For most people, a car is a mere tool—a means of getting from one place to another. But for automobile lovers, cars become a projection of lifestyle choices, and the search for the perfect vehicle becomes an obsession. Buying a car from a dealership is stressful enough when you're only picking out a commuter, so when it comes to performance and style, car enthusiasts agonize over every single detail.

Some car owners are lucky enough to have the kind of money to buy one-of-a-kind customs from known marques like Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Rolls-Royce. Most of us, though, are stuck in the real world and have to find the balance between features, design, reliability, and budget. Between finding and buying new acquisitions, the urge to modify a current car can become overwhelming. And it always starts small, with exhaust, or wheels, or coilovers.

But then, all of a sudden, what used to be a normal car is now special, and there's so much more money invested into it that any sale would result in a huge loss, and so, the thinking goes that the modifications may as well continue.

For certain car maniacs, on the other hand, modifications are the spice of ownership, and having a one-off, personalized car is the goal in itself. Whether they began as small projects or were initiated with great deliberation and expense, modified cars live in a world of their own. Scroll down for 20 cars that have been improved to the tune of $50,000 or more:

20 Top Secret Supra

via bhauction.jp

The Toyota Supra is an established sports car that's favored among tuners for its reliability, power, and handling—so much so that it's become nearly impossible to find a Supra in stock form these days, given the remarkable quantity of aftermarket products and support that are easily available.

This Supra, though, has been modified by Top Secret of Japan, with insane power coming from Toyota's first-ever production V12, swapped in alongside two turbos and a nitrous setup.

Suspension and bodywork resulted in a car stable and powerful enough to reach well north of 200 miles per hour, challenging the McLaren F1 for its world supremacy. But the upgrades didn't come cheap—the car that the V-12 came out of cost over $100,000 itself.

19 Porsche Rally Monster

via bringatrailer.com

This Porsche 911 looks the part of a rally car with a lift kit, gnarly tires on rally wheels, a roll cage, and that semi-whale tail custom rear spoiler. With a custom paint job, huge dual exhaust tips poking out from under the tubular rear bumper, and carbon-fiber work all around, including the light setup out front, the car's exterior seems impressive enough.

But under the skin, the drivetrain has seen perhaps even more significant improvements, with a stroked 3.8-liter flat six that's boosted by a supercharger feeding it, alongside all-wheel drive and an extra large water-to-air intercooler, which is somewhat hilarious but essential for the otherwise air-cooled engine. Total price for this snow and gravel project: a whopping $335k, not including the original donor Porsche.

18 Quicksilver Surfer

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This 1957 Chevy truck started life just like any regular pickup. It probably tooled around on a farm and drove highway miles before undergoing an extensive program in Oklahoma. Just about every single component of the truck has been retooled or swapped out, with power coming in the form of a big-block Chevy engine producing a reported 650 hp.

Custom exhaust, custom headers, and custom intake support the enormous V8.

And yet, the exterior is smooth and refined, with a lowered stance, worked over body panels, and vintage wheels. The interior has been improved to match the truck's elegance, with leather everything and fully custom gauges. Having been called the finest custom truck in existence, it sold for $214,500 at a Barrett Jackson auction, and the seller probably still didn't recoup the cost of the project.

17 Scarier Than a Dinosaur

via http://hennesseyperformance.com

Hennessey Performance has made a name for themselves for the past two decades, providing both aftermarket parts and tunes to the American auto market and also creating their own special order modified cars. From the Venom GT to the Hellcat and now the Velociraptor 6x6, the massive amount of power Hennessey is able to push matches the bold style of their exteriors.

The Velociraptor is essentially a modified Ford Raptor, which is Ford's own premier performance pickup.

Hennessey then adds another axle, a 600 hp increase in the form of a twin-turbo engine and all the necessary plumbing, plus Brembo brakes and optional armoring systems. The entire intimidating package is available only by special order for $349,000, almost $300k more than the "base" Raptor.

