What Exactly Are 'Souped Up' Cars?
We could all use a little more horsepower in our lives. But “souped up” cars are much more than supercharger vehicles. What are these one-of-a-kind show stoppers?
Written by Elaine Duvet
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
You may be familiar with the idea of a hot rod, but have you heard of a “souped up” car? These
modified vehicles
allow drivers to customize their ride while laying down some serious cash to do so.How hard is it to get your hands on one of these rare cars, and is it possible to “soup up” your own vehicle?
A bit about car-modding culture
The first supercharged engine was spotted in the 1800s, specifically 1878. According to
Jalopnik
, “While some one-off cars were built with superchargers, the first production cars with a supercharger were built by Mercedes-Benz in 1921.”“Soup” often represents performance-enhancing drugs and liquid concoctions. According to
Autotrader
, the term “first popp[ed] up in the dictionary back in 1911 in reference to a “narcotic injected into horses to make them run faster.” “Soup” was slang for the drug given to horses, making the term more equestrian than automotive.Altering your vehicle is another way to get a leg up on competitions. The term now refers to “tinkering with fuel and air mixture to extract the most out of the engine,” according to Autotrader.
Autotrader also notes that “this definition could be found in the dictionary by 1921, just before the supercharger gained popularity in auto racing during the pre-war era.”
MORE: Students Made a Barbie Truck That Can Reach 30 mph
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How to ‘soup up’ your car
Modifications don’t necessarily involve the use of superchargers, as there are plenty of ways to make your car fast and furious.
Turbocharging your vehicle is a surefire way to improve your engine, by allowing more air to be driven to the combustion chamber. According to
Buzzfeed
, “This, in turn, increases how quickly the propeller can turn, and thusly the amount of fuel that is fed to the combustion chamber as well.”Though it requires special knowledge and tools, replacing the stock exhaust with a more free-flow exhaust system can be done at an exhaust shop. “The stock exhaust is relatively restrictive, so opening it up to a larger diameter allows spent exhaust gasses to exit the motor more efficiently, in turn producing more power,”
It Still Runs
notes. If you want to make as much power as possible, your engine needs all the fresh air it can get. K&N makes free-flowing, performance air filters that can easily replace your standard stock filter. Another option is to switch out the standard airbox and install a cold air intake.
An Engine Control Unit (ECU) is a great way to upgrade your older car’s technology. According to It Still Runs, the ECU “will reprogram the computer to deliver different fuel, air and ignition curves for a power increase.”
Other ways to personalize your car’s performance
Adding a light tower will make your car safer to drive at night, especially on dark roads in rural eras. And if you’re the off-roading type, a roll cage could protect you and your vehicle from tumbles and turns.
Ever heard of an exhaust-powered jack? This handy device can give your car a significant lift in sticky situations.
You can also get specific with your tires. Think about what kind of traction you’re looking for. Drifting? Precision? It’s all possible.
We’re all for a fun short-throw shifter to enhance the gear-changing experience. Stay engaged with crisp gear switches as you smoke the competition.
Even if you have a reliable
Honda Civic
, you can still pretend you’re driving a sports coupe. If you add a Vroom Box, you’ll get to enjoy the sounds of real muscle cars revving up their engines (pre-recorded of course). Muttering “eat my dust” under your breath—optional.Are you overpaying for car insurance?
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