There are many ways to customize your car, and with decades of automotive experience under our belt, there are few Motor1.com crew has not seen. But we’ve never seen anything like it.
We recently came across an interesting TikTok account called scratched, and the name exactly matches the content. You’ll find all kinds of videos showing various automotive taillights, but each one has one thing in common: an incredibly detailed, hand-carved design that turns boring red lenses into legit art. And you can have a custom set made especially for you.
The TikTok account includes a link to Etched Out, the website for the Australian-based company where this particular lamp was made. Based on People In Car on TikTok, the company was started by a talented car enthusiast who wanted a custom taillight for her car, but couldn’t find a shop or engraver interested in doing the job. So he did what any car enthusiast would do – teach himself to do it. He spent four years carving lamps as a hobby, getting better with practice to launching his own business.
The process looks pretty easy, if very complicated. Designs are drawn onto the lens, which are then engraved using a Dremel drill. According to its website, once the engraving is complete, the lamp is sent to a paint shop for a clear coat to protect the newly created line on the lens. The turnaround time from start to finish is listed as 2-4 weeks, depending on the time of delivery. Costs are not mentioned, although with each job truly being a custom creation, it’s hard to pinpoint a figure.
The website doesn’t just cover taillights either. Etched Out also has listings for engraved shift knobs, engraved valve covers, or you can easily repair your old headlights to look like new. Based on TikTok and Instagram posts showing various completed projects, dragon and flower designs seem to be popular.
We suspect some of you may be wondering if it’s legal to engrave designs on taillights. Modifying vehicle lighting can always be a slippery slope; the Etched Out website believes everything is up and down as the lights are still shining as advertised. However, the company advises interested customers to check with local law enforcement before making a purchase.
