Was it Smart cars you could get a different colour set of plastic panels to clip on? With wrap sheets they could be all pretrimmed etc - maybe premoulded to some degree. Changing image of cars, I have had a couple of hong kong import mercedes that have had 3 or 4 colour changes and updated trim panels - I have been told that apparently that is a thing to not replace your car but have a distinct colour change etc and your neighbours think you have a new car. And that general concept is not a new one, I remember in Adelaide there was a French Ballot with beautiful twin cam engine - originally a 1920's car but rebodied locally with an updated 1930's body. I guess the loved the driveline so much and couldn't get another so they just built a new car around it.