What is a body kit?

A body kit, also called ground effects, is a collection of exterior car body modifications that include front, rear and side skirts. The most common will be the front bumper, rear bumper and side skirts, but it is also quite common for body kits to include front and rear lips instead of bumpers. The components are designed to complement each other and work together as a complete design. Despite this, the ‘mix and match’ approach is often seen on cars, where the front of one body kit will be matched with the rear of another.

What else could be included?

As we discussed, it will normally be the front, rear and side skirts. However, some kits include additional parts such as fenders, fender flares, side spoilers, door panel covers, air intakes, hoods and more. There aren’t that many body kits set up this way, but sometimes the add-on parts are exactly what’s needed to complete the desired look.

What kind of material are they made of?

The three most common materials used are fiberglass, polyurethane, and carbon fiber. ABS plastic and hybrid materials are also used. Fiberglass is the most commonly used material and advantages include lower cost, easy to find, and easy to modify. One disadvantage of fiberglass is that it cracks more easily than other materials. Additionally, fiberglass will require special care with assembly due to the fact that fiberglass can expand and contract as it experiences changes in temperature and humidity. Polyurethane is flexible and resistant to damage and will have a much better fit. Carbon fiber is a material consisting of extremely thin fibers approximately 0.005-0.010 mm in diameter and composed primarily of carbon atoms. Carbon fiber has a very good strength to weight ratio and is generally installed unpainted due to its appearance and because most carbon fiber products are UV protected.

One of the most popular hybrid materials is Duraflex, a fiberglass-based hybrid material with plastic and flexible resins that add strength and durability to the product while keeping the price low.

Why a body kit?

With ground effects, you can transform the look of your car to give it that touch of style that’s uniquely yours, it can improve its aerodynamics, or it can be an inexpensive means of collision repair. There are many options and one might be right for you.