Steampunk styled classic car at International Steampunk City 2011 in Waltham, MA
_{Photo: Selbe Lynn via Flickr/CC}

You’ve spent years perfecting your steampunk outfit and gear, but the illusion is broken when you show up to the convention dressed from head to tow in your ensemble…driving a glaringly modern car. No doubt you want to overhaul your daily driver into a steampunk contraption, but doing so can involve a lot of money and effort—not to mention the purchase of a classic car with an old-fashioned body.

With a visionary eye and some creative work-arounds, though, you can tweak your car enough to give it a steampunk aesthetic without breaking the bank. The easiest approach to modifying your to car to evoke your favorite alternate history era is to implement the same fashion and design cues utilized in steampunk outfits and accessories.

Disclaimer: However you choose to modify your car, make sure you don’t do anything that makes it dangerous or illegal to drive!

DIY Tips to Mod Your Car into a Steampunk Vehicle

Debadge the car: Remove any trace of the brand logo, name, or vehicle name of the model you’re driving (here’s how to do that).

Accent paint: One of the most…