Custom Dreams - BodyShop Business

Custom Dreams

The SEMA Show has me wanting to turn my '09 Honda Civic into a mad whip.

Yeah, I’m thinking rim covers. And a big spoiler. I don’t know about you, but this year’s SEMA Show got me thinking about all the things I could do to my 2009 Honda Civic. As if my son hadn’t.

If I would’ve listened to my son, I would already have a giant spoiler, nitrous under the hood, “sick” wheels and footwell lights. But as I explained to the car crazy 13-year-old kid who has watched all of the “Fast and Furious” movies several times, I am 42 years old. Such additions to my modest Civic would look ridiculous and have people my age driving by and giving me contemptuous stares, muttering, “Aw, grow up!”

Still, I’m considering moderate, subtle enhancements. I’m sure the SEMA Show has that effect on everybody. You go there and end up prowling the aisles and salivating like a wolf, ogling the delectable cars and thinking of all the possibilities. As I glided around the Global Tire Expo and spied the Lamborghini Aventador, I thought, OK, this is out of my price range, but I can turn my Civic into a mad whip.

As I’ve said before, I’m not a car guy or a gearhead, but the SEMA Show gets me as close to that as I’ll ever be.

And then the buzzkill. Someone actually published an article after the show titled, “10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Customize Your Car.” Negatively impacting resale value, negatively impacting performance, blah blah blah. Way to bring a guy down!

I think I’ll stick to my modified tail pipe.

You May Also Like

Navigating the Intricate Landscape of Coatings and ADAS

With refinish and ADAS, the theme time and time again comes back to: check the OEM repair recommendations.

Just like fixing a simple dent in a quarter panel isn’t so simple anymore, the same can be said for repairing and refinishing a bumper cover. And it’s all because of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).  

Preparing vehicles with ADAS seems a little bit like the Wild West these days, particularly in the realm of paint and coatings. It is critical that refinishers follow OEM guidelines and recommendations when repairing vehicles with ADAS. Even so, gray areas can remain.

The Digital Transformation of Collision Repair

The strategic integration of digital tools and technologies in body shops is becoming the new refinish industry benchmark.

What Constitutes Custom Color in Automotive Refinish?

It could be argued that any aftermarket coatings that are not represented by an OEM offering is custom … but that’s a moving target.

Technology Advancements in the Paint Shop

We’ve come a long way as far as paint technology goes, from not mixing at all to digital color management.

Auto Body Refinish: Paint Prep Fundamentals

Nothing is faster or more profitable than accuracy — doing it right the first time.

Other Posts

The Digital Blitz

We talk so much about how much collision repair is changing, but so is the world of media!

Auto Body Shops: Building a Foundation for the New Year

For the new year, it’s important to conduct a thorough audit of your finances to look for areas of opportunity and things to change.

Auto Body Consolidation Update: There’s a New Buyer in Town

The good news for shops that want to sell but do not fit a consolidator’s
profile is that there is a fresh pool of new buyers.

Is Your Auto Body Shop a Hobby … or a Business?

So you want to provide safe and properly repair vehicles to your customers … even at a financial loss?