Body kits have come a long way since their development began in 1961. Many makes and variations of body kits exist today. Fiberglass and urethane are the two most common materials used for body kits today. Carbon fiber is another material used in the manufacture of body components. Some brands have even manufactured their own materials to make a superior product.

Fiberglass is probably one of the most commonly used materials when it comes to body kits and other body components such as hoods, bumpers, fenders, and side skirts. The reason is that it is a fairly cheap material to manufacture. Also, at a lower cost, you can give an old car a new look for a small investment. However, be careful. If you’re hard on your car body, you might want to rethink this material. Fiberglass can be a bit more brittle than other materials. Curb damage can happen more easily than with other materials, and weather, believe it or not, is also a factor. Fiberglass does not hold up well to temperature changes, as your car’s bodywork may show signs of damage, such as spider cracks. Fiberglass, on the other hand, can be repaired if the damage is not too great. There are kits on the market to repair chips, holes, and cracks in your car’s fiberglass bodywork.

Urethane is the best quality option when selecting a body kit. This is due to the fact that urethane is not as easily damaged due to its flexible nature. Although this material is probably the best option, it is also one of the most expensive options. Installing a urethane body kit can often be a little easier because you can manipulate it more during the installation process for a quality fit and maybe even a cheaper installation price.

Carbon fiber is most popular in the materials used for hoods. You might notice a car on the road that has a dark gray or even black hood on your white car. It is most likely a carbon fiber hood. The main factor for the carbon fiber material is that it is very lightweight but also durable. You can find some complete body kits made from carbon fiber, but they are mostly used on individual components like hoods, fenders, deck lids, spoilers, and doors.

Now some brands have invented their own materials that feel superior to most. Extreme Dimensions Duraflex is an excellent example. Fiberglass used to be their main material used, but now they have transitioned all of their body kits to Duraflex. Extreme Dimension’s new Duraflex technology is a revolutionary product that combines fiberglass, plastic and flexible resins to obtain its unique characteristics. They claim this will reduce damage by 75%. AIT Racing has made their kit with a plastic resin that they have turned into a durable material.