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June 16, 2009
What Show Car Style Do You Prefer?
By John Naderi
StreetFire.net
The SpoCom show took place this past weekend in Long Beach. Our complete coverage is posted over on StreetFire, but I wanted to share a few pictures of the cars on display. Check out the best of show: Lyle Engleson’s Auto Concept Elite 1975 Mini Cooper. The craftsmanship on this old Mini is remarkable with a custom widebody and a rear-mounted 408hp Borg Warner S362 turbocharged Honda K20Z1 driving the rear wheels. As much as I love the ACE crew and I appreciate the work that Lyle has put into his Mini this car just doesn’t do it for me. Do you agree with me or not? Hit the jump to see some other cars from the show.
Now this is what I’m talking about – a real deal JDM S15. I don’t know what it is, the color, the canards, the carbon fiber splitter – everything about this car is just, I don’t know, right. As far as show cars go, this is it for me. No vinyl and it still looks like you can still drive it as long as your commute doesn’t involve any potholes, or speed bumps, or driveways of any kind.
Sitting right next to the S15 was this FD3S RX-7. While a USDM car it was rockin’ the same basic JDM style as the army green Nissan – FMIC, carbon splitter, C-West looking projectors, Craft Square type mirrors and a GT wing. You can even get a glimpse of some serious cage work peeking out from under the A pillar. The kit looks to be a GT widebody from BRS. But something about this car just didn’t “speak” to me. There just seems to be a fine line between epic win and you’re doing it wrong. Know what I’m saying?
Here’s another FD in the Falken booth. It’s little, yellow, different. Now I like this car. Is it the JDM Efini front end, or the nicely contrasting black wheels? I guess this is like porn – I can’t define it, but I know it when I see it.
The Honda heads have taken a beaten as the largest purveyors of rice in the tuning car segment. Granted, most of the abuse is self-inflicted but as of late there has been a Honda Acura renaissance taking place. This EK9 hatch is all sorts of awesome. I apologize, in my haste to do everything at the show I wasn’t able to confirm if this is an authentic JDM Type-R or just a very complete replica. Regardless, from the Championship White paint, to the GAB wheels this Civic is clean. Purists may decry the K20 swap if this is indeed a real CTR. But if that’s wrong, I don’t want to be right.
I’ll leave you with this flat black Evo 8. The blistering Do-Luck widebody almost looks subtle under the matte finish and the gold Top Secret TE37s are a perfect contrast to the paint. ARC intercooler – check. Bride seats – double check. If I didn’t know better I’d say this has Ben Schaffer’s fingerprints all over it, but I do know better and it does. Click here to see a full post and more pictures of this car. It looks like this Evo is for sale if it hasn’t already been scooped up. If I had the money – and clearly I don’t – I would drive this through the mean streets of DTWN LA daily, until someone jacks it, which is a given with a ride as coveted as this. So, what type of show cars do you like, over the top or under the radar?
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95BlckFirebird
Jun 19, 2009 at 12:08 pm
yellow RX7 is the one for me!
Otsegoelectric
Jun 19, 2009 at 8:22 am
definitely like the daily driver show cars something practical and you can still go up a driveway with.
ejwingertsahn3
Jun 19, 2009 at 12:39 am
that is one tight ass mini lol
BlueSapphire7981
Jun 18, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Myself personally and being in the Tuner and Mini Truck Scene, I am more drawn to the daily driven, simple, clean and tastefully done. There is nothing wrong w/ going over the top, but that isn’t my cup of tea. Some people like being different/unique or should I say thinking outside the box. Then there are those simple but yet sophisticated people. All in all there is no right or wrong, just ones personal taste on what he/she likes or dislikes.
I like having an equal balance of “Show” and “Go”. I also like having a ride that I can show at carshow competition and still be able to drive on the streets. I perfer a classy vehicle rather than one that you can see coming a mile away. I like a sleeper look and leaving people guessing whats been done, leaves a lot to the imagination.
Not a huge fan of vinyl or the over use of ” Stickers “. Makes the vehicle look tacky, clutered and unprofessional. As far as bodykits go, I like them, but it depends on which kit it is and does it look good on the car. You hear people say spoilers are old news now, but in fact you forget the purpose and function. A spoiler is not for decoration, it serves as rear downforce and also in aerodynamics. I also appreciate JDM, which is dominating the tuner scene, but not everyone has the same taste as the next guy/gal. In my opinion, build your ride the way you want it to look, not based on what someone else wants it to look like. Its your own creativity, money, time, love, and passion. Express yourself, be UNIQUE!
speedfreak_123
Jun 18, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I like cars that are driven…thats it., no vynil, no over the top stereo, no lambo doors, and no tvs. pure street figthers…
NSXTurbo03
Jun 18, 2009 at 2:27 pm
come checkout my nsx turbo if you dig these rides
crxkj
Jun 18, 2009 at 12:05 pm
for me a tie between the s15 and the civic
kawasaki22106
Jun 18, 2009 at 12:00 pm
all nice cars…… now for the chicks……
KustomKiely
Jun 18, 2009 at 10:55 am
All of those cars are pretty nice. Of course theres things I would maybe change on a couple of them, like the shit color green on the S15. For some weird reason Im liking the purple car. The mini would be fun, lets face it who expects those things to have much power. It would be a blast pissing people off who thought they had a badd ass car untill the mini stomps them. thats just my 2 Cents
123eclipz
Jun 18, 2009 at 10:50 am
dude that S15 is sick, does anyone know the color. if so please go on my page and tell me.
