1997 Honda Civic DX

A Self-Proclaimed Wheel Whore Confesses The High Price Of Pursuing J-Spec Perfection, Especially As He Pieced Together This Insane EK Civic Coupe.

There's no denying the heat emanating from Sarath Ros' sixth-gen. Civic coupe, given its profuse JDM-ness and tack-sharp construction. But Ros got off to the rockiest of beginnings when it came to his hot-rod Honda aspirations.

"I first purchased a car from some guy on Craigslist.org and found out that it was stolen," says Ros, who was left high and dry to the tune of $3,000. "So my girlfriend and I went out to Reno, Nevada, to gamble and won $4,500 in cash. We took that money and bought a '97 Civic DX, the ugliest car in the ugliest condition you could ever imagine. The first thing I ever bought for it was 15-inch Work RSZ-R [wheels]." In retrospect, it's almost poetic that rims were the first purchase, because amassing wheels would become an obsession for Ros.

The Stockton, Calif., native had more than rollers in mind for his EJ chassis DX, though. He was aiming squarely at a rare and original build. "After having the car for 2 months, I purchased a set of EK4 SiR front and rear bumpers, front chin spoiler, Civic Type R power folding mirrors and grille, OEM Honda thin moldings, and EK fenders with side markers to give [the car] a fresh JDM look. I was trying to keep it [consistent] with the 1996-98 front end. I see too many 1999-00 front ends out there."

After corralling the parts, Ros dropped his ride off at Ankor Autobody for installation and paint. He drove the Civic for a few months and came to the conclusion that the car was too low. "I kept cracking the paint on the bumper and losing the front chin spoiler. I decided to go with the OEM Honda front and rear bumpers. I rolled it [that way] for a couple months, and then the motor blew up. Just my luck."

What at first seemed tragic, however, soon became fortuitous. Ros lifted himself from the bottom of the Honda power food chain to the upper echelons when he ditched the factory D16y7 mill for a 1.8-liter B-series out of an Integra GSR. During this transition from Fred Flintstone foot power to real four-stroke fury, Ros painted the engine bay in 2 days and dropped some cash on the whip.

"I went off," he boasts. "I bought [several] engine components: Cusco oil catch can, Tein hood dampers, Civic Type R cams and valve cover, Kevlar spark plug wire covers, Skunk2 Racing cam gears, Signal Auto cooling plate, Spoon Sports shift knob, and a MUGEN radiator cap. Then I purchased my second set of wheels from Memory Fab, Sprint Hart CPR's. I also bought a set of gold RSZ-R's, a very rare set of Works."

Ros had the car looking fresh and rolling low (but not too low), and decided to attend some Honda-Tech.com meets in the Stockton region. "People were feeling the car, which drove me to strive for more. I wanted to shape my car into a perfect piece of art."

This led Ros inside the cabin and back on the JDM Express. His Japanese market finds include SiR door panels, climate control panel, clock, H.O.P. ashtray, CTR cup holder, and 6-point Cusco roll cage. And what interior project would be complete without a set RAYS Speed Choppy wheels? Ok, so they go on the outside of the car, but Ros wanted any reason to add to his rim reserves. Defends Ros, "Yes, I'm a JDM wheel whore, but [the Speed Choppy's] complete [the car's] look."