C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

When does a car become a "Custom" ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 8, 2010 | 09:09 PM
  #1  
OzzyC4's Avatar
OzzyC4
Thread Starter
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 0
From: Sonoran Desert of Arizona
Default When does a car become a "Custom" ?

Is it when It gets any type of body mod?
Or does it take more than a set of wheels or some bolt ons?


Last edited by OzzyC4; May 10, 2010 at 10:24 AM. Reason: typo
Reply
Old May 8, 2010 | 10:42 PM
  #2  
CA-Legal-Vette's Avatar
CA-Legal-Vette
Race Director
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,657
Likes: 328
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Default

The line for me has always been when you go into Napa, Kragen or O'Reileys, they ask for "year, make and model" and you have to think for a while about where that part came from.
Reply
Old May 8, 2010 | 10:53 PM
  #3  
Ironcross's Avatar
Ironcross
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Default

Very simple, any deviation or change from stock...including wheels and exhaust or engine changes other than OE replacement parts...If you have trouble with my definition, just ask any Judge at a show...They should be able to spot a change immediately or he`s a bad judge.......A single change can make a custom
Reply
Old May 8, 2010 | 11:04 PM
  #4  
68ragtop69's Avatar
68ragtop69
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
Photogenic
Liked
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 46
From: Severn Maryland
MD Events Coordinator
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Cruise-In X Veteran
CI-X Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Default

Originally Posted by Ironcross
Very simple, any deviation or change from stock...including wheels and exhaust or engine changes other than OE replacement parts...A single change can make a custom
Reply
Old May 8, 2010 | 11:39 PM
  #5  
81pilot's Avatar
81pilot
Drifting
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 8
From: Enid Oklahoma
Default

Originally Posted by OzzyC4
Is it when I gets any type of body mod?
Or does it take more than a set of wheels or some bolt ons?

There is a difference in a "customized" anything and a true custom. In the bike world a custom has one off parts, molded fenders, custom paint and or other goodies, but just bolting on chrome and swapping for aftermarket stuff even on cars hardly makes it custom at all just modified. A true custom will have recognizeable efforts where personal touches were done to meet a theme or perhaps a large scale body mod or something similar like a drop top on a late model C3. This has always and will always be mmy interpretation, Anyone can bolt on parts, it takes a true artist to create a "Custom". I answered the way I did because you didn't ask what a judge calls it....
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 12:30 AM
  #6  
jordan89's Avatar
jordan89
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
Default

Originally Posted by Ironcross
Very simple, any deviation or change from stock...including wheels and exhaust or engine changes other than OE replacement parts...If you have trouble with my definition, just ask any Judge at a show...They should be able to spot a change immediately or he`s a bad judge.......A single change can make a custom
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 12:36 AM
  #7  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
Default

My 'perception' is a bit different. When incidental parts (wheels, air cleaner, stock part chromed, etc.) are altered, I see those as modifications, so the car has been "modified".

When styling lines are changed or configuration is significantly altered from stock, that's when I see a car being "customized".
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 01:36 AM
  #8  
Steve COSD's Avatar
Steve COSD
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 683
Likes: 4
Default

Corvettes usually become a custom if for example were added, fender flares, L88 hood, different interior, engine chrome , different wheels and tires, great paint with pinstripping or designs.
Modified is usually bolt on items. Mostly in the engine or wheels.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?

 Brett Foote
story-5

9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made

 Brett Foote
Old May 9, 2010 | 01:36 AM
  #9  
thatcorvetteguy's Avatar
thatcorvetteguy
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 958
Likes: 88
From: Rexburg Idaho
Default

Anything but the stock car. Options customize the car. When I odered my car I loaded it up with options to "Customize it to my taste".
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 03:56 AM
  #10  
mrvette's Avatar
mrvette
Team Owner
Active Streak: 120 Days
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Ironcross
Very simple, any deviation or change from stock...including wheels and exhaust or engine changes other than OE replacement parts...If you have trouble with my definition, just ask any Judge at a show...They should be able to spot a change immediately or he`s a bad judge.......A single change can make a custom
Then there are NO totally stock Corvettes in existence except maybe a few at the BG Museum.....replace ONE bolt by anyone other than a direct GM paid worker, and it's not stock....period....

NCRS judges are fooled every damn day.....


When THAT fact became known, the game was over.....

so by your own terms, ALL cars are custom/modified.....

Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 07:51 AM
  #11  
3GenVettes's Avatar
3GenVettes
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 30
From: Fairfax Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by 7T1vette
My 'perception' is a bit different. When incidental parts (wheels, air cleaner, stock part chromed, etc.) are altered, I see those as modifications, so the car has been "modified".

When styling lines are changed or configuration is significantly altered from stock, that's when I see a car being "customized".


This is a very good representation of the standard for classifying cars that has been used in my many years of attending or participating in judged shows, including national level events.

Can't claim that its universally accepted, but IMO small mods do not make a car custom. Individual yes, custom no.

Last edited by 3GenVettes; May 9, 2010 at 12:39 PM.
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 09:58 AM
  #12  
golfradict's Avatar
golfradict
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 838
Likes: 2
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
Default

Just attended a car show yesterday, the judges said if there are more than 3 modifications to the car it cannot be entered as stock. A friend of mine listed his car as a stock 1982, his car no longer has the cross-fire injection, he was still able to enter it as stock. Not too sure if this would fly at other car shows.

