The Trabant is a small wonderful car produced by former East German auto maker VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau in Zwickau, Sachsen. Once upon a time in East Germany, it was the most common car on the road. Despite being compact and light, the Trabant had a good seating space for 4 adults along with some excellent room for luggage. Despite its ordinary performance and smoky two-stroke engine, the car has come to be regarded with derisive affection as a symbol of the failed aspects of former East Germany and of the fall of communism.

The love for Trabant in the hearts of many enthusiasts is quite evident till today when we see so many tuned up versions in succession. Germany still remains as the best place to witness such cars. It is more of an inspiration to think that we might have a successor of this retro just like Beatle or Mini.

The best thing you could do to your Trabant is to transform it into a speed monster. A good 900 cc engine replacement is a wonderful modification. An ordinary engine won’t be able to cope up with the already existing configuration hence a customized version of cylinders, crank and pistons is needed. Backed by the new racing spark plugs from NGK and a buffed carburettor from FZ, the little Trabant produces a 65 bhp of power which can pump it to a top speed of 190 Km/h.

Some more modifications include modification of the chassis completely and chopping of front pillars. Reducing them by about 60-70 mm would give a great shape to the car. Windows and fenders can be used from any other short models available these days. The headlights need to give a trendy look. VW Golf makes awesome designs of headlights that suit the smaller cars a lot.

The mirrors need to come from a sports motorbike like Ducati or Honda for better looks. Since it is an old-fashioned car, hence it needs some protection gear as well. A roll cage, Jamex leather sporting seats and a 30 cm wide Raid steering wheel add up to the protection kit.

Koni shock absorbers are excellent in handling big deflections. Though the car looks awkward sometimes, but handling becomes very good and so does your protection level. Supportive alloy rims, heavy suspensions and a whole new set of round disc brakes can make a lot of difference in your Trabant.

Some subtle touches in the looks would also help a lot. Crystal black colour with some beautiful air brushes can change your car from a regular speed racer to a contemporary queen. The Trabant surely needs more oxygen intake for better combustion. Since the engine is a two-stroke built, hence a new exhaust kit needs to be installed so that the natural performance grows from within. The kit allows better performance and mileage as well.

Trabant has always been one of the most favoured cars on the roads of Germany. Who knows it might just scoop away the streets of Asia as well?

Learn more about Trabant Tuning.

LED lighting for cars come in a wide variety of accessories, here are just a few.

LED Brake Lights
On a variety of new vehicles, you will now see brake lights and turn signals that are made from LED lights.  These lights are not only brighter, but are aesthetically pleasing to the eye.  And if your car didn’t come with LED lighting, many after market accessory companies now produce brake lights and turn signals for your make and model.  This accessory will not only help you to customize your vehicle, but with LED lights, your car will definitely stand out in the crowd.

LED Side View Mirrors
Looking for an easy way to add LED Lighting to the exterior of your vehicle?  With LED side view mirrors, you can easily add a turn signal to your side view mirror which not only adds to functionality, but also makes your car more noticeable in the daytime or night.  LED side view mirrors definitely offer safety and for the most part are affordable and easy to install.

LED Interior Lighting
If you are tired of poor lighting in your interior, you can now easily add LED lighting to it.  LED interior lighting can give you a blue, red, purple, etc tinge that not only looks great, but can make your car quite unique.  There is even interior lighting that can react to the fluctuations of the music coming out of your stereo.

So what should one do?

Clean your interior, here are some tips.

Basic Cleaning Products Work Great
You don’t need anything fancy to clean your car’s interior.  In fact, there are only a few items that you should have on hand.  They include, window cleaner, a leather and vinyl cleaner, carpet cleaner, all purpose cleaner and some good paper towels, cloths and a brush.

