Enough with the Wagon Rs...

These all appear to be variations of a similar theme, all appied to a Suzuki which I think is called the Wagon R. Anyway, lets start at the top.

This blue one is obviously aiming for the Von-Dutch style of modification. You know - the vintage custom look. The American versions are sometimes flat black, with chrome disk rims, sometimes lowriders. Like Jesse Jame's cars. Note the chrome disk wheels on the Suzuki, along with the delicate pinstriping, and the A&R Customs text on the side. It would look classy if it weren't applied to a car whose design seems inspired by a refrigerator. Usually, pinstriping accentuates the flowing lines of the car (when I say pinstriping, I mean the actually painted pinstripe artwork, not the vinyl stickers applied at dealerships). But this one has none.

Ad in the round, chromed headlights where the obviously square lights were, the chrome grille, side exhuasts, old style rear view mirrors, and the extra lame looking bumper (it's like a bumper on a bumper) and you have some true Japanese Retro Americana.

The pink one next down uses a similar formula but fails even worse. Strange - given the extra effort to remove the rear-most windows, and blend the new headlights into the front fenders. The main disappointments here are the stock hood, which (along with the grille) still shows that the stock headlights were waaaaay different than the units in there now. And it still has the stock (on the turbo models) hood scoop that could only be considered retro if you were recalling the 80's. It ends up looking like a "ricer" - Americana crossbreed.

Last but not least, the yellow version also appears to be looking back to but the 50's and the 80's. Again, a similar front end treatment. But this one has a 50's style chrome visor. However, the colour and striping on this car wouldn't look out of place on Miami Vice, or in California in the mid 80's. Stranger yet, it also has some classic style pinstriping too.