There’s a phenomenon that occurs once a vehicle leaves the factory, it’s just one of thousands. Same colours, same trims, same everything. For the average driver, that’s perfectly fine. But for the growing number of owners who take to the streets and determine that perfectly fine isn’t good enough, custom builds have gained considerable traction; it’s not until one dives into assessing the causative factors driving the change that this makes sense.
Contents
Factory Setting
The problem with manufacturer defaults is that they’re entirely manufactured for the most people possible. Therefore, every decision made, paint colour, interior finishes, type of wheels, comes purely from the perspective of what the average buyer would want. While this is useful and practical, at the same time it renders vehicles almost identical to the one parked two spots over.
This isn’t a knock against manufacturers. They’re scaling production, and naturally, there are limitations to doing so. But for the person who wants their vehicle to reflect who they are, their tastes, even their profession, manufacturer options fail to satisfy. A custom build has the opposite effect, this is a vehicle that an owner can determine what it becomes instead of what a committee decides.
What Drives The Change
Custom auto builds are more popular than ever over the past decade, and multiple factors have driven this change. Social media plays a role, people see incredible builds online and think “I want something like that.” Car culture has integrated itself into mainstream society where owners who never would have considered custom work before are now working on their projects.
Beyond the visual impact, there’s also a heightened sense of quality conversation going on. Quality custom work goes beyond looking good. Shops that focus on those builds, places like OzKonic Kustomz that transition ideas into builds, pay homage to different types of parts and can pay more attention to detail than an assembly line ever could for each panel, each finish, each component processed as part of an order.
It’s a different mindset of asking “what can be built” instead of “what can I buy” that renders custom work so favorable.
It’s More Than Just Paint
One of the easiest misassessments about custom builds is that it’s merely paint jobs and upgrades that make the difference. While aesthetics certainly comprises a large percentage of the totality of what can be done, that’s where assumptions can close minds to what else is possible.
From suspension setting and performance upgrades to interior re-built glasswork, wheel/tyre packages to body kits, there exists a plethora of offerings that can build a car into whatever someone wants it to be. Some buyers want drastic overhauls; others want minor tweaks (even one or two elements) with everything else left alone. The beauty? It’s completely subjective without any parameters aside from budget.
This is also one of the best secrets about custom builds, it’s collaborative. A great shop works through expectations, brings attention to elements that may not come out as expected and points out options that hadn’t been considered. The back and forth generally produces greater results than picking from a catalog.
Are They Worth It?
The first question everyone wants to know is about money. It’s expensive; it shouldn’t be cheap. The labor involved, the time spent prepping and needed time on each project drive the necessity for funds. Everyone who’s been through it suggests that they see all of the work involved for it to make sense financially (and rightfully so).
Thus, it’s prudent to note that a custom build holds its value if not increases value depending on its uniqueness in an enthusiast market. Stock vehicles depreciate at predictable rates. Unique builds with quality behind them are different stories altogether.
And Regardless
Beyond practicality, the sense of pride someone takes with them upon receiving their vehicle after an initial idea becomes something real is notably tremendous. This is not selfish; for someone to not feel differently or have a heightened sense of emotional collaboration is foolish because they’ve made educated decisions about what’s important to them and what they want (instead of what’s universally appealing).
Therefore, it’s logical to assume that owner sentiment increases after they’ve invested their time, energy, decisions and passions into the build. The process itself becomes part of the experience; watching something take shape over four weeks or four months and getting behind the wheel of something that didn’t exist before becomes transformative in every sense.
Conclusion
There’s nothing wrong with driving factory-made vehicles; nothing wrong with selling them in bulk and appealing to as many potential buyers as possible. But for those intrigued by custom builds, it speaks volumes about what production lines cannot satisfy, personal connection, deliberation, and unique transformation regardless of how much or little it takes. Owners who go custom truly have vehicles that are theirs instead of boxed in options left on a dealership lot.
