JDM Acura Integra R
Contrary to popular belief, having big-name sponsors or spending gobs of money aren't the only ways to build a car that gets into magazines. Jeremy Gilman's 2000 Integra Type R is by no means the craziest ITR build we've ever seen. But the right combination of tasteful mods makes this car stand out above the rest.
Gilman flossed a '98 EK hatch up until a horrible day in 2004 when it was stolen while he was away serving in the military. He found out about the loss over the phone and by the time he returned home he already had the Type R waiting for pickup. The experience of losing a car to theft impacted the way he built his next car, this DC2.
"The most challenging thing with this car is making sure it doesn't get stolen!" he says. "The rear spoiler found only on the Type R is nowhere to be seen, nor does the car have Championship white or Phoenix yellow paint that people often associate with the ITR."
Most Type-R owners agree that their biggest fear is theft. An Integra Type-R is desirable to car thieves because almost every part on it can be sold on the used market for a premium. With this in mind, Gilman set out to build as clean a car as possible while maintaining an all-OEM look.
While most enthusiasts' first instinct is to tear down a motor and build it for maximum power, Gilman did the opposite. The B18C5 at home under this Type R's hood is internally stock except for a set of Buddy Club cams installed at Sportcar Motion in Vista, Calif. A J's Racing intake and Spoon Sports header are the only other major mods in the engine bay. Since the C5 is such a great motor in stock form, all it needs are a few breathing upgrades to make it a powerful, reliable motor for daily driving.
Underneath and up top, the ITR's suspension mods fit the rest of the general theme. A set of Tein coil-overs, a pair of Mugen strut tower braces and an EM Racing C-pillar bar help plant the ITR to the tarmac. Coupled with Yokohama tires wrapped around GABsport wheels, the combination makes a great everyday car that can still hug the corners on a weekend drive through the hills of northern San Diego county.
It's not hard to build a balls-out, uber-fast Honda. But building a fast enough Honda, with style and comfort to keep the girlie in the passenger seat from complaining about the ride, is a little harder. This Type-R is a dedicated daily driver enjoyable in all aspects of driving whether on the track, in the canyon, or on the way to work. A car this well rounded earns our respect.
Honda Tuning
|
JDM Acura Integra R
Linear Mode