16 Lotus Of Your Dreams

via lotustalk.com

The owner of this Lotus Esprit Turbo claims to have spent a whopping $200,000 on customizations over the course of his ownership. And yet, the car retains a mostly stock appearance on the outside, though, of course, in immaculate condition for a 30-year-old sports car. With a very focused purpose, this car was built to improve the power of the original Lotus while simultaneously supporting and enhancing the model's already legendary handling. Keeping the weight of the car below 2,400 pounds was the goal, and with a list of modifications that spans well over three pages of type, the revamped engine put out 415 horsepower before having its intake totally overhauled. Other highlights include a limited slip differential and a hub conversion that allows for a full lock, resulting in performance the owner likens to a Porsche Carrera GT at a much lower cost.

15 Singing a Song I Love

via gessato.com

Up there at the highest end of the vintage Porsche world is Singer Vehicle Design. Over the years, Singer has separated itself from the crowd with tasteful updates to Porsche's already classic designs. This meticulously restored and extensively modified Porsche 964 is clearly recognizable as a Singer thanks to the subtle but distinctive spoiler that graces its rear haunches.

Singers look great, without a doubt, but their performance enhancements are less subtle under the hood (or trunk since the Porsches they modify are all rear-engined). The highest-end drivetrain the brand offers is highlighted by a custom Ed Pink Racing Engines 4.0-liter, Cosworth-inspired, 390-horsepower flat six that propels their offerings from zero to sixty in 3.3 seconds, with a price tag for the whole package that approaches $500,000.

14 Vette Racecar

via fulloctanegarage.com

This 1957 Chevrolet Corvette is almost unrecognizable in its current form, having been reworked into an NCCC Group III RP-AF racecar. Just about the only things that remain are design cues on the sides and the tail. It was clearly built for speed and performance, sporting a custom, high-top roll bar to accommodate the driver's helmet, with the width of rubber in front being a strong clue as to the expected results of the build.

Racecars are typically beat-up, though, and this one retains a smooth fit and finish, which can only be the result of big spending, both in the initial work and in maintenance since then. With style akin to the star of Disney's Cars, hopefully, this racecar retains the spirit of the Corvette, even if it's been greatly enhanced for fun days at the track.

13 Yellow Cat

via donlawracing.com

The Jaguar XJ220 represented the peak of automotive engineering when it debuted in 1992. Inspired by Jaguar's successful Le Mans racing of the '60s and the '70s and utilizing contemporary track technology, the XJ220 was officially the fastest car in the world in 1992 and 1993 and set the production-car record for lapping the Nurburgring.

Designed with a potential entry into Group B racing in mind, only 281 XJ220s were ever produced.

It may be hard to believe that such a car could be improved upon or that anyone would want to risk his incredibly rare and collectible investment, but that's exactly what Don Law Racing did to this yellow cat. Weight reduction was improved with a revised interior and the removal of flip-up headlights, while beneath the bonnet, two uprated Garrett turbos raise peak horsepower and torque to 680 and 526, respectively.

12 Snow Plow

via moibbk.com

Audi released the R8 in 2006, a move that surprised the automotive world since the car directly competed with—and some would even say bested—Porsche's offerings at the time. This seemed to make little sense since Porsche and Audi are both owned by the same parent company, Volkswagen Auto Group, but their uber-modern R8 boasted incredible styling combined with the performance of a mid-engined supercar.

Audi is, of course, famous for their Quattro all-wheel-drive system, and this R8 seems poised to make good use of the legendary traction, set up for runs up to the slopes, albeit much faster than American mountain roads would probably allow. Besides the roof box that mounts between the passenger compartment to the enormous spoiler in the rear, notice the raised hood, the custom wheels, and the enhanced integrated venting that reveal the undoubtedly huge expense of modifying this R8.