Biggee72
Jun 18, 2009 at 6:32 am
That EK is sick. Any car that doesn’t get driven is just a waste.
SingledOutJ30
Jun 18, 2009 at 5:12 am
Hard to choose. All are very nicely built!
CWBETB
Jun 18, 2009 at 3:15 am
For me-
If the show car is practical “no huge stereo, Tv’s Lambo doors, graphics etc” then its all good with me.
I would rather see a car drive into the show then be trailered to it
baller247365
Jun 17, 2009 at 10:18 pm
that evo goes hard flat black looks good on it. gold rims look sick, but i would go black rims with a red lip
whtfocus77
Jun 17, 2009 at 9:02 pm
that yellow rx7 is sweet. however that mini is the ugliest show car ive ever seen.
RockstrMentality
Jun 17, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I’m not big on show cars. I’d rather see it go. But definately the yellow RX-7
albania_fier
Jun 17, 2009 at 8:16 pm
yellow one*
albania_fier
Jun 17, 2009 at 8:15 pm
love that rx-7
Y2K_TJ
Jun 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I have a thing for honda hatchs so my favorite is the ek.
subcero
Jun 17, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I like the S15 and the purple Rx-7. Those are bad as hell. The evo and the white civic are seen everyday all around town. I don’t care what you do to it to make it special.
dragorphan
Jun 17, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I like the honda. clean and simple. It just works. My brothers lived in japan for some time and are both building hondas in the true street style of the islands. 2.0 in a hatch and b18 in a 91crx with jdm factory front clip and rear bumper and tail lites. he has the right hand drive parts and glass top for sale.
leojmcca
Jun 17, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I like the cars. I agree their is nothing worse than a unpainted recently installed aero kit except for one thing, an old aero kit that was painted cheaply and now is scratched to hell from bottoming out at every parking lot and broken and dangling in places.
2digits
Jun 17, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Rx-7. I feel sorry for the car owned by anyone who thinks that cooper is cool
pttransamdriver
Jun 17, 2009 at 7:06 am
being a muscle car guy, I like the subtlety of the S15 and the yellow RX-7, BrettPowers put it well.
crazywhiteboy08
Jun 17, 2009 at 6:28 am
i would have to go with the honda man not much of a tuner man but that car looks good
ILLY-Sase
Jun 17, 2009 at 1:59 am
The Mini looks like a Transformer that got stuck transforming….I like it! AutoBots, roll out!
palefacetsw
Jun 16, 2009 at 6:55 pm
I’m a lowrider guy myself…….but if it’s JDM, I’m down with VIP style, or as it’s called now, Hellaflush…..
valek
Jun 16, 2009 at 11:45 am
love the civic, clean as hell. FD would be nice with the OEM body, the RX-7 has such nice lines stock, every body mod just ruins it imho. the S15 is nice, like the color, but the bodylot is just a little too much for me.
oldscoob
Jun 16, 2009 at 10:44 am
I don’t like any of them. the mini reminds me of the crazy “b” rally with crazy engine mountings and crazy auto reputations that ensued thier crazy names…all with exactly ridiculous hacks to run a race, having nothing to do with the failure of thier real designs. He should have painted it an evil red. It would be funny to see a plain jane 87 RX subaru (10th in the “great rally” ) bone stock with little cheap 14 inch alloys they used to run in the race..hilarious realist contrast.How many would get stumped at the self questions starting with “why is this next to that?”. the whole show, judging from the photos is the insanity going to be extincted, and hardly missed but by a few very bizarre enthusiasts with closed minds to what reamins champions years before, during, and times to come…
Brett Powers
Jun 16, 2009 at 10:33 am
I like the Civic because the body kit is very subtle. I hate those god aweful bodykits you always see on the cars that ugly them up and do nothing for their aerodynamics. Its all about functionality kiddies….
GTwildfire
Jun 16, 2009 at 10:04 am
JDM S15 or the EVO 8.
FuryPaul
Jun 16, 2009 at 8:51 am
I think I’d appreciate that Mini more if it was displayed differently. Do all four wheels HAVE to be removed? Do both doors HAVE to be open? Give me one side that’s closed up and fully-assembled so I can get a decent shot of the car the way it actually looks.
The Evo looks mean, but I’d like better lighting. I like the S15, even the color. The purple RX7 is a bit over-the-top for my taste.
TOPlamborghini
Jun 16, 2009 at 8:39 am
And i like to see over the top cars. I like to see people express their imagination and talent through their cars.
TOPlamborghini
Jun 16, 2009 at 8:35 am
I like that S15, but not the color.
dgaf88
Jun 16, 2009 at 8:16 am
I don’t care for showcars personally, they’re cool to look at but I’d never own one. Dull original paint and easily replaced steelies is how I like ‘em, all go no show.