Bosozoku car customizations are as extreme as they are unique. Bold and colorful paint jobs are nothing special in the world of custom cars, but Bosozoku paint jobs are among the most stylized and ornate you will find. However, the custom-made body kits are what really set Bosozoku cars apart.
Front bumpers receive oversized bumper covers with what looks like huge shelves grafted onto the front of the car, sticking three to four feet out in front of the car, while crazy huge spoilers and wings are often seen on the back. Custom exhaust is another hallmark, with pipes extending out and up many feet in the air and plated with chrome. The absurdity of the pipes is perhaps only exceeded by their audacity. Added lighting, graphics, and ornate custom interiors all complete the look.
Bosozoku cars are influenced by a few distinct styles that are all a part of Japanese car culture. Yanky cars originated in Osaka with influence from the American Aloha fashion, often featuring wide fenders, wings, and exhaust tips but are milder customizations than most. Shakotan cars are lowered to the point of being nearly unusable. VIP style is loud and gaudy, with cars featuring an overabundance of shiny novelties all over the inside and outside of the vehicle. Kyusha style uses classic Japanese vehicles as a base to apply a range of modifications.
In general, most Bosozoku cars use a blend of all of these with unique custom work that shows off the creative ability of the car’s owner, and for most of them, the wilder the better.
