D&V Body Shop in Newark, N.J., gets credit for applying the VeilSide treatments to Teixeira's vehicle. Molding a widebody kit to any car's sheet metal is not a speedy process if you want it done right, and this car was not the exception to the rule; the whole process took another three months. In between waiting for parts to arrive and actually applying them to the car, D&V also installed the comprehensive TRD suspension and chassis kits for the new MR2, including springs, sway bars and chassis braces, as well as fabricating new custom side mirrors (which retain their power adjustment capabilities) and a pair of "eyebrows" for the headlights. A set of VeilSide Andrew Racing Dish wheels were also ordered and tucked up underneath the new wide fenders once the kit was in place and the panels were bathed in a fresh coat of silver. Teixeira says these rims are the only ones that would sit flush with the VeilSide kit, and they only do this using 1/2-in. spacers at all corners. He also says he had some trouble finding tires to fit both the fronts and the rears, but eventually settled on Bridgestone Potenza S03s, 235/35-R18 front and 285/30-R18 rear.
Teixeira credits Juan Silvanio, also of Hillside, with the immaculate interior work. The color scheme was changed to black and yellow on the seats and door panels; a pair of MOMO racing buckets are on order, but have not yet been placed in the cockpit. Other MOMO goodies include the shift knob, aluminum pedals and a pair of diamond plate footwell inserts that Teixeira says you cannot find for sale in the United States (MOMO is Italian, you know). The inadequate factory stereo was upgraded by Sound Connection in Union, N.J., using a Pioneer head, Xtant amp and 6 1/2-in. and 12-in. Polk Audio components and subs, respectively.
The only area on this car that lacks so far is its motivation, only because there still isn't a lot of practical go-fast goodies available given the rather extreme nature of the engine bay's space limitations. The stock airbox was replaced with AEM Cold Air induction, while the hot end was upgraded with the aforementioned VeilSide exhaust. Teixeira tells me he has ordered a VeilSide turbo kit for this application, which will eventually make its way over to North America and beneath this Spyder's decklid, but there are no set time tables for this event as JDM performance mods seem even slower to make the trans-ocean trip than aesthetic enhancements.
New Jersey has more hazardous waste disposal sites than any other state in the nation. I don't know what that has to do with this story, but think about it. When you're done thinking about that, think about the fact that New Jersey also has one of the nicest new American MR2s, adorned with full VeilSide body trimmings, like it just drove off the Tokyo Auto Salon showroom floor. Think about the time and work, not to mention money, that went into importing the kit and applying it to the car. Think about initializing or renewing your subscription to Import Tuner. And, when you're done thinking about all this crazy shit, get up and make me a sandwich.