Last edited by golfradict; May 9, 2010 at 10:01 AM.
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 10:08 AM
  #13  
3JsVette's Avatar
3JsVette
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,798
Likes: 3,274
From: NYC NY
Default

From Wikipedia:
"A custom car is a passenger vehicle that has been modified in either of the following two ways. First, a custom car may be altered to improve its performance, often by altering or replacing the engine and transmission. Second, a custom car may be a personal "styling" statement by the re-styler/re-builder, making the car look "unique" and unlike any car that might have been factory finished. Customs are distinct from hot rods; exactly where the difference lies has been the subject of debate among customizers and rodders for decades."

The debate goes on..........

For me stock is anything that appears to be stock even it is not numbers match.......modified is bolt on performance enhancements......and custom is permanent modifications to body lines that can not be undone with a wrench.
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 10:25 AM
  #14  
CheezMoe's Avatar
CheezMoe
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Default

Originally Posted by 7T1vette
My 'perception' is a bit different. When incidental parts (wheels, air cleaner, stock part chromed, etc.) are altered, I see those as modifications, so the car has been "modified".

When styling lines are changed or configuration is significantly altered from stock, that's when I see a car being "customized".
Chrome air cleaners and aftermarket wheels and carbs do not make a custom. Changing the body and interior lines is where the line is imho.

peace
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 12:27 PM
  #15  
thatcorvetteguy's Avatar
thatcorvetteguy
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 958
Likes: 88
From: Rexburg Idaho
Default

Originally Posted by mrvette
Then there are NO totally stock Corvettes in existence except maybe a few at the BG Museum.....replace ONE bolt by anyone other than a direct GM paid worker, and it's not stock....period....

NCRS judges are fooled every damn day.....


When THAT fact became known, the game was over.....

so by your own terms, ALL cars are custom/modified.....

Does this mean that Motion,Yanko,Nickey are all customs?? They where not GM workers.
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 03:19 PM
  #16  
FINWOLF's Avatar
FINWOLF
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 169
From: PA
Default

Originally Posted by 7T1vette
My 'perception' is a bit different. When incidental parts (wheels, air cleaner, stock part chromed, etc.) are altered, I see those as modifications, so the car has been "modified".

When styling lines are changed or configuration is significantly altered from stock, that's when I see a car being "customized".
I'm with this guy that is why I consider my car custom.
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 04:59 PM
  #17  
eastltd's Avatar
eastltd
Drifting
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
Default

So, where does this car sit?

It has aftermarket wheels, tires, exhaust, engine and suspension components.
An L88 hood and Z06 seats.

Everything else is stock.



I normally enter it in the modified class. Should I change?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To When does a car become a "Custom" ?

Old May 9, 2010 | 05:11 PM
  #18  
FINWOLF's Avatar
FINWOLF
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 169
From: PA
Default

Originally Posted by eastltd
So, where does this car sit?

It has aftermarket wheels, tires, exhaust, engine and suspension components.
An L88 hood and Z06 seats.

Everything else is stock.



I normally enter it in the modified class. Should I change?


I say modified. I was in a show and i wanted to be put in custom and they put me in race. I guess it is in the eye of the beholder.
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 05:56 PM
  #19  
schmegeggie's Avatar
schmegeggie
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
Default

To me "modified" can be changed back to stock, or stock appearance.
"Custom" means, it could not, or it would take great effort to do so.
Reply
Old May 9, 2010 | 08:57 PM
  #20  
Ironcross's Avatar
Ironcross
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by mrvette
Then there are NO totally stock Corvettes in existence except maybe a few at the BG Museum.....replace ONE bolt by anyone other than a direct GM paid worker, and it's not stock....period....

NCRS judges are fooled every damn day.....


When THAT fact became known, the game was over.....

so by your own terms, ALL cars are custom/modified.....

Yep, sounds like you know your Customs. but just suppose there are two cars identical except for paint. One factory stock paint and the other a 'Pearl paint of any color, and both in the same class. That realistically cannot be allowed to happen and not in any show by 'ISCA standards, ie. 'Detroit Autorama, One of them is correctly placed in a stock class and the other is a mild custom where three changes can add up to be placed in a higher Custom class up to and including the Radicals..... where the 'Ridler cars roam...sorry men, change it and it becomes a Custom whether you like it or not. Don't like those rules, leave it home......

Last edited by Ironcross; May 9, 2010 at 09:18 PM.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:37 AM.

story-0
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

Slideshow: Every Corvette Grand Sport explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-26 07:13:44


VIEW MORE
story-1
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

Slideshow: Breaking down the 2027 Grand Sport, Grand Sport X, Stingray, and LS6 V8.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-03-26 13:48:45


VIEW MORE
story-2
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

Slideshow: 5 reasons bad drivers crash sports cars & 5 ways to avoid a costly shame!

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-25 16:32:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette

Slideshow: Check out these easy-to-install upgrades from Extreme Online Store that reshape the look and feel of the C6 Corvette.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-03-23 17:00:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?

There may be some big changes on the horizon.

By Brett Foote | 2026-03-18 06:55:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)

Slideshow: 9 best Corvettes you can buy for half price (and 1 you shouldn't!)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-17 10:20:26


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026

Slideshow: 8 best Corvette of Amelia Island 2026

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-11 09:28:52


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!

Slideshow: Top 10 worst Corvette engineering failures

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-10 17:38:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)

Slideshow: 10 records the C8 Corvette generation has SMASHED (& 1 glaring failure).

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-02 11:16:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made

Out of the many Corvette concepts that exist, these are by far the wildest of the bunch.

By Brett Foote | 2026-03-02 11:03:54


VIEW MORE