A body kit, also called ground effects, is collection of exterior auto body modifications which include front, rear and side skirts. The most common will be the front bumper, rear bumper and side skirts yet it is also pretty common for body kits to include the 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 might be included?
As we discussed they will typically be the front, rear and side skirts. However, some kits do include additional pieces such as fenders, fender flares, wing spoilers, door panel caps, scoops, hoods and more. There are not nearly as many body kits configured this way but sometimes the additional pieces are exactly what is needed to complete the desired look.
What kind of material are they made of?
The three most common materials used are Fiberglass, Poly Urethane and Carbon Fiber. ABS Plastic and hybrid materials are also used as well. Fiberglass is the most common material used and the advantages include lower cost, easy to find and easy to modify. One disadvantage to fiberglass is that they crack more easily than other materials. Also fiberglass will require extra care with fitment due to the fact that fiberglass can expand and contract as it experiences changes in temperature and humidity. Poly Urethane is flexible and resistant to damage and will have much better fitment. Carbon Fiber is a material consisting of extremely thin fibers about 0.005-0.010 mm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. Carbon fiber has a very good strength to weigh ratio and is usually installed unpainted because of the look and that most carbon fiber products are UV protected.
One of the most popular hybrid materials is Duraflex, a fiberglass-based hybrid material with plastic and flex resins which add strength and durability to the product while maintaining a low price.
Why a Body Kit?
With ground effects you can transform the look of your car to give it that style edge that is uniquely your own, you can improve its aerodynamic ability or it can be an economical means for collision repair. There are a lot of options and one just might be right for you.
