Shaun Joseph's '97 And '98 ITRsIt seems that nine times out of 10, when it comes to great Honda builds, there's a background story that revolves around theft. It's no secret that Hondas are marked for death by the shady types, and the sheer number of stolen project cars each year is staggering. For many, losing all that hard work and invested time is just too much to take. They tally up their losses, hope for a decent insurance check, and leave the madness behind. But the select few return better than ever, refusing to quit.
Take San Diego's Shaun Joseph, for example; he's no quitter. Falling victim to thieves twice in the span of 12 months would push most anyone away from Hondas. But instead of moving on, Shaun regrouped, armed himself with a secured garage, and started hunting. "After I lost my last two cars I took a year off and really missed building a project. A few of the ideas I came up with seemed to revolve around the ITR in one way or another, so I just started researching the actual car," Shaun says. After months of pricing and research, an immaculate '98 model was located and the eager buyer wasted no time. "I was a little short on funds at the time, but my mom helped me secure a loan for the car. It's one of the last things she did for me before she passed away. The car's nicknamed Rebecca in memory of her," he says. With the new car on its way to a new home and a head full of ideas, Shaun brought the R to his workplace, Automotive Remedies, to begin his dream build.
With the car on the lift and the UPS man dropping off parts almost daily, Shaun got down to business. The factory shocks and springs came out in order to make room for a set of Tein Flex coilovers. A Spoon Sports front shock tower bar was bolted on to stiffen up the front end, while in the hatch a Next Miracle X-bar was secured. Regamaster EVO wheels in the 16x7 variety wrapped in Yokohama ES100s made the cut after a number of different wheel-and-tire combos were fitted to Rebecca. "It's just a classic design, very lightweight, and white on white is just a really clean combo," Shaun says. Nestled behind the front wheels is a set of Spoon Sports twin-block calipers that clamp Hawk pads onto Power Slot rotors. Project pads and Power Slot rotors make up the rear upgrade, and all four corners are outfitted with steel-braided brake lines.
As the suspension upgrades fell into place, interior changes were made with an emphasis on good taste and functionality. JDM ITR seats are legendary for comfort and style, so Shaun sourced a red pair that appeared almost brand-new. Vision low-position seat rails place the owner's 6'3" frame more comfortably, as he grabs hold of a Spoon Sports steering wheel and titanium shift knob. Stand within five feet of Rebecca and you might think you've been slapped in the face by a Squash air freshener. While most would be satisfied with the potency of just one, Shaun is well known for stashing a dozen or more throughout his interior. Dizzy from Squash fumes, the next order of business was the outward appearance. While most go straight for a front-end conversion, this diehard ITR fan was content with the sleek OEM appearance and strayed away from the idea of performing surgery on the car. Instead, a set of Spoon Sports carbon-fiber mirrors and HOP window visors were the only aftermarket exterior changes he okayed.
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