If you have a leather interior, your cleaning will probably be very quick and easy.  Leather and vinyl is generally the easiest to clean since you won’t have to shampoo the cloth.  However, if you are cleaning the leather upholstery, don’t put too much leather cleaner on, you don’t want to slide around your vehicle and get greasy residue on your clothing.  For cloth interiors, most will stay clean with little maintenance- specifically a good vacuuming.  However, for large, noticeable stains, try an interior shampoo product.  These products are sometimes cumbersome, but usually remove the stain and help your car to smell nice.

Don’t Forget to Clean the Windows and Dash
A nice, clear, sparkling dash and windows can be just the thing you need to give your car some more oomph.  Classic glass cleaners work great. And once your dash and windows are clean, it is time to add the finishing touch- a nice scent.  You don’t have to smell pine trees, instead hook your car up with a more sophisticated fragrance.

First off, the easiest way to do so is with after market products that are offered by literally thousands of companies all around the world.

Body Kits for Performance and Style
One of the ways to really make your vehicle stand out in the crowd is to add a body kit to it.  Body kits not only add style, but performance due to the fact they are generally more aerodynamic.  Many body kits offer ground effects, side skirts, front and rear bumper lips and more.  Some body kits today come in fiberglass, carbon fiber or poly-urethane or ABS plastic.  Usually the type of materials used will determine the cost.

Custom Wheels
If you are looking for style without drastically changing your exterior, it’s easy to customize your wheels.  Changing the rims on your vehicle will definitely make it look different and you can even get some extra performance by choosing a set that is light weight or fits larger or that has wider tires.  Generally speaking, custom wheels are very easy to buy and install.  And for those that want something totally original, there are a few manufacturers that allow you to create your own design.

Customize Your Interior
It’s also easy to customize your interior.  You can purchase seat covers or install racing seats.  Other interior accessories include racing mats with badging, neon lighting, gauges, pedal kits and more.  If you are looking to make your vehicle unique, today you can easily do so with a wide variety of after market items.

Foldable Mirrors
One of the complaints that many car tuning enthusiasts mention is that they would like to protect their side view mirrors when they park in tight parking spots.  One of the best ways to do so is with a foldable mirror.  Foldable mirrors can either electronically or manually fold inwards towards the door so that other cars won’t hit or scratch them.  They are generally easy to install and depending on the vehicle and type you choose relatively affordable.

Mirrors with LED Lights
Another great mirror accessory is to have LED light signals on your side view mirror.  Not only will your car look great, but this added functionality can also alert drivers to your intentions and make you easier to spot.  LED light side view mirrors can now be purchased as an after market accessory making it much cheaper than buying it direct from the manufacturer.

Other Mirrors
While not necessarily performance accessories, there are other mirror accessories that definitely add functionality.  For instance, if you have kids, you can easily purchase a second smaller rear view mirror that stays focused on the back seat.  Another mirror accessory is a small ball for extra large or wide vehicles that make it easier to view side traffic.  And finally, if you already have an LCD screen in your vehicle, you can purchase a digital camera that fits on the rear of your vehicle and now be able to view traffic and objects from the rear without even a mirror necessary.

Add Racing Seats
One of the accessories that definitely make your vehicle look and feel like a high performance vehicle are racing seats.  Not only are racing seats pretty cool looking, they add plenty of functionality to your driving.  Most racing seats universally fit practically any make or model and come in a wide variety of colors to match your vehicle’s interior.  In addition, many are quite affordable- most in the $200 to $500 range for a pair.

Aluminum/Carbon Fiber Pedals and Shifters
While most stock vehicles come with rubber brake, clutch and gas pedals and maybe a leather or plastic shifter, you can easily upgrade to aluminum or carbon fiber pedals and shifter sets.  These sets definitely make your vehicle look and feel more race worthy and since they usually are affordable, they give you plenty of bang for your buck.

Interior Lighting for Your Vehicle
While exterior lighting gets all the attention, there is nothing like really cool interior lighting to make heads turn.  Some vehicles now have cool and very colorful LED interior lighting that offers a haze of different colors including blue and red.  These lights can even respond to your music playing.  If you are looking to enhance your interior, check out these items today.

