An art car is something separate from but related to the genre of car art. Where car art is a term used to refer to any art that depicts a car, on paper or canvas (or another surface), the art car is a law unto itself. With this development in the world of art, the car itself becomes the canvas onto which the artist projects his artistic ideas. While in some way the concept of art cars means that the car is subsumed to the whim of the artist, there is also an argument that says the genre is nothing without the car.

What constitutes an art car? Simply, it is a car onto which the artist puts their work, the centerpiece of what the artist wants to show. It may be something as simple as the car acting as canvas, just being painted on for arts sake. Occasionally, though, it goes beyond that, with the artist adding just whatever they want to add. It may be a whole lot of ornaments making it look like a metallic hedgehog. It may be a few little additions that make a new car look like an older, classic one, or it may be a coat of paint that gives the car an extra dimension. Art car artists frequently use psychedelic, pop art, graffiti – all of these. Check out the examples on the Internet, look on these works and wonder. Art cars are sure to entice even the most avid of art lovers.