Integra Type R Is One Man's Ultimate Dream Ride
After owning a few of them, one man finally gets to build his idea of the ultimate Integra Type R.
Sight for Sore Eyes
There was a time when you couldn't drive anywhere without seeing a '90s or 2000s Integra cruising around. But these days, it's becoming an increasingly rare occurrence. Likewise, values of these cars is steadily rising, making it harder to get your hands on a nice one. So when we came across Gregg Pontes' '00 Integra Type R at Super Street, it was quite literally a sight for sore eyes.
Photos: Super Street
Linear Progress
There are plenty of Type R's of this generation running around with crazy built motors, wild paint jobs, and tacked-on bodywork. But Pontes prefers to roll with a bit more subtlety. His very first car was a '98 Integra LS, which is also when he learned to work on cars. After that, Pontes owned three more Integras, modifying each one of them in a unique way. But deep down, he always wanted a Type R, and he eventually got his hands on this one.
Photos: Super Street
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Clean and Simple
By the time Pontes purchased his first Type R back in 2009, he had a pretty good idea of what he wanted it to look like. And that was clean, simple, and largely OEM. Thus, this Phoenix Yellow beauty has received all-new parts to replace every single thing that was worn out. That includes the shaved and tucked engine bay, which houses a brand new B18C5 Pontes sourced straight from Acura.
Photos: Super Street
>>Join the conversation about this Integra Type R right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Nice Mix
That theme continues inside, where you'll find a mix of OEM and aftermarket parts including JDM Recaro seats and shift boot, a carbon airbag delete, AEM wideband, and Nardi steering wheel. And that's pretty much it. But this is the perfect mix in our eyes, something with enough aftermarket goodies to break things up but also maintain a clean and tidy appearance.
Photos: Super Street
>>Join the conversation about this Integra Type R right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Performance Upgrades
A loose pressure plate, unfortunately, blew up the stock transmission, so Pontes replaced it with a JDM Type R unit. From there, he added a few select performance parts to his build, including a Spoon exhaust, high-flow header and mid-pipe, Competition clutch, and Hondata S300 ECU. All of which is good enough for a reliable 200 hp at the wheels.
Photos: Super Street
>>Join the conversation about this Integra Type R right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Practicing Restraint
The exterior of this ultra-clean Integra sports a few select mods as well, including a JDM front-end, Mugen MF10 wheels and spoiler, and Spoon mirrors. The car also has the perfect stance thanks to Buddy Club coilovers and K-Tuned camber kits. Again, it's just enough to give the Integra a unique look without going overboard, as many builds do.
Photos: Super Street
>>Join the conversation about this Integra Type R right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Dream Ride
Thus, we have to give credit where credit is due. Clearly, this Integra is the result of a full decade of careful planning and meticulous work. And to us, that's resulted in a product far superior to most. But in the end, Pontes finally has his own personal idea of a dream ride, and that's what really matters.
Photos: Super Street
>>Join the conversation about this Integra Type R right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
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