Ergonomically Designed to Keep You in Place While Driving

Let’s face it while stock seats are comfortable, you don’t want to be rolling around when pushing your vehicle to the max.  For those drivers that have high performance cars and are constantly pushing them to their limits, it is important to stay in place- behind the wheel and in full control of your vehicle.  Racing seats are ergonomically designed to keep you strictly in place behind the driver’s wheel- in full control of your vehicle.  Many racing seats are made from injected molded foam that come with harness support, shoulder support, kidney support and thigh support ultimately keeping you in place even on the tightest turns.

The frames can be made from light metals (usually the highly expensive models), carbon fiber, but most often, injected molded foam will suffice.  In addition, these frames can be wrapped in leather or usually cloth for a nice look and feel.  Generally speaking, these racing seats are easy to install fitting practically any make or model vehicle and can cost as little as $150 for a pair.

Making Your Car Look Good
There are quite a few ways to draw attention to your vehicle and make your car look great.  Some of them include accent lights and interior strobes.  Accent lighting can be LED or neon and while legal in most areas, check in your area before you install them on your car.  Accent lighting comes in a wide variety of colors and can come as a cluster which is very easy to install onto your vehicle or come as a kit which will require some minor drilling.  Interior strobe lights are also a great way to make your interior come alive.  Whether you want it to flash with the music while parked or if you just want a light haze of cool neon color in your vehicle when you drive, you can’t beat the look of these lighting options.

Headlights and Fog Lights
For exterior and more practical lighting, nothing beats a good set of headlights and fog lights.  Again, most types of headlights and fog lights are legal, but check with your municipality before you install certain more extreme types of units.  Whether you choose Halogen bulbs or LED lights for rear lighting you can easily enhance your driving with quality exterior lighting.  Since every vehicle is different, talk to a specialist to find out what type of lighting fits your vehicle best.

Here are some tips:

It used to be that when your car started to chip and rust in spots, it was time to head down to the auto parts store and by a dozen cans of black primer.  While black primer was never considered a real paint job, for many muscle car owners in the 70’s and 80’s and before, black primer definitely did the trick of making your vehicle look mean.

Today, however things are a little more sophisticated.  First off, it is easier than ever to have your car quality painted.  Most body shops offer great resources and tools to make sure your vehicle comes out looking and being very close to a factory paint job (while not perfect, the paint will definitely last for 5 to 7 years in most cases).  In addition, adding special touches to your vehicle such as pin stripes or graphics is quick, easy and affordable thanks to vinyl.

While you can paint your vehicle on your own, unless you really want to take on a new project, it is usually better to let the professionals do it since they have all the equipment and space necessary.  Also, since it is pretty affordable, why bother.  So, if you want to give your vehicle a new look and stand out in the crowd, there is pretty much nothing better than a brand new paint job.

Customize Your Car with New Wheels
One of the best ways to make your car attractive and stand out in the crowd is with some rims.  Rims are one of the best ways to customize your car, because they always make your vehicle stand out, they are generally affordable and easy to install.  Whether you choose rims that are off the rack of your local auto parts store or special order rims that are made from expensive materials, you can count on your vehicle looking great.

Window Tint
Tinting your windows is a great way to add some mystique to you vehicle.  Think of it as putting shades on your car.  While tinting your windows is regulated by local laws, most states allow some types of tint that not only makes a car stand out, but also allows police to view occupants in the vehicle.  Tint is very affordable, usually costing less than $150 installed.  And while you need to comply with tint on the windshield and front side windows, rear windows usually don’t have any legal obstacles.

Another great accessory for your vehicle are seat covers.  You can easily make your vehicle look more sporty and comfortable with sporty seat colors.  Whether you are looking to add badging or a certain color scheme, seat covers are affordable and easy to install.