In 2001, young car enthusiasts all over the world were introduced to tuner culture through a little known movie called The Fast And The Furious, depicting the US tuning scene in ways that were, let’s just say, a bit over the top. It’s impact on the car community (for better or for worse) has been huge and some of those kids who saw icons such as the Mazda RX-7, Honda Integra, Mitsubishi Eclipse and Toyota Supra are now able to get their hands on such vehicles. Of course, the tuning culture of today is nothing like 22 years ago but these cars are still as prevalent as ever. Whilst the Fast and Furious made a significant contribution in creating an entire generation of enthusiasts, you can’t overlook the impact of video games such as Need For Speed Underground and Juiced. That’s how I discovered tuning culture, but enough about me – I’m here to share a tastefully modified Integra Type R which I’ve had my eye on for quite a while. As you’re about to find out, Stalis has put a lot of effort into boosting the front-drive hero’s street cred without throwing stupid power at it.
Stalis bought the car in late 2016 after owning a lower spec version of the Integra called the VTi-R. For him, the Integra Type R was “always a poster car”; an icon of sorts for the young man who’s developed a strong liking for the Honda brand. It was only right to take things up “to the next level” from a more basic model that couldn’t satisfy the desire for a taught, front-drive sports car with a memorable soundtrack. The Type R version of the DC2 Integra is hailed as one of the best front wheel drive cars ever made, so it provides an excellent base from which to build upon. And build upon Stalis has. There’s a laundry list of modifications, all of which have been added in the name of maximising driving pleasure. There’s no tacky bodykit or an oversized wing to ruin the purity of the design, which I can appreciate as a man of culture myself.
Whilst the car may not look extensively modified from the outside, lots of small details and touches have been added to make this car as presentable as possible. Not only that but they improve the driveability, which some tuners fail to consider in their builds. Soo many people are obsessed with numbers and wow factor for social media clout that the more practical elements are largely ignored. Stalis has not ignored the practical elements, even making some of his own parts to ensure that this red beauty is totally unique. He’s made a GLT gearknob, a Septa Cap, lower control arms called “Truss Stix” in the rear and a “Manuka” spark plug cover. Designing and producing your own parts that no-one else has even bothered to contemplate shows that you really care about your car and want every detail absolutely perfect. This pursuit of perfection is clearly something that drives Stalis, which I will now proceed to demonstrate with the extensive list of after market mods.
The car has a Spoon N1 axle-back exhaust system, all new bushings for the suspension, Maxim Works headers, Type RX pedals, MUGEN mirror cover, Momo Monte Carlo steering wheel, Beatrush X brace, adjustable control arms from Hardrace and Skunk2, USDM tailights, a shaved and painted valve cover, Spoon twin block brake calipers, RAYS TE wheels at the front and RAYS CE wheels at the back. Stalis also says that he’s added many more small things to keep the car looking fresh. No doubt he spent quite a bit of money on polish before showing up to the Black Label Invitational. The thought that’s been put in with respect for ergonomics, usability and robustness is admirable when you consider how crazy some people have got with this platform. No point trying to fix what isn’t broken.
I’m not wild about Integras and I wouldn’t consider myself a Honda guy, but I just love this particular Integra because it’s soo clean and well built. Not many things make me happier as a car enthusiast because soo many of these cars were molested by those who didn’t know what they were doing. I know that may be strong word but a lot of punks did some truly disgusting and horrible things to them in the past. Heck, a few of those folks probably got laid in one but that isn’t the case here. Anyway, I can’t disrespect this vehicle because it doesn’t go overboard to make a statement. Stalis says that the car wouldn’t be producing much more than stock (he didn’t quote an exact figure) but that’s totally fine by me because I wouldn’t want to send over 350HP through the front wheels either. As for the way it drives, it’s not very good for “touring” but excellent for a blast through the hills.
The Integra nameplate has been retired from the Honda stable for quite a long time, even if it’s luxury brand Acura wants to revive it. Despite this, there is still a strong fanbase for the famed front-driver containing the legendary B-series engine. Stalis hasn’t fettled with it to an insane degree, because power is nothing without control and being a follower simply won’t satisfy your own interests. That’s what I think is the key point here: make your car your way because you will gain the respect of others from outside your own circle of fanatics. I hope to see more of this thing in the future.
DevMacCars 