Integra Type R Dream Is One Interesting, Painstaking Journey
Some projects can truly test the best of us, and what started as a simple Integra Type R clone job nearly became a nightmare.
This 1999 Acura Integra Corvette-Torch-red-Type-R clone was supposed to be a simple rust repair for Charles McClary of Raymond, NH. Ordering the last two known full sized quarter panels out of California was supposed to be asy. The initial replacement was pretty straight forward, then it all went sideways. A full tuck in the bay turned into a colour change. The car was originally Adriatic Blue Pearl but Charles wanted something, a little more.
More is exactly what he got. Choosing the Torch Red was the first piece of the puzzle, but when you help run a restoration shop, (Cutting Edge Industries in Candia, NH) sometime enough just isn’t enough. So some House of Kolor flake was added to the paint for the “more factor.”
One area of a car restoration that often gets overlooked is the chassis and suspension. Not being one to leave well enough alone, he and his crew redid the entire underbody in SEM chassis black. This should help preserve the car for many years to come.
Even the interior got some love. A full Integra Type R interior has been installed. The rear compartment was sprayed with Torch red bedliner, function and form right?
Charles’ goal is to go to HDAY and show the car. Anyone who’s ever been to an HDAY event knows that it takes some of that extra wow factor. Charles may get his wish this year as the team at HDAY has announced the event for Aug 15-16 at New England Dragway and Motorsports Park.
With a theme and a goal in mind Charles and his team set to work swapping the car to a K20Z3 with all the normal bolt ons and a set of cams sourced from a a TSX. It runs on Hondata KPro V4, Josh Shea from Higher Level Motorsports will be ticking the keys on the laptop on this beauty when the time comes. For Shea, it’s an extra touch on the car as he’s also the one who built the transmission for it. Talk about a team effort!
Suspension is a time proven winner with Function and Form coilovers, and a set of Buddy Club P1 wheels, wrapped in Toyo Proxes rubber.
A four-year labor of love, started when he was 21, has turned out to be a beautiful clone. He understands this is as close to the real thing as he can get, but he’s happy nonetheless. His hunt for a real Type R continues, but for now this beauty will do.
Photos: Clayton Harmer