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1%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1497913628083119900
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4[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dekotora_car_01.jpg]]
5[[caption-width-right:350:We have subwoofers [[Film/Dune1984 the likes of which even God has never seen]].]]
6->''"I don't get it. Who wastes money tricking out a car? It's frivolous and ridiculous. Not to mention it compromises the integrity of the vehicle."''
7-->-- '''Gus''', ''Series/{{Psych}}'', "[[Recap/PsychS02E04ZeroToMurderInSixtySeconds Zero to Murder in Sixty Seconds]]"
8
9Any car that's weighed down with aftermarket accessories, improvements, and optional trim. Done well and tastefully by a professional installer, this can result in a CoolCar, especially if the car becomes speedy, or durable, or loaded with gadgets that do something useful, like a towing winch on an off-road Jeep. Unfortunately, whereas in TheSeventies, the misguided customizer could only fit an 8-Track player and an imitation gold steering wheel, the onward march of technology also means an ever increasing amount of pointless electronic window-dressing can be fitted into a car, such as neon lights underneath, multiple subwoofers and a loud amplifier. In some cases, this can result in a RiceBurner. Some add-ons, like hydraulics, may be cool and fun on a Low-Rider, but you can't exactly fight crime with them.
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11Some of the improvements can even be mundane, like CupHolders.
12
13Not to be confused with a hot rod, which involves taking stuff ''out'' of a car and then stuffing a big V8 engine in.
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15A SuperTrope to {{Thememobile}} (character-style pimping) and {{Itasha}} (otaku related pimping the car). May relate to AbsurdlyLongLimousine.
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17For the clothing equivalents, see PimpedOutDress and PimpedOutCape.
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19This trope is TruthInTelevision, as everyone has at least a chance to see a modified car of this type, either a [[WhatAPieceOfJunk Shelby Mustang]] or a [[ImprobablyCoolCar Hennessey Venom GT]]. So, Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease [[noreallife]]
20
21----
22!!Examples:
23[[foldercontrol]]
24
25[[folder:Advertising]]
26* PlayedForLaughs in Budweiser's "Real Men of Genius" with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLMNlcI2n5g "Mister Pimped out Ghetto Car Driver"]]
27-->'''Announcer:''' Because nothing says "success" like a $400 car sitting on $8000 worth of tires and rims.
28[[/folder]]
29
30[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
31* ''Manga/{{F}}'' is a famous example in TheEighties, where the tractor that belongs to the protagonists of the series was modified with an old Porsche engine and is capable to race to 150+ km/h and even having a Nitro, seen in the first episodes that can easy overpass a racing citycar and make some competence to a BMW.
32* ''Manga/WanganMidnight'''s [[SpiritualSuccessor authorical ancestor]], ''Shakotan Boogie'', features lots of ''UsefulNotes/{{Bosozoku}}''-styled lowriders ranging from the main characters' Soarer, Fairlady Z, Skyline, and even minor character cars such as [=AE86=] and other cars, to the extreme. ''Wangan Midnight'' itself doesn't feature this too much, with the closest we can get being Tatsuya Shima's widebody "Black Bird" Porsche 911 Turbo.
33** Nobu Setoguchi's RX-7 in the ''C1 Runner'' sequel/spinoff was also done this way.
34* ''Manga/GTOTheEarlyYears'': Eikichi and Ryuji steal a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koenig_Specials König]] KS Benz car from a mechanic shop, mistakenly thinking it was the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Cedric Cedric]] (also stolen) that they'd asked the mechanic to modify to look like a König. Eikichi then modifies it further by making the doors [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gull-wing_door open vertically]] and adding teeth and eyes to the front.
35[[/folder]]
36
37[[folder:Comic Books]]
38* ''ComicBook/TankGirl''. Several times, in fact!
39* [[ComicBook/ArchieComics Archie]] once had a shiny new exterior installed over his beloved, beat-up antique jalopy. It didn't fool anyone for long because "Betsy's" interior was as broken-down as ever.
40* The [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Batmobile]].
41* The [[ComicBook/Robin1993 Redbird]], which has a lot of the same improvements as the Batmobile plus a couple unique to itself.
42* ''ComicBook/SinCity'' has its fair share as almost every car has a souped-up engine and is in pristine condition for vintage automobiles.
43* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Overdrive has this as his superpower: he can turn any motor vehicle he gets near into a heavily armed, turbocharged street machine while also adding loads of bling as well. Unfortunately, this is ''[[CripplingOverspecialization all]]'' he can do, which means that any time he gets stuck without a car he's completely useless.
44[[/folder]]
45
46[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
47* The Tuner Cars in ''WesternAnimation/Cars1'' that come upon Mack nodding off on the interstate and nudge him off the road.
48[[/folder]]
49
50[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
51* All the cars in the ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' series.
52* The [=DeLorean=] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeLorean_DMC-12 DMC-12]] from ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' trilogy, which Doc Brown converted into a TimeMachine because of its stainless steel construction and, of course, [[RuleOfCool if you're going to build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?]]
53* In ''Film/RevengeOfThePinkPanther'' we see Clouseau's "Silver Hornet" — a Citroen 2CV with ludicrous add-on fins and other accoutrements. [[TheAllegedCar It falls apart into a heap in both scenes it's in.]]
54* The [[{{Thememobile}} G-Mobile]] in ''Film/SecretHeadquarters''. Originally just an ordinary [[HippieVan VW microbus]], Jack has added [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum Source-powered]] jets, a RayGun, SmokeBombs, and a host of other upgrades. When the kids are driving it, it goes 108 mph[[note]]174 km/h[[/note]] ''before'' they have cops on their tail. It also seems to be able to stop practically on a dime. In the epilogue, [[spoiler: Jack replaces it with a more modern and less conspicuous version that can turn invisible and fly]].
55* ''Film/TankGirl'' has a whole montage of the tank being customised.
56* Q Branch of the ''Film/JamesBond'' series specializes in pimping out [[strike:cars]] pretty much anything. Want to drive your car with your cell phone? Need some [[EnergyWeapon Frickin' Laser Beams]] in a wristwatch? A suitcase that hides everything from money to knives to a takedown-style sniper rifle? You got it! It's downplayed as much as possible - equipment issued to undercover operatives must look and function identically to whatever it's disguised as to not draw attention - but God ''damn'', that is some top-notch pimping.
57[[/folder]]
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59[[folder:Live Action TV]]
60* Walter Denton's jalopy on ''Radio/OurMissBrooks''. Although usually a wreck, sometimes he amps up the engine, other times he simply adds seat covers.
61* The entire premise of ''Series/PimpMyRide'' is to create such vehicles.
62* ''Series/{{Psych}}'': One episode sees Shawn and Gus investigating a chop shop. Shawn gets Gus's car pimped out in the process, much to the latter's horror due to it being a company car (and the modifications costing their entire paycheck). Shawn insists the new look is "fresh to death."
63* Naturally this is occasionally seen on ''Series/TopGear'', although it's not always 'Pimping' in the true sense.
64** One episode had them turning a Renault Avantime into a Mitsubishi Evo beater which was all about tuning the mechanicals not sticking [=TVs=] into the headrests.
65** The cheap police car challenge, where they strapped paint guns, wheel spikes and numerous blue lights on some old bangers was more in the spirit.
66** The amphibious car challenge where James May equipped his Triumph Herald with a detachable mast and a sail.
67** In another episode Clarkson namechecked ''Pimp My Ride'', declared the typical results to be ridiculous and then set out to 'Quaint My Ride' by stripping out the interior of an old Mercedes S-Class and replacing it with an [[http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QImgZ9vXxlU interior based on his house]] - wooden floor, stove, wingback armchair and a bookcase.
68** And then there was the attempt to transform a Fiat Multipla into the "ultimate car for old people." Among its many "improvements" it featured a 50cm long foam rubber front bumper, a speedo that only goes up to 20 mph, a transport cage on the roof for taking along a cat, a wooden box on the roof with a balloon and fireworks that are remotely activated so you can find you car again if you forgot where you parked it, gigantic side mirrors, cushion seats in the rear, climate control that could be set to either hot or cold (which was a failure as James May pointed out, because for old people there should be only one setting - "just right"), and the whole car was painted "hearing aid beige".
69%%* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' has the Winchester brothers' famous 1967 Chevy Impala.
70* Though it's just an ordinary vehicle, in ''Series/BetterCallSaul'', novice drug dealer Daniel "Pryce" Wormald's brand-new Hummer H2 - with spinning rims and flame paint job - gets treated like this because of his reckless spending. At one point, Nacho calls it "a school bus for six year old pimps", and upon receiving it as part of a tradeoff with Daniel that Mike had brokered, he announces his intentions to have it destroyed at a chop shop.
71[[/folder]]
72
73[[folder:Music Videos]]
74* In Music/TheOffspring's music video "Pretty Fly For a White Guy" (not to be confused with [[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy the trope it named]]), the titular white guy added hydraulics to his car, which might have been a pinto.
75* Music/MyChemicalRomance's "Na Na Na" video. The Trans Am with a rocket launcher.
76[[/folder]]
77
78[[folder:New Media]]
79* There's a website called [[http://www.ultimatetaxi.com/ Ultimate Taxi]], and that taxi seems to fit this.
80[[/folder]]
81
82[[folder:Toys]]
83* Many customized cars based on real cars in Toys/HotWheels are this trope, either original customizations or based off real custom cars in car shows (for example, the 2014 SEMA Show Mustang). [[{{Defictionalization}} Some original Hot Wheels cars made real]], like the Twin Mill, are basically Pimped-Out Hot Rods.
84[[/folder]]
85
86[[folder:Video Games]]
87* ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' features this since ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHighStakes High Stakes]]'', with ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedUnderground Underground]]'' expanding on this idea. It was removed in ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHotPursuit Hot Pursuit]]'' 2010, meaning that it wouldn't return (other than ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedShift Shift 2: Unleashed]]'' and possibly ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedTheRun The Run]]'') until the [[VideoGame/NeedForSpeed2015 2015 reboot]] onwards.
88* ''VideoGame/{{Juiced}}'' obviously follows up from ''Need for Speed'', but the game's racing style has more emphasis on racing simulation until the more arcade-y ''Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights'' released.
89* ''VideoGame/{{Forza}}'' allows you to do your cars ''Need for Speed''-style, before bringing them to race tracks. Toys/HotWheels expansions in later games are also filled with this trope by default due to [[{{Defictionalization}} having cars made real in custom car shows]].
90* An option for cars in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'' and its successor ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV''. Just make sure you store one in a garage to keep it. Doubly so in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoOnline'' because it's an MMO and real people are liable to be jealous of your sweet ride.
91* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'' had even more and better car-pimping options than ''San Andreas'' did.
92* ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'': Ratchet's ship in ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando Going Commando]]'' could be massively upgraded with weapons, boost, shield, that affected its exterior. Also some purely ornamental shape upgrades, and many different paint jobs that could be unlocked then purchased. ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal Up Your Arsenal]]'' has the same ship, but it only has the cosmetic upgrades in that game.
93* ''VideoGame/Rage2011'' gives you upgrade options for engine, armor, suspension, etc.
94* ''VideoGame/WanganMidnight Maximum Tune'' from the third game onwards introduces the Dress-Up system. Completing Ghost Battle races fills up a meter that, when full, grants you new cosmetic upgrades for your vehicle, such as tires, spoilers, decals, and even neon underglow. These parts don't influence your car's performance, so you can be as [[WhatAPieceOfJunk plain]] or as [[RiceBurner ricey]] as you want.
95[[/folder]]
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97[[folder:Web Animation]]
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99* Poked fun at in the [[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner Strong Bad Email]] [[http://www.hrwiki.org/index.php/car "Car"]], where Homestar tricks out his ''hat''.
100* In ''WebAnimation/MysterySkullsAnimated'', Lewis uses ghost magic to pimp out what was originally a delivery truck into a ''dekotora'' monster covered in pink flames, skulls, and thorny vines.
101[[/folder]]
102
103[[folder:Western Animation]]
104* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': Flash did this with a full-sized van once. Green Lantern asks why a van, then quickly says, "Forget that, [[AutoErotica I don't want to know!]]"
105* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Ice Cream of Margie (with the Light Blue Hair)", Homer has Otto pimp out his ice cream truck.
106* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuyPresentsLaughItUpFuzzball'' has a pimped out TIE Fighter.
107%%* [[Franchise/{{Cars}} Mater]] from [[WesternAnimation/PixarShorts ''Tokyo Mater'']].
108%%** Also, Kabuto, the short's villain. At the end of the short Kabuto loses to Mater in a race and as a result he is stripped of his modifications.
109* ''Every'' car in ''WesternAnimation/{{Motorcity}}'' looks amazing, and are often locked and loaded with laser guns, cannons, and all sorts of tricked-out gadgets.
110[[/folder]]
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