15 ’90s Car Modification Kits That Are Obsolete
These mods once defined car customization in the ’90s but have since faded from relevance, style, and practicality.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Car culture in the 1990s exploded with wild creativity and aggressive personalization, giving birth to an era of modification kits that blurred the line between performance and flair. But with evolving tastes, stricter laws, and better technology, many of these trends became outdated or outright abandoned. Today’s enthusiasts look back on these kits with nostalgia, humor, and the hard-learned lessons of DIY ambition.
1. Altezza Taillights
Myles Stewart
Also known as “Lexus-style” lights, these clear or chrome-accented taillights exploded in popularity after the Toyota Altezza debuted. By the early 2000s, they were slapped onto everything from Civics to Cavaliers. Today, they scream dated rather than custom.
2. Combat Body Kits
Peter Broomfield from Unsplash
Aggressively angular and low-slung, these fiberglass body kits were once the pride of import tuner culture. They often didn’t fit well and scraped on everything, but owners loved the Fast and Furious flair. Now, they’re mostly gone, replaced by OEM+ looks or functional aero.
3. Roof Scoops
Edi Libedinsky from Unsplash
Inspired by rally cars, roof scoops were glued or bolted on for looks rather than ventilation. Most were non-functional and often warped or cracked in the sun. They’ve disappeared almost entirely outside of parody builds or tribute cars.
4. Z3-Style Fender Vents
Tiago Ferreira from Unsplash
These fake vents mimicked the BMW Z3’s distinctive styling and were sold as stick-on accessories at auto parts stores. They didn’t do anything except add visual clutter to otherwise clean fenders. You don’t see them anymore unless someone’s trying to make a point about bad mods.
5. Euro Light Conversion Kits
Jesse Collins from Unsplash
These kits replaced standard headlights and taillights with European-style versions that often didn’t meet local regulations. They were popular among Jetta and Golf owners chasing the “Euro-look.” Eventually, laws tightened and tastes changed, making them obsolete.
6. Underglow Neon Kits (Original Glass Tube Versions)
Brad Starkey from Unsplash
Before LEDs, neon tubes lit up the undercarriage in wild blues, greens, and purples. They broke easily, drained your battery, and were illegal in some places. Modern LED strips are more efficient and subtle, leaving the old glass tubes behind.
7. Lambo Door Conversion Kits
Hoyoun Lee from Unsplash
Vertical doors looked wild on Countachs and Diablos, so naturally people wanted them on their Eclipse or Civic. These kits often compromised structural integrity and looked awkward when half-open. They became the punchline of early 2000s tuner jokes.
8. Hood Scoops from AutoZone
Patrick from Unsplash
Stick-on hood scoops promised “ram air” performance, but delivered nothing but drag and double-sided tape residue. They were cheap, came in one-size-fits-none, and were often painted in mismatched colors. Thankfully, they’ve been laughed off the road.
9. Clear Corner Lens Kits
Josh Berquist from Unsplash
Owners swapped out their amber signal lights for clear lenses to match the all-clear, all-chrome aesthetic of the era. They were especially popular on Japanese imports and luxury sedans. Nowadays, amber is back for visibility and a vintage-correct look.
10. Bullet Muffler Tips
Nik from Unsplash
These oversized chrome muffler tips were meant to mimic racing exhausts and create a deeper tone. In reality, they just made a lot of droning noise and sometimes rusted within months. Most people now opt for full exhaust systems or clean-looking tailpipes.
11. Tribal Vinyl Graphics
Asso Myron from Unsplash
Big on Pontiac Sunfires and Dodge Neons, tribal decals stretched across doors, hoods, and sometimes the whole side of the car. They tried to capture the energy of street racing but ended up making cars look like Hot Wheels. Taste evolved, and they quietly vanished.
12. Shorty Antennas with Lighted Tips
Tomáš Malík from Unsplash
Replacing your long stock antenna with a tiny one that lit up in blue or red was once a cool upgrade. Most didn’t receive radio well, but they glowed like a charm in parking lots. Bluetooth and satellite radio killed the need for them altogether.
13. Mesh Grille Inserts
VANDER FILMS from Unsplash
Common on pickups and sedans alike, mesh grille kits promised a sporty, European look. They were often installed poorly and rusted within a year. Now, OEM grilles are cleaner, and aftermarket ones focus on durability and design, not just flash.
14. Pop-Off Steering Wheels in Street Cars
Wassim Chouak from Unsplash
Borrowed from track cars, quick-release steering wheels gave a race-ready vibe. But most street cars didn’t need them, and losing your airbag wasn’t worth the style points. Safety laws and practicality caught up with the trend.
15. Carbon Fiber Dash Overlays
Gian Gomez from Unsplash
These peel-and-stick kits offered a faux carbon fiber look for your dashboard and door panels. They rarely fit well, bubbled over time, and had a shine that looked more plastic than performance. Real enthusiasts now favor minimalist interiors or factory upgrades.