The Dream…
Hello fellow Speedhunters, I’m Anthony and this is my journey of finding, building, and achieving a childhood/teenage dream of owning a JDM Honda Integra Type R.
It’s a tale as old as time, but growing up in Southern California in the 1990s/2000s and witnessing what many consider the golden era import car scene definitely sparked my enthusiasm and nostalgia for this iconic car.
Over many years, I searched multiple Japanese used cars websites, watching the market until I found the right car for the right price at the right time. I bought this one sight unseen in August 2018 and stored it in Japan until it was legal for US import in December 2020.
This car was first registered in Japan in December 1995 and was very complete and still 99% stock with 35,000 miles (56,000 kilometers) on the odometer. I captured these photos right before washing my car for the first time – something I waited nearlytwo and a halfyears to do.
…Becomes Reality
Not too long after that first wash, I began disassembling what was a fully functional and intact car to clean literally everything with extreme excessiveness. After everything was clean and organized, it was easy to see which parts needed refinishing or refreshing. During reassembly, I also took the opportunity to replace some parts with new or better condition parts I had collected over the years.
One major replacement was a brand new front bumper that was repainted along with the rest of my front end and wheels. Although I missed driving the Integra during this additional two and a half year project, l learned so much about my dream car and all of the parts that make it what it is. As a result, I came to appreciate everything about it even more.
Finally, after nearlyfive years from purchase to completing my personal factory reset, this is the car of my dreams – a bone stock JDM Integra Type R that looks like it came to life from Honda dealer brochures and drove off a Japanese dealership floor in 1995.
Look a little closer and you may notice some additional details like customized replica vanity plates and a UKDM-only document wallet. There are also various Honda Access parts, like window visors, a sunglasses holder, floor mats, rear strut tower bar, and a Gathers Integra Type R double-DIN radio with matching faux carbon fiber trim and amber lighting.
Victory Lap
Now that the dream had become a reality, it was time to enjoy and shareit. RADwood PNW 2023 was the perfect opportunity to do just that.
In preparation for therad era-inspired show, I made a trifold presentation poster board that was surprisingly popular with many fellow enthusiasts who came to see my car next to the Honda Motocompo that I wish was mine.
During the show, cars that were selected for awards got a sticker on their windshield, but my Integra didn’t have one. As the award ceremonygot underway, I was still hanging and talking with some people around myHonda when the announcer began describing the car that won the first award. My friend was like,“dude, that’s you!” To my absolute surprise, my car was awarded the co*ker Tire award.
Since I would already be out and about with my car, I planned some extra time for photoshoots before and after the show. I started my day with a photoshoot in Portland at 4:00am, then drove two and a half hours to Tacoma to stage for the show at 7:30am.
After the show, I drove almost an hour to Seattle to hang out with some Type R friends andtake part in morephotoshoots until 10:00pm, then made thethree-hour drive back home. It was a super-long day, but the photos and memories were totally worth it.
If you’ve made it this far, thanks so much for reading my story. If you want to see more, follow along atwww.instagram.com/jdm.dc2r.
Last and certainly not least,there are so many people to thank. First and foremost my wife and daughter, my importer Bo, my painter Tommy, all of my Portland/Seattle/international Type R friends, Art from RADwood, and everyone else who’s been with me on this journey and those I’ve met along the way. Thank you all!
Anthony Nguyen
Instagram: jdm.dc2r
IAMTHESPEEDHUNTER related stories on Speedhunters
How To join the IATS program:We have always welcomed readers to contact us with examples of their work and believe that the best Speedhunter is always the person closest to the culture itself, right there on the street or local parking lot. If you think you have what it takes and would like to share your work with us then you should apply to become part of the IAMTHESPEEDHUNTERprogram.Read how to get involved here.
Comments
Comments are closed.
11 comments
4:32 amJanuary 9, 2024Mike
This is a great story. You make it seem all too easy, but I am sure there were moments when you questioned the sanity of this.
Cheers to chasing down a dream.
5:24 amJanuary 9, 2024LeeExpo .
Simply amazing! Love how all the parts were removed for that extra cleaning, now that's car love!
6:07 amJanuary 9, 2024James
Excellent, great story and article. well worth the effort that goes into an obsession like this.
7:16 amJanuary 9, 2024Miguel-Newera
Great story & pictures. As also owner of one of the cleanest '98 spec (actually a '99) DC2's left in existence, I know well the effort & passion that has been invested by you into your's. No doubt it will continue to be lavished with love.
They're fantastic cars, these. I've owned and driven a lot of different JDM cars during 25 years living & working in Japan, and still have a fair few special ones I'll never let go of, but as I get older I appreciate the DC2 ever more, and it's become my favourite, in front of a full tune RX-7, and several others feartured here on Speedhunters.
I've fitted a Gruppe M carbon intake, a Mugen Twin Loop Exhaust, along with a Spoon ECU, which brings the V-Tec changeover point to 5,100 and allows the rev limiter to go to just a smidge under 9,000. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end!
I also rebuilt the gearbox with Synchrotech carbon lined synchros, and whilst I was there, fitted a lightweight flywheel, new clutch & brand new Mugen engine mounts, plus a host of other genuine and rare Mugen bits.
She sits stored in a dry, warm underground garage, 5 storeys under - covered, trickle charged and securely locked behind a secure door. It gets out & is driven by me for 2-3 weeks a year, gets serviced and detailed, then it goes back into storage.
These special cars should be preserved, as no doubt more and more people will continue to realise they're one of the top JDM cars ever made, and true driver's cult cars.
P.S. BTW - my very first car, some 35 years ago was a 2002 Tii. Strange coincidences!
9:58 amJanuary 9, 2024Bill
YES! I love the care that went into this, and the extra mile with the paperwork and show board. The appreciation for preserved and restored examples of the 90's icons alongside the crazy builds was long overdue but I'm happy to see it in full swing now. Excellent work with this car!
11:48 amJanuary 9, 2024Ronin22
SO good.
8:59 pmJanuary 9, 2024Vivizurianty
bone stock, but I still love it!
9:14 pmJanuary 9, 2024Jonu
Sad, he ruined the value of his Type R by taking it all apart and repainting the front end. Should of spent the extra $$$ and got one with any issues. I surely would want a car that has not been repainted regardless of miles
7:22 amJanuary 10, 2024ZabooVL
Cool story, car and photos. Thank you!
5:41 pmJanuary 10, 2024Chris Kreschollek
I had the same copy of Hyper Rev that I got from Japantown in SF back in about the year 2000. I had a 98 USDM ITR in 2004 but sadly had to sell it due to a back injury. I did give my Integra Hyper Rev magazines I had to someone who has an engine shop in Tempe, AZ (AKINA motorsports) that I went to high school with and ended up later delivering parts too. I felt obligated to share this because I am feeling very nostalgic for this car.
1:35 amJanuary 12, 2024Dinosawr
This is so cool. Especially with the parts laid out like that.
