I've owned and purchased many used cars over the years. And whenever I'm on the hunt for a used car, I look for these two sacred words 'original owner'. I don't know what it is about finding a car with limited ownership, but I know I'm not the only one who looks for that. Well, Dave Chik doesn't know what that's like, cause he happens to be the original owner of this car.
No, this Acura Integra was not a hand-me-down. And it's not accidental that he bought this car back in 1991. Dave has been a part of the Southern California Honda scene since it started. In 1989, his older brother Johnny picked up a brand-new Civic Si hatchback and started tuning it. Both teen brothers got into the scene back before there really was a scene. Then in 1991, Dave decided to buy his first car and had his heart set on a red 1991 CR-X. The Honda dealership wanted to add $1,000 for the optional A/C on top of the $12,000 price tag. At the same time the Acura dealership right across the street only wanted $14,000 for an Integra LS. This already had the A/C, but also came with full power and a larger twin cam engine. For a quick minute, Dave also thought about buying a 1991 Nissan 240SX. But at the time, 240SX cars were not very cool, as Hondas were quickly taking over the streets of So Cal. The decision was easy and he decided that an Integra in Jasper Green would be perfect for him.
The two brothers were and still are part of a small car club called Metro Speed, made up of mainly Hondas and Acuras. They never got really big, never won any big car shows, never won any huge races, but they also never did anything 'ricey'. That means they never succumbed to late '90s trends of huge body modifications and light conversions. I remember seeing their cars back in the '90s and they were always super-clean and covered in Mugen. I'd have to accredit one of them to turning me onto Mugen goodies. I had thought Mugen MR-5 wheels were nasty 'teddy bear' looking wheels until I saw one of their friends with a yellow DA Integra rocking 16'' MR-5 rims and a full Mugen body kit. "We knew from the get-go it was all about Mugen and JDM parts. Even before anyone called it JDM", Dave says. Later on, Johnny moved onto an EG Civic when it came out while Dave remained loyal to his first car.
Since 1991, this Integra has seen its share of parts and different looks. Mugen rear spoiler, valve cover, MF8 wheels, M7 wheels, 16'' MR-5 (You're welcome -CT), Vision mirrors and imitation Mugen aero kit are just some of the things he's had on the car. And when Mugen parts became too popular and played out, Dave would switch it up with his 16'' Sprint Hart CP-R wheels, 16'' SSR Super Mesh and the 16'' SSR EX-C Neos and EC Works mirrors (You're welcome -CT) you see now. Most of the rare goodies he and his brother still have are now stored and locked up.
Pictures hide a lot and you guys probably know some of the cars we feature aren't as clean they seem in pictures. This car happens to be the exact opposite. It's hard to illustrate how clean this car really is and 'detail-oriented' would be an understatement. All of the worn OEM parts have been replaced. Most of the engine hardware has been recoated in zinc. And believe it or not, most of the car still has the original paint. Other than the parts that absolutely had to be painted, the rest of the car retains original paint as it was sprayed by the Acura factory. With an astonishing 88,000 miles to date, the car has been babied since 1991. Dave tells me "every single Friday after the street races, my brother Johnny would come home and stay up to 4AM waxing his Civic. Every Friday! He never missed a beat. I learned how to keep the car clean and a lot more from him." It's hard to tell what parts still have OEM paint on his car because it is still that clean and glossy. You can tell he's been waxing the engine bay and interior just the same as the exterior.
Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!