Most of us will limit the changes and modifications to our cars to perhaps an air freshener and perhaps a new coat of paint in time. Like an iPhone or some shoes, a car is a status symbol and also a means to an end. The generally high cost will often be enough to dissuade us from dumping more money into a car than we absolutely need to.

But as with so many other things, fandoms and interest groups form around any topic and cars are no exception. While some form exists in nearly every country, Japan is often touted as the place for a wide-ranging and innovative car culture, for better or worse. Unlike, say, the United States, Japan has an extensive network of trains and other mass transit, so owning a car isn’t a necessity. 

So someone taking their time to purchase a dream vehicle might see it as a way to express their own interests and style, not just a means of transportation. The massive aftermarket for parts and designs in Japan has spread all over the world, so enthusiasts can change and transform every part of their vehicle. And like anything else, people can and will make questionable design choices. 

In a ceaseless competition to stand out and be unique, some of their car owners might make tuning decisions that appear absurd to 99% of the population. On the one hand, we can laugh, but on the other, we see a person who has made their personality and stylistic choices real and tangible and is happy to display them publicly. 

In the 21st century, having a “weird” car is easier than ever. There is a huge market of used vehicles so you can still have a car that’s “presentable” while at the same time owning, for example, a suede-covered monstrosity. Indeed, access to a host of old, relatively unwanted cars might be the perfect scenario for any true gearhead with a plan. 

Given that some people already modify their cars to be a sort of domicile, it’s not surprising that nearly every sort of modification one can imagine probably already exists in one form or another. Some enthusiasts might even treat the car as a sort of art project, never intending to seriously drive it around, except to get it from the seller or dealership to a garage. 

At some point, it’s easier to understand these images if you treat the car as an art project, not just a vehicle. While a car might be a strange sort of canvas, it’s unique dimensions are perhaps a better inspiration then something more neutral, like a slab of marble or a blank piece of paper. 

While most of these “upgrades'' are purely for aesthetics, it’s surprisingly common for there to be smaller improvements made to interiors, often for comfort. Better seats are a solid place to start, as spending hours in old, worn-out chairs isn’t just uncomfortable, but downright bad for one’s back. Adding in some leather trim is just another way to communicate that little bit of luxury. 

And it’s hard to imagine any serious road trip without cup holders for some sugary drinks and some method to get music playing in the car. While it can be a bit distracting to navigate while a song plays, spending multiple hours in silence, with the everpresent hum of the engine in the background seems like a guaranteed way to make someone go mad. 

In countries like the US, it does make some sense to invest more into one’s motor vehicle. We can debate the pros and cons of car-centered infrastructure all day, but the reality is that most people simply need a car to get around, so doing what one can to improve its level of comfort is a major quality of life upgrade. 

And if that extends to the exterior of the car, so be it. Perhaps it’s a way to reclaim those hours of the day stuck in traffic. You are no longer in some metal box getting you from home to work, you are in a machine of your own making. Plus other computers get something interesting to look at. If you feel like exploring more weird cars, look no further, check out Bored Panda’s other article on this topic.