It seems like custom car is the only way to go these days. At least, that's what the mechanics-designers-magicians of MTV's Pimp My Ride want us to know. Our love affair with cars have turned us from smug creatures' already happy washing and waxing our cars on a Sunday morning into an entirely insatiable species now, bent on making our beloved cars radiate with every inch of our personality.

Car customizing began roughly in the 1950's. That's postwar 1950s, which afforded people time to focus on things other than bombs and enemies. Custom car was the pop culture then, and cars no longer had to be just some means of transportation. Dashboards, bumpers, tail lights, wheels morphed. Fins came, and layers of paint in various shades and strokes. Of course, car performance was improved as well. Now cars aren't just some box on wheels; they are moving billboards on the highway, advertising the owners' sense of style and taste.

And the trend continues, with car owners spending more and more just to keep their cars from looking like the default models in car showrooms. Six years ago, people spent some $900 on cars accessories alone. Now, it's up to between $1,500 and $3,000.

A few custom car basics: painted flames that scorch both sides of your vehicle, for that rocket-speed effect. Grilled chromes for that classy look, and a smashing sound system that makes even the most boring trip to the grocery a live concert.
Of course, you can do a whole lot more. The trick is to experiment. It's all about individuality: a virtue we hold so dear in today's mass-produced world. After all, who said you can't have your own yoga room or your own coffee bar in your fiery purple-and-green Ferrari?