1996 USDM ITR- Acura Press Vehicle
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1996 USDM ITR- Acura Press Vehicle
Hello,
It's not often that you hear new information about our 12 year old cars. This might be news to some of you guys. As you can see in the below pictures I have recently picked up this '96 USDM ITR. I say '96 because this is the year that this particuliar car was produced. This was the Acura Press Vehicle which was used to debut the ITR to north america. As far as I know there are no other no other north american ITR's that predate this one, someone please correct me if i'm wrong.
Here is a little bit of history about this particuliar vehicle. Acura obviously first owned the vehicle for press purposes. In May of 1998 the car changed hands and was provided to Comptech specifically for the purposes of developing performance parts for the ITR as you can see in the picture of the letter from Honda/Acura NA. After Comptech went out of business the car was acquired by a private party. Then I acquired the car recently.
Here are a couple of interesting facts about the car. There is no number badge on the center console because this is a pre-production chassis. It has never been registered. There is a shade above 5k miles on the car. Honda/Acura didn't develop the B18C5 in time for the US launch so the car has an LS engine and tranny. This car was used for performance part development by comptech, it has comptech sway bars, suspension, nsx brakes all around, strut tower bar, and cold air ice box. All of the comptech parts may in fact be the first ones produced for the ITR.
Sorry for the bad pictures. I will take better ones after I give it a good wash. I was only able to upload 5 pictures, I will make another post with additional pictures of the letter from Honda/Acura to Comptech. Let me know what you think.
Update 1: New pictures on page 4 and a partial revealing of the VIN
Update 2: Response from former employee of Comptech on page 6 (See post by GUILOTINE)
http://hondamarketplace.com/showthre...3#post49706113
It's not often that you hear new information about our 12 year old cars. This might be news to some of you guys. As you can see in the below pictures I have recently picked up this '96 USDM ITR. I say '96 because this is the year that this particuliar car was produced. This was the Acura Press Vehicle which was used to debut the ITR to north america. As far as I know there are no other no other north american ITR's that predate this one, someone please correct me if i'm wrong.
Here is a little bit of history about this particuliar vehicle. Acura obviously first owned the vehicle for press purposes. In May of 1998 the car changed hands and was provided to Comptech specifically for the purposes of developing performance parts for the ITR as you can see in the picture of the letter from Honda/Acura NA. After Comptech went out of business the car was acquired by a private party. Then I acquired the car recently.
Here are a couple of interesting facts about the car. There is no number badge on the center console because this is a pre-production chassis. It has never been registered. There is a shade above 5k miles on the car. Honda/Acura didn't develop the B18C5 in time for the US launch so the car has an LS engine and tranny. This car was used for performance part development by comptech, it has comptech sway bars, suspension, nsx brakes all around, strut tower bar, and cold air ice box. All of the comptech parts may in fact be the first ones produced for the ITR.
Sorry for the bad pictures. I will take better ones after I give it a good wash. I was only able to upload 5 pictures, I will make another post with additional pictures of the letter from Honda/Acura to Comptech. Let me know what you think.
Update 1: New pictures on page 4 and a partial revealing of the VIN
Update 2: Response from former employee of Comptech on page 6 (See post by GUILOTINE)
http://hondamarketplace.com/showthre...3#post49706113
Last edited by RPM; 10-21-2017 at 08:16 AM.
#2
Re: 1996 USDM ITR- Acura Press Vehicle
Unicorn
Wait - no B18C5? The C5 is not that different from the B18C in the 96 spec ITR. Why wouldn't they at least equip it with a B18C spec R engine if the press were to drive it? Mfgs can bring over non-DOT/EPA approved cars for various reasons. Then again I thought pre-production cars were usually sent to the crusher. It'd be interesting to know what the VIN is. Not saying to post it, but I'd imagine it's a very low last 6 digits. What's the ninth character in the VIN? That signifies year. 1996 would be a T.
Very clean! Very low miles! Very interesting!
Wait - no B18C5? The C5 is not that different from the B18C in the 96 spec ITR. Why wouldn't they at least equip it with a B18C spec R engine if the press were to drive it? Mfgs can bring over non-DOT/EPA approved cars for various reasons. Then again I thought pre-production cars were usually sent to the crusher. It'd be interesting to know what the VIN is. Not saying to post it, but I'd imagine it's a very low last 6 digits. What's the ninth character in the VIN? That signifies year. 1996 would be a T.
Very clean! Very low miles! Very interesting!
Last edited by 330R; 03-25-2009 at 07:29 PM.
#5
Re: 1996 USDM ITR- Acura Press Vehicle
Even stranger that they chose to equip it with a LS engine and tranny as opposed to the b18c1 that is readily available that year.
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Re: 1996 USDM ITR- Acura Press Vehicle
VeRy interesting but hard to believe that they would put LS motor in a Type R...
I can't wait to see some detailed pictures
I can't wait to see some detailed pictures
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#15
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Re: 1996 USDM ITR- Acura Press Vehicle
nice grab , but i also higly doubt it that acura would just throw in an ls motor all we can do is speculate however i'm sure something happened to the original motor as im sure they would want to impress the press with the actual performance of this vehicle so they further write their articles of how amazing this car revved and handled
#17
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Re: 1996 USDM ITR- Acura Press Vehicle
I would be interested in having the VIN so I can run it through Hondanet. I understand if the OP is wary of telling me in PM even though.
I'm thinking the VIN either would not bring any result or would show as an RS.
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Re: 1996 USDM ITR- Acura Press Vehicle
That's amazing, though it's a pity it doesn't have the true heart of an ITR.
Still quite a feat. to have at your disposal.
Still quite a feat. to have at your disposal.
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Re: 1996 USDM ITR- Acura Press Vehicle
OK so let's get some more info on the motor, any pics? LS head? Headstamp year, VIN on the bottom of the block by the header. I'm sure it might not have originally had a B18C5 stamped block but at least a B18C block of some type(prototype or JDM). Somewhere along the line the motor was swapped out. It is possible that Comptech sold it without a motor and tranny and the private party put an LS drivedrain in. Until I see matching vins however I refuse to believe it's the original motor...Very cool find however none the less.
#25
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Re: 1996 USDM ITR- Acura Press Vehicle
Here are a couple of interesting facts about the car. There is no number badge on the center console because this is a pre-production chassis. It has never been registered. There is a