It's rare to be in the presence of a legend. Most of the time, we only recognize its importance after it's long gone, when we can only talk about it and wish we would have been there to grasp it personally. Thankfully, in the automotive world, being close to a legend is easy to realize, simply by having the right amount of money, luck, and time. Take for example legendary cars like the Toyota Corolla AE86 and the Datsun 510. These two cars are often restored and retrospectively appreciated years after they rolled off of the production line. One such car that should be added to this short list is the Honda Civic EG, a tuning favorite that is the foundation car of many tuners, then and now.
The EG Civic, available from the 1992 through the 1995 model year, was offered in three different body styles: two door, four door, and hatchback. The hatchback was undoubtedly the most attractive, with is slight tear-drop rear, sloping roof, and an increase in width, from front to back, creating a menacing stance. The Si trim level was the sportiest, featuring a VTEC engine that put out 125 hp. One of the main reasons the EG hatch is sought after is the fact that any B-series engine can bolt in using stock components. But its stock engine is enough to help you stay competitive on both the streets and tracks, a feature that attracted Bill Harris to buy this 1993 Honda Civic Si. It was the beginning of his long journey that included two states, a Suzuki Bandit, a tuning crew that rules the races, the streets, and the shows, and a medical condition that helped prolong the life of the Civic.
"I originally picked up the car as a daily driver," explains Bill, who found the Civic at a used Honda dealership in Portland, Ore. "The car was a little over two years old and had 45,000 miles on the clock." It was just what he was looking for: small, economical, fun to drive, and held plenty of potential. It reminded him of his first car, a 1972 Datsun 510, except it was front-wheel drive and had less problems. He unapologetically sold his Suzuki Bandit as the down payment for the Civic and moved to central California a year later, where he finally started to modify his car after giving it to his wife, Toni. Toni and him focused on the suspension first, moving down to the paint, interior, turbo, and finally the sound system.
Before they ultimately agreed to change the exterior color to a House of Kolor Oriental Blue Metallic, Bill painted it in two different colors. The Blue Metallic just happened to be the color that stuck. They traveled all the way down to Oxnard, Calif., to go to Commercial Auto Body, the shop that performed both the paint and attached the body kit. As authentic as they come, Bill and Toni opted for the C-West ensemble, which included the side skirts, rear bumper, rear wing, and eyebrows. Their choice to go with C-West was prompted by the fact that the company develops all its body kits in the wind tunnel and tests them at extremely high speeds. To accentuate the already sweet kit, Bill and Toni added a custom-made CBR 929 RR gas cap, Fiber Images carbon fiber hood, shaved side moldings, and shaved inner taillights, all of which helped them place in numerous car shows throughout the nation.
The inside is as equally impressive as the outside. The first prominent feature is the Sparco Torino seats, coupled with Sparco material-wrapped rear seats. Autometer lines the dash and around the instrument cluster, right behind the Sparco Color 2 steering wheel. The extensive sound system is also a notable highlight in the interior. Aside from the Panasonic head unit, the I.C.E. all comes from the manufacturing plant of Polk Audio, from the amps to the subs and components.