Jul 22 2011

Novelty Automotive Upgrades: What to Know

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Most automotive enthusiasts know about all of the conventional upgrades that can be made to a car or truck: rear spoiler additions, air suspension upgrades, rim replacements, etc. However, not every type of vehicular upgrade has a straight and narrow purpose. Some upgrades are unusual, eccentric, and offbeat, used primarily for fun and games. While these may not by the kinds of modifications most drivers enjoy making to their cars and trucks, to those who have a sense of humor and a lot of spare time, these upgrades can really make quite the impression.

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Train Horns

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Well, the first thing people think of when they hear the term ‘train horn’ is probably a train. But train horns are designed as novelty items for cars, SUVs, and trucks. Usually hidden behind or below the front bumper assembly, these powerful and noisy add-ons reproduce actual train sounds at extremely loud levels. This type of horn is often used to scare, frighten, and shock unassuming passersby who have no idea what’s about to come. On YouTube, many users post videos of themselves blasting these horns next to unsuspecting pedestrians, who literally jump at the sound. This is certainly not an upgrade for everyone, but pranksters will definitely get a kick out of using one.

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Police Light and Sound Products

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You never want to imitate a police officer on the road, but if you’re just up for some fun play, adding novelty police light and sound products to your car can help you mess around with friends and family. You can add red and blue strobe lights that mount to the roof to reproduce the look of actual flashing police lights, or embed a police siren in your vehicle so that you can have effective noise to match the light display. From visor strobes to police spotlights, you can really prank a friend with some of these add-ons, but again, Mom and Dad probably aren’t going to be the number one buyers of these types of products.

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Racing Add-ons

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These types of products appeal to those with a racecar driver’s spirit but who don’t actually own a racecar. These items, again, are not for everyone, but have a much larger and more diverse market than those looking for novelty police lights or train horns. Adding racing seats can make a driver feel like he’s riding in the cockpit of a racing machine, while specialty racing seatbelts can only enhance that effect. Racing steering wheels and custom shift knobs can also help finish off the look.

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All of the above upgrades may be a bit unusual, but they are objects and items all car enthusiasts should be aware of. That way, when you see (or hear) them in action, you’re up-to-date on all the current trends, and you aren’t left in the dust freaked out that a train horn just went off a few feet from where you stood.