2003 Acura RSX Type-S - The Perfect Formula

Think of all the classics in the world: cooking recipes, Coca-Cola, '90s hip-hop, the list goes on and on. There is a reason why they are left untouched; you simply don't mess up a classic (unless you want the same result as New Coke—anyone remember that?) The same can be said for building a project car. Pick the right parts (of which there are many), and the result pretty much equates to awesome.

For those of us in the Honda camp, classic formulas have been long established and rarely altered. Take any mid-'90s to early-'00s chassis, do some solid research on the Internet, and you'll see the cars follow a particular madness. Essentially, you have a shitload to choose from, whether you aim for a USDM-style build or a JDM theme-and that awesome car can be built with relative ease. Take Bryan Bui's RSX: This is a textbook example of classic Japanese style, with parts pulled from the most revered names in Japan, including Mugen (M-TEC), GReddy/TRUST, Top Secret, and Honda Japan. Add more American-bred performance, such as an RC intake manifold and Hondata KManager to fine tune the GReddy turbo kit, and suddenly you have something like Coke Zero: zero calories but with flavor on par with the original, aka an awesome car.

The styling of Bui's RSX isn't anything groundbreaking, but remember, we're dealing with a timeless look here. Custom gray paint (typically seen on a Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro) is a favorite from the JDM color palette, and the ings+1 aero combined with a Mugen wing, Top Secret hood, and JDM Integra lighting is standard par for the course, not to mention the Mugen MF10s. Inside is more of the same great flavor: more Mugen, Recaro seats from a DC5R (Integra Type R), and other OEM DC5R accessories, including a center console, rear seats, and doorsills.

Sometimes, you don't need a lot of flash or gimmicks when you commit yourself to mastering the classics. In case you need a reminder, show someone this RSX.