D Car — November 2003

Tail work and

Lowrider Euro

...in tail design

Part 02: Lowrider Euro

care about

Smoothing

04

TREND

The key to a clean-looking rear end

Among Lowrider techniques, smoothing is a common form of bodywork, and it is perhaps most clearly expressed at the rear. Body modifications such as swaps are also standard practice. There are many possible approaches; the key is to add a twist to the idea.

WWW.SHOWOFFCAFE.COM

With a little imagination...

...you can create a distinctive rear view. Major bodywork such as face swaps and overfenders began with Lowriders and trucks. These ideas are now commonplace in the sport-compact scene, making it harder to sort cars into neat style categories.

DCAR

The tail design has enough presence to match the large Accord sedan, yet it fits in without looking out of place.

R34 taillights and smoothing make a powerful combination!

In this context, the rear bodywork is where Lowrider Euro's distinctive character is most visible. Smoothing the body, modifying or swapping taillights—this detailed work makes the most of the style's unique sensibility.

The CB Accord shown on page 53 has undergone an ambitious custom treatment: its rear lights are actually Nissan Skyline R34 units, grafted in and smoothed into the body.

Even the subtle curves of the edge lines are carefully matched. The finish says it all: this is Lowrider Euro styling.

The license-plate area was also filled in and smoothed. This gives the taillights even more presence...

...and makes them stand out more.

Tail-design mini catalog

TAIL MAKING 01

Smaller lamps make the most of smoothing

REMAKING 03

The Civic coupe shown on the left page belongs to ONO☆P. To maximize the visual impact of the smoothing, the taillights were removed from the trunk lid, leaving a beautifully smooth rear.

...complete the treatment.

Smoothing the tail of an EK hatchback is practically a must. It makes the most of the EK's curving rear-view design.

Smooth taillights look great!

Choose a rear bumper with fewer projections to emphasize the smoothing.

And then the Euro-style taillights...

Fill in the license-plate recess and smooth the panel. If you are building a Lowrider Euro hatch, this is a detail you will want to get right.

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TAIL MAKING 02

Add round taillights to the trunk

REMAKING 04

A DC Integra with current-generation teardrop taillights swapped in

Here, the license-plate area has not been filled in. Instead, round taillights have been added to the trunk lid. The stock lights remain as well, creating a subtle but eye-catching custom detail.

The whole body has been smoothed, keeping the bodywork itself clean and streamlined...

This car is a fourth-generation DC2 Integra fitted with the distinctive teardrop taillights from the current DC5 Integra. They add an accent to the DC2's rear.

A taillight swap can also be combined with overfenders, making the most of the DC2's good underlying shape...

...in its overall direction.

...accentuate it.

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