The import scene owes a lot to the Honda Civic. Sure, Supras and Skylines sell magazines and whet the fancy of the ever-important 18-30 year-old male demographic, but the Civic is the bread and butter of the scene. Affordable, fun, lightweight and economical, it might seem an unlikely candidate to start a worldwide tuning craze. But that's exactly what the Civic did-give birth to the sport-compact scene.
The first Civic hit our shores in late 1972 to go toe-to-toe with the Toyota Corolla and the other small Japanese cars that were starting to trickle over to our side of the Pacific. Equipped with a massive 1169cc engine, painted steel wheels, an AM radio and spartan interior trim and amenities, the first-generation was a far cry from the current plush incarnations.
Throughout its 30-plus-year production, the Civic has undergone continual development-getting bigger and more luxurious, while receiving more powerful and efficient engines. With 197-hp, a 6-speed transaxle with a limited-slip-differential, and amenities like navigation, the latest Si has come a long way since the first Civic arrived stateside. That's not to say the older Civics were gutless pigs.
Honda didn't build the Civic to be a performance car, but it's easy to imagine they did. With a power-to-weight ratio better than most of the cars in its class and engines that made more power per liter than some performance cars, the Civic accelerated, braked, turned and drove better than many cars out there. Enthusiasts saw unadulterated, raw potential in the little Honda.
That potential, combined with the sheer number of Civics produced and the continual improvements in Honda engine technology, catapulted the Civic to divine status it enjoys today. Engines from different Civics can easily be swapped into those that came with smaller or weaker ones. And because so many Civics have been made with so many engines and options, even the poorest tuner can improve the performance of their ride with junkyard Honda parts for next to nothing.
The most prolific Civic engine swap platform has to be the forth, fifth and sixth generation Civics, which people install DOHC VTEC engines into, like the B16. These swaps can often be made smog-legal if you get the right parts-a bonus for the law-abiding.
The early part of the 2000's was dark times for Civic enthusiasts. It seemed Honda was turning its back on the tuner scene, making a bigger, heavier and less nimble car; focusing on making it better for the average commuter-not enthusiasts. The 2001-2005 Civics marked the high point of enthusiast dissatisfaction with the Civic, especially the funky EP3.
Thankfully, Honda saw the error of its ways and went back to its old formula for the 2006 Civic Si. With a 2-liter engine derived from the now-defunct Acura RSX Type-S and well-tuned performance suspension (something the last Si lacked), Honda has redeemed itself and its flagship Civic.
To help get the bad taste from the mouths' of many loyal Honda fans after the 2001-2005 Civic debacle, Honda decided to donate Mackin Industries a new Si to prove it's all it's cracked up to be. In short, Mackin Industries got this blue 2006 Si to do with as they pleased.
Technically, the new Si was loaned to Mackin Industries for the 2006 SEMA show in Las Vegas. But, Mackin, a JDM importer in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., plans on using it for more than just shows. "Our main plan is to build the car to compete in Time Attack evens and local track days (road racing)...like the Industry Track day (www.industryday.org) we host a few times per year. If budget allows, or if time permits, we would like to revamp the car to Honda Challenge specs and possibly race in that series." In fact, according to Mackin, by the time you read this, the Si will be fully gutted and sporting a rollcage.