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This 1983 Aston Martin Lagonda looks mostly stock from the outside, with the exception of its chrome rims, but its engine has been swapped with a GM-sourced LT1 V8 shared with Chevy Corvettes and Camaros, as well as the Pontiac Firebird. The 5.7-liter engine is actually smaller in size than the Aston Martin's original V8 but compensates with more power.

The interior of this long, boxy, '80s sedan has been updated further with improved ergonomics, new leather and carpeting all around, and TVs for the rear passenger seats. All told, though, the most telling clue to the overall cost of this modified Aston Martin project is the fact that it's been BAR certified, meaning it's smog legal in California, which is no small feat.

10 The Widest Body

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This Porsche 944 still faintly resembles the original car but mostly thanks to the rear window and the role a similar car played in Risky Business. That car ended up flooded, but this one has clearly benefited from extensive work. The enormous wide-body kit and track-style spoiler out back are complemented with wheels that match the interior trim and roll cage. Under the hood, a Chevy LS3 swap lends credence to the overall build.

GM's LS3 debuted in 2008 and would be featured in that year's Corvette and Camaro SS, producing around 430 horsepower, or nearly three times what a stock Porsche 944 left the factory with way back in 1982.

Converting a small German four-cylinder to a beefy American V8 requires talent and determination, and the overall product here must've cost quite a pretty penny.

9 Block, Ken Block

via topgear.com

Behind all those decals and under that enormous blower sits a car that used to be a stock 1965 Ford Mustang. Pieces of the body panels are just about all that's left of the classic car, however, as this example could very well be the most modified car in history. Known as the Gymkhana Seven, this is Ken Block's Pike's Peak drift car, with 1,400 horsepower and all-wheel drive, perfect for setting records and burning rubber.

Extensive modifications were clearly necessary to enable this kind of performance, and besides obvious features, the list includes lowering the floor to allow for the driver's helmet height, custom brake systems to fit within the wheels but still be able to stop the thing, a honeycomb chassis plate, and serious safety upgrades given the risky business of charging up Pike's Peak at top speed while purposefully sideways next to a cliff.

8 Godzilla

via germancarsforsaleblog.com

This 1985 Benz 190E looks like a moderately modded version of one of Mercedes's most popular cars for tuners. After all, how much could lower springs, black rims, and a huge exhaust actually cost close to $50,000? Under the hood is another story, however, as this Benz benefits from an engine swap that certainly seems odd at first but sounds even more radical.

The drivetrain has largely been swapped with Japanese-sourced components, including a high-revving Mazda Rx-7 Turbo's rotary engine and the rear end from a Nissan Skyline GT-R. All told, the car is good for over 300 screaming horsepower, while also staying legal to register in New Zealand. The dark purple exterior is a purposeful nod to Godzilla, and the interior has been similarly upgraded in tribute to the Japanese influence. Though it might be hard to answer the "Why?" that led to this monster, the result ends up rounding out nicely.

7 Jet Black

via craigslist.com

Saab engineers at Trollhattan have been churning out turbo engines for just about as long as anyone. With their famous reliability combined with a front-wheel-drive system known for its ability in Sweden's icy rallies, Saabs seem ripe for tuning. This Saab owner has taken his 900 Turbo to the next level, though. The matte-black coupe features an upgraded aluminum intercooler, Garrett turbo, water and alcohol injection, and a gear set that's designed to allow a top speed of 175 miles per hour.

The custom-made body kit hides all the performance in a neat package, with a skid plate underneath protecting the drivetrain from inevitable bumps given the car's low stance. While some might doubt the point of so much power going through the front wheels, the Swedes sure enjoy "yumping" their unique cars through their rugged terrain.

6 A Miniature Blast

via carscoops.com

Mini Coopers are front-wheel-drive cars with tiny engines that nonetheless present a wonderful driving experience combined with surprising comfort in the cabin. Still, taller bodies may find getting in and out difficult and longer road trips to be a pain. This Mini was clearly modified with those people in mind, having had its drivetrain swapped to a rear-mounted engine sourced from Acura Integra Type R.

Weighing less than one ton, with 217 horses put to the ground through a limited slip rear axle from an engine that redlines at 8,500 RPM, this car should give the driver plenty of room and a ton of smiles per gallon.

Probably, bring a passenger to help balance the weight distribution and keep the front tires on the ground, though.

5 Camo-ghini

via dupontregistry.com

This Lamborghini Huaracan is owned by legendary freeskier and car tuner Jon Olsson. Olsson's past cars have included Audis, a Nissan GT-R, and other Lamborghinis, all set up with similar camo and all oriented towards all-wheel-drive performance. This Huracan LP610-4, however, has an upgraded supercharger, which allows the mid-mounted engine to produce north of 800 horsepower.

And does the extreme athlete leave this car behind when he treks up to the slope? Of course not—it's got all-wheel drive! Olsson is known to take his supercars through the snow all winter as he travels throughout Europe. In this case, the supercharger alone cost a reported $33,000, not to mention the titanium exhaust setup and custom carbon-fiber intake upgrades, which match the fully carbon-fiber ski box up top.

4 Screaming Brick

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This 1992 Volvo 740 looks like the ideal soccer-mom wagon, complete with rear-facing third-row seats for when the whole team's coming over for a playdate. But underneath the tame exterior lies a modified LS1 V8 swapped in alongside a 6-speed manual transmission. For reference, the car originally came with a four-cylinder engine and an automatic trans. With custom mounts holding the drivetrain together and a matching LS6 exhaust setup, this might be the coolest mom on the block. It's almost better that the exterior appearance is faded and bland like the original Volvo, as no one will expect burnt rubber and tire squeals, but all the kids will have a blast listening to that V8 exhaust rumble under the back row of seats.

3 Right On Track

via bringatrailer.com

The BMW M3 platform over the years has seen every kind of modification imaginable. Prized since inception for its perfect handling, powerful engines, and impeccable style, the M line has been at or near the top of every list ranking best sports cars for the money. Aftermarket mods abound as well, meaning every M3 owner can do all the little upgrades that make a car unique.

This E92 example benefits from a custom carbon-fiber widebody aero-kit, a wing on the back, and a full roll cage.

Sitting on 20-inch wheels and lowered on coilovers, the orange wrap with M-style striping completes the look. Whether driving around town, to the track, or on the track, this modified M looks poised to both perform and impress.

2 Newly Old

via bringatrailer.com

The E30 M3 was BMW's first offering in the famous line. With a high-revving four-cylinder engine, a lightweight body, and neutral steering, the car has become highly sought after these days—especially if they remain in fully stock form. Unsurprisingly, it's becoming harder and harder to find these cars stock because there's just so much easy modification to undertake.

While some owners start with BBS wheels and a spoiler, this particular car features a huge upgrade in the form of an S54 engine sourced from an E46 M3. The S54 should produce around half as much power when compared to the E30's S14, so that spoiler now becomes a necessity to keep the rear end planted, especially given the added weight up front. Regardless, this kind of build takes a lot of time to dial in right, but the end result wraps up nicely.

1 Exorcising Ghosts

via http://hennesseyperformance.com

Hennessey Performance's Camaro Exorcist is downright scary. It's based on a stock ZL1 Camaro, but the modifications to this car turn it into what might be the world's fastest muscle car. Hennessey advertises the engine as delivering 1,000 horsepower and 883 lb-ft of torque, making the optional track slicks seeming like a wise buy-in.

Hennessey is in the middle of an arms race with other tuners, and the Exorcist seemingly outclasses them all with a verified top speed of 217 miles per hour. For context, that's more than the Dodge Demon, the Corvette ZR1, the Lamborghini Huracan, and the Porsche 911 GT2 RS, plus the best McLaren and Ferrari have to offer. Pricing starts at $119,000 or just about double the price of the original ZL1.

Sources: bringatrailer.com, wikipedia.org, caranddriver.com.