Sometimes, we wish for something that isn't available or within our grasps. Our wishes to have Jessica Alba as a bikini-wearing staff intern have gone granted. Cars? Well, they're a little easier to fiddle with. Ramiro Sangco wanted to build a Honda, but he didn't want to start with the same platform that everyone else usually does. The search went on for one that was reasonably priced and injected with the power of a Civic, but without looking so typical-like a Civic. It seemed like wishful thinking but apparently, someone's been looking over Ramiro's shoulders because Honda's del Sol Si is exactly what he was asking for. It shares the same D16 SOHC VTEC motor that comes in the third-generation Civic Sis and EXs.
Ramiro wanted to make the exterior of his Sol stand out more than any other detail on the car, and that's exactly what he did. He turned to Karma Motor Sports to do some extreme custom bodywork. Anything and everything that could be molded to the body was done so without hesitation to eliminate breaks in the body line. He added custom flares, custom front end, custom side skirts, and a custom rear bumper (we told you that everything was molded). Because of their renowned reputation, P.J. Bonifacio paint and body were called to cover the car with a custom blue paint with a dash of purple and silver haze. Not long after the body shop let the paint dry, Ramiro decided to add an APR drag-style aluminum wing and a grip of neon lights to give his car the floating effect when he's cruising the streets. Modified Automobileart pasted the car with sponsor stickers and some crazy-ass body graphics.
Ramiro saw that something was missing-he needed something that could fill up the newly acquired wide fenders on the Sol. A set of 18-inch bronze Tenzo R Mean 6 wheels wrapped in Toyo rubber filled up the horizontal gap with the help of custom wheel spacers. Axas suspension was used to lower the car and close up the vertical gap and tuck the bronze spokes behind the bulging flares.
Engine work on the car is left simple and clean. Fuel delivery is increased with and AEM fuel rail and regulator. On the intake side, an AEM filter kit provides the D16 motor with plenty of clean, cold air. A DC Sports header and Tanabe-style exhaust are in charge of expediting the burnt exhaust gases.
Now that Ramiro was ready to cruise the streets flossing his ride, he needed something to bump his Jay-Z tunes. Two Ample Audio amps work with a Sony CDX-MX650 head unit to bump out 1,200 Watts through three 10-inch Ample Audio subs. As Ramiro reclines in his red Tenzo R seats, he has full visibility of his Auto Meter gauges and Accelle video screens playing his favorite Kobe Tai DVDs. The remainder of the car's interior was reworked with blue tweed and white vinyl to match the exterior more closely.
Honda offered the del Sol, but Ramiro turned it into the beast that it is today. With all this customizing, the car looks nothing close to what a common Civic, no-make that a Honda, would look like. In fact, it's much bulkier than an ordinary, slender del Sol. They aren't flooding the streets and they won't gain the same fame as its predecessor-the CR-X. But they are definitely making their impact-especially with people like Ramiro who have their heart and soul in it all.
Fast Facts
Owner: Ramiro Sangco
Hometown: West Covina, California
Ride: 1994 Honda del Sol
Daily Grind: Sales at Ikon Autowerks
Under The Hood: AEM fuel pressure regulator, AEM fuel rail, AEM cold air system, Tanabe-style exhaust, DC Sport header, AEM cam gears, NGK spark plugs Hurricane 9.5mm spark plug wires, Fluidyne radiator, OBX dress-up kit, Ichibahn oil cap, Sims Hyperclear distributor cap, polished valve cover, AEM pulley, Tenzo short shifter
Stiff Stuff: Axas Type RM suspension front and rear, APR flex control arm, Tenzo R lower arm bar