The days when customized imports flexed either power or priss are long-gone. New generations of fly rides are sportin' both muscle and magnificence as a result of a rapidly growing industry and a huge aftermarket behind both arenas. Many of the country's quickest import dragsters have gone from beasts to beauties of late-duct tape is a thing of the past (except in emergencies)-these pint-sized rockets are flossin' wild paint jobs and fiberglass wide-body mods. On the show scene the pace has picked up with hardcore show vehicles no longer satisfied with just looking pretty. B-series transplants and in some cases high-performing built versions have now become a common sight under the hoods throughout the show arena. Take Aaron Guiterrez' 1995 Honda Civic, for example. The Hatchback has been transformed into one wild-looking ride far beyond many imaginations. Yet, not only has the Honda stretched the limits of sheet-metal massage, it also boasts impressive performance that enables it to cover the quarter-mile in 13.2-seconds at over 105 mph.
When it comes to the visuals, the addition of a body kit can make or break a car. With so many options out on the market it's sometimes a tough call selecting a kit that creates the look you're after. Often, various kits incorporate a front piece or side skirts that appeal but other pieces that do not, so we regularly see vehicles with body kits that incorporate pieces from several different manufacturers. As many of you have already noticed, the Honda that graces these pages flexes a one-off look that is a result of Aaron's creativity and plenty of hard graft in the body shop. The crew at Long's Auto Body in South El Monte, Calif., took on the responsibility of installing the various styling additions and executing a flood of custom sheet-metal madness. The result: a Ground Designs Black Widow front bumper molded around Integra Type-R headlights, a custom hood scoop, flared fenders with Z3-style vents, Vision side mirrors, trick side vents and a custom rear bumper beneath the Supra taillights. Following the crazy mods, a visit to the paint booth and four coats of PPG orange pearl with a dowsing of gold and orange flake completed the Civic's wild makeover.
Building a fast car doesn't necessarily mean you have to sacrifice interior refinements. A peak inside Aaron's Civic makes it obvious the choice was never an option. The factory Civic seats have been swapped out in favor of Acura versions from an Integra GSR and the entire interior has been artistically re-stitched in orange, blue and white vinyl by Kreative in Rosemead, Calif. Further amenities include AutoMeter gauges and dress-up components from Razo. Aaron also took into consideration the limits of a factory stereo and has installed a Panasonic DF1000 head unit up front with Autobahn speakers all around. We are told this is just the beginning and the Civic is in line for crazy stereo mods in the near future.
Pop the hood and it's evident that the engine bay is about more than just horsepower. As you'll see, the polished valvecover is surrounded with a variety of eye-catching show tricks in the form of an STR dress up kit, polished intake and an under-the-hood-mounted AutoMeter tach.
Now let's take a look at what gives this Honda such a heavyweight performance punch. Aaron delivered a stock B16B dohc VTEC powerplant to Big Show Motorworks in Rosemead where the crew swapped out the factory slugs for some higher compression 13.0:1 units. Up top a Japan-spec Type-R cylinder head was mated to the reworked engine block along with a Type-R intake manifold modified by Big Show. The valvetrain is now orchestrated by Civic Type-R camshafts and Skunk2 timing gears, and air induction has been opened up with an AEM intake system and JG Edelbrock throttle body. On the exhaust side, a four-into-one DC Sports header and 5Zigen Fireball exhaust direct spent gases. The factory ECU is now a custom-spec re-tuned piece from Erick's Racing, with modified fuel curve and ignition map. At the time this goes to print the Honda has not seen the DynoJet but, as we mentioned earlier, it produces plenty of power and low 13-second bragging rights.
Tucked neatly and flushed under each fender well are 17-inch Racing Hart C2 Evolution rims wrapped in Nitto 205/40-R17 tires. To further enhance the full potential of the Honda, Gutierrez added DC Sports front and rear sway bars teamed with Tokico shocks and VIS coilovers in each corner. This arsenal of aftermarket suspension helps diminish body roll while also increasing cornering capability and security.
Gutierrez' Honda is another fine example of crazy-clean rides that boast plenty of street power by relying simply on raw naturally aspirated performance. Stoplight confrontations with huge cubic-inch Detroit iron are no longer such a one-sided affair and with so many 12- and 13-second bragging imports on the streets, we've finally earned some respect.
September eventsSep 1stIDRC 2nd Annual Toyota Aloha NationalsHawaii Raceway Park, Kapolei, HI
Sep 2ndIDRC 2nd Annual Tri State NationalsIsland Dragway, Great Meadow, NJ
Sep 8-9NHRA/Summit Import Racing SeriesHouston Raceway Park, TX
Sep 8-9Battle of the ImportsVirginia Motorsports Park, Dinwiddie, VA
Sep 9thBF Goodrich Drag WarsGreat Lakes Dragway, IL
Sep 15-16NOPI NationalsAtlanta Motor Speedway, Atlanta, GA
Sep 23DC Armory ShowoffWashington, DC
Sep 22-23Battle of the ImportsRoute 66 Raceway, Joliet, IL
Sep 29-30NHRA/Summit Import Racing SeriesPomono Fairplex, Pomona, CA