The world of car modifications is a rich and complex one: from subtle upgrades to engine swaps to tasteful restomods of a beloved classic, car enthusiasts have been modifying their cars for as long as there have been cars.
However, tasteful modifications are very much not what we’re dealing with here today. While browsing through the internet, we have come across a number of modified cars that have definitely seen better days, and some that look like they’re begging to be put out of their misery. Questionable body kits, homemade go-karts, and things that aren’t Mustangs disguised as Mustangs: there truly is something for everyone to either laugh at, be horrified by, or both. Let’s explore this cavalcade of car mod atrocities, from the bizarre to the downright dangerous.
2024 Ford Mustang Coupe
- Engine
-
2.3L Turbo Inline-4 Gas, 5.0L Ti-VCT V8
- Horsepower
-
315-500 hp
- 0-60 MPH
-
4.1-5.2 seconds
- Top Speed
-
155-166 mph
This list includes 10 of what we consider to be among the worst car modifications we’ve come across while browsing the internet lately. Items are listed in no particular order.
1
Mansory Chopster Porsche Cayenne
To start off, we couldn’t put this list together without including one of Mansory’s creations. While, on occasions, the controversial German tuning firm has managed to create something that is actually pleasant to look at, this Cayenne does not belong in that category.
The Chopster build, as Mansory refers to it, adds a lot of bulk to an already large car, along with a questionably redesigned front end. The original bodywork and interior have been replaced almost completely with carbon fiber, and the car has been covered in silver decals just to keep it extra subtle. A large set of alloy wheels completes the picture, just in case the Chopster hadn’t attracted enough attention.
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2
“Ford F-150”-style Cybertruck
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a Cybertruck… disguised as a Ford F-150. That’s right, Tesla itself gave this Cybertruck a custom wrap that, at first glance, resembles its Ford rival. The reason? Not just a creative way to disguise prototypes, but also a unique marketing stunt in typical Tesla fashion (remember the Roadster that got sent into space a few years back?).
Tesla used the wrapped Cybertrucks to “troll” its competitors, disguising the futuristic vehicle as other pickups popular on the US market. The F-150 isn’t the only victim: a Cybertruck was also spotted wearing a Toyota Tundra wrap.
3
This Ford F-150 Build
Speaking of the Ford F-150, this particular one has had an even worse fate than having its likeness used on a Cybertruck. In 2023, an online advert popped up trying to sell something that had once been an F-150, but had now been the subject of so many questionable modifications as to be almost unrecognizable.
From badges of several different carmakers to Halloween-decoration skulls to a turbo that is seemingly not connected to anything, we have no idea what the point of this build really was. Several NOS bottles are used purely for ornamental purposes, and the engine bay is stuffed with questionable decor, as is the interior. At least in the interior it won’t be a fire hazard. The same can’t be said for the engine bay.
4
Orange Fish Mazda3
Part pumpkin, part fish, this Mazda 3 has been transformed into a build that’s most charitably described as “unique”, although plenty of more colorful adjectives also apply. The front end has had a dramatic transformation, with a custom bumper that resembles the mouth of a laughing fish; on the side of the car, we find some weird squiggly lines (Flames? Tentacles? Gills? Who knows).
The modifications are purely cosmetic and do not extend to any part of the car’s powertrain, which has been left completely stock. The car has also been looked after well otherwise, with a low mileage and a clean interior, suggesting the former owner was heavily invested in this build. Well, to each their own.
5
Garfield Volkswagen Beetle
More orange, this time in a slightly different (but equally puzzling) package. This time, the car in question isn’t orange because it was built to resemble an aesthetically challenged clownfish, but because it’s going for a very specific theme: iconic comic strip character Garfield, the cat of lasagna-eating and Monday-hating fame.
A Reddit user from the “Shitty_Car_Mods” community, a veritable goldmine of automotive crimes against humanity, spotted this unique build on Facebook Marketplace, being sold in the UK. Granted, the Beetle already has a quirky enough underlying character that it might be able to get away with a modification like this without being overly ridiculous, but it will still draw more than a few looks when out on the road.
6
Mercedes E-Class Go Kart
Building a homemade go-kart can be a fun project, but this one is… a little different. The owner of this Mercedes-Benz E-Class decided to turn the car into a V8-powered go-kart, chopping it up into a kind of Mad Max-esque vehicle.
The original grille and hood ornament are the only indications that this used to be a Mercedes; everything else is pretty much unrecognizable. Even the paint from the side of the car has been stripped for a more “bare-bones” look. The 4.3-liter V8 produces 275 hp, which is fairly terrifying when combined with a DIY go-kart (that has a bent rear axle to boot).
7
Fake “Mustang” Honda Accord
At first glance, to the untrained eye, this might look like a regular classic Mustang, with nothing much wrong with it. However, linger on the photo for a few more seconds and something will start to look a little… off. That’s because this is no Mustang at all: it’s actually a Honda Accord, or rather, an Accord chassis that has been meticulously covered in a Mustang-replicating body kit.
We have to give this 10/10 for effort, although the final result is still pretty jarring: the interior is 100% Accord, and of course, there’s a Honda K24 engine under the hood, rather than anything you’d usually expect to find in a Mustang. The original five-speed automatic transmission has also been preserved.
8
The MustangRam
Next up, more Mustang-inspired builds. Can’t decide whether you want a Ford Mustang or a Ram pickup? With this unique creation, you can have both. This unfortunate Ford Mustang convertible has been merged with the chassis of a Ram truck, creating an unholy combination that’s neither one nor the other: in other words, the worst of both worlds.
As a finishing touch, the build was then completed with a set of rather anachronistic whitewall tires. One Redditor commented “Looks like something Cruella de Vil would drive”. Maybe, if Cruella de Vil had a taste for terrible car mods as well as Dalmatian fur coats.
9
Gullwing/Scissor Door Volkswagen Passat
Unusual door layouts, such as gullwing doors, are generally considered to be beautiful design elements in the automotive world. They are most commonly seen on luxury cars, high-performance cars, and highly prized classics such as the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.
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In this build, however, things get a little strange: a humble Volkswagen Passat has been given extensive modifications to sport two different kinds of alternative doors (scissor doors in the front, gullwing doors at the rear). The final result looks downright bizarre; we can’t help but admire the level of craftsmanship, however the clash between different types of doors makes the car look somewhat like a Transformer gone wrong.
10
Giant Wing Honda Civic
Last of all, a fine example of a time-honored tradition in the automotive world: slapping a giant, mostly useless wing on something that definitely doesn’t need one. In this case, our victim is a Honda Civic, whose driver has decided it would look better with a wing as tall as the car’s roof (if not slightly taller).
Aside from the fact that this wing is unlikely to have any meaningful effect on the car’s performance, and makes it more complicated to use the car’s trunk, it doesn’t even add aesthetic value, mostly due to the fact that it’s so wildly out of proportion.
Sources: Reddit, Facebook
