Sussex, England.
35. Trident (since 1999)
36. Triking (since 1978)
37. TVR (since 1954)
38. Ultima (since 1992)
39. Vauxhall (since 1903)
40. Westfield (since 1982)
As you can see from the list above, there are several car manufacturers who have been playing a role in the automobile industry for more than a century. Currently, the longest surviving British car manufacturer is Daimler. If you are in the market for high quality car, British cars are without doubt one of the best to be in your choice.
September 28, 2012
Toyota AE86

Although the production of Toyota AE86 has only last for five years from 1983 to 1987, the car has unfinishable story to tell. It has been more than two decades since the production stopped but there are still many people sought after this car crazily today. If you own an old Toyota AE86 with or without any modification, one door may open by itself when you go through a hump; the interior smells like cockroach; the car hesitates when accelerating; several mosquitoes flying around inside the car when the door is opened, it doesn’t matter at all. The car is still able fetch a good price with all these defects.

Toyota AE86 rear view with ducktail spoiler

Why? The main reason is because the Toyota AE86 has several stories that make it so popular and sought after by car collectors. In 1983, Toyota launched the AE86 as “yet another Toyota Corolla” without expecting that the car will become so famous. The AE86 comes in two body styles – Toyota Sprinter Trueno and Toyota Corolla Levin. The word Trueno means thunder in Spanish and it has a retractable headlight which is more popular compared to Levin. Levin means lighting in Old English and the headlight is fixed just like the Toyota Corolla E80. They are often called Toyota AE86 Trueno, Toyota AE86 Levin, Toyota Levin AE86, or whatever you call it.

Toyota AE86 Levin

Under the hood, the AE86 is powered by a four-cylinder 4A-GE engine producing 130 PS and 150 Nm of torque. The lightweight body, high torque engine, rear-wheel drive setup and LSD make it one of the best cars to drift. Thanks to the anime and manga Initial D, the AE86 Trueno becomes more and more famous. In 2005, Hong Kong released an Initial D film featuring Jay Chou as Takumi. The film once again makes the AE86 Trueno more popular. See: Toyota 86 drift around two Toyota AE86

An original Toyota AE86 gathering

Other than Initial D, an important person who makes this car popular is our Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya. Tsuchiya creates many motoring series featuring the AE86 and often the AE86 outraces many other famous sports cars including Nissan Skyline GT-R, Mazda RX-7, and Nissan 180SX.

An original Toyota AE86 seat

Today, we can almost see the AE86 in many drift shows and competitions. It is one of the best drift cars ever since the 80s. Don’t blame if your father or grandfather didn’t buy a Toyota AE86 20 years ago because you can now buy a Toyota 86 which inspired by the AE86.

Now here are some of the Toyota AE86 pictures. You can see some of the cars are painted in different colors although most of them are painted with the famous panda color (black and white). You can also see different types of engines under the hood including 4A-GE 16V, 4A-GE 20V, and 4A-GZE. Some of the engines are NA, some are supercharger, and there is one in the pictures here is powered by a 3S-GE turbo engine. Enjoy!

Toyota AE86 gallery

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September 26, 2012