Many television viewers have fond memories of Earl Scheib telling them that he would paint any car for just $99.95. While the days of inexpensive paint jobs are done, an increasingly large number of drivers are turning towards wraps to cover up their old color scheme. Some commentators might feel that this has something to do with the increasingly cheap quality of some vehicles.

In a strange twist of fate, it could also be said that people buy car wraps to cover the bodies of used cars since they prefer them to new automobiles. If people consider new cars to be cheap, they’ll opt for older ones. Since the paint schemes on used cars might be questionable, wraps are an inexpensive way to cover up the older bodywork.

News stories regarding the increased sales of car wraps comes on the heels of a recent release from Fiat. The Italian automaker has recently chosen to start outsourcing four new models to their facility in Bursa, Turkey. Some light commercial vans will probably be made at the factory. Fiat is even delaying the introduction of the Doblo light van to the US, despite the fact that they promised to start selling it in the states in the first quarter of 2013. Some people are wondering if Fiat is turning into more of an economy brand.

While Fiat has never been a luxury brand, some drivers are turning away from the market because of the presence of so many inexpensively made models. Then again, Fiat might be on to something. Good gas mileage is a feature on numerous Fiat designs, and older vehicles can’t always perform as well as newer ones. With budgets tightened by poor economic conditions, buyers are on the lookout for good deals.

It might seem funny that different aspects of the car market go together, but the industry is related. If drivers continue to turn towards cars that need a quick fake paint job, more car wraps will be sold. However, people are starting to trade in their clunkers. Economy sized vehicles are a hot commodity these days, and might be competing with the secondhand market for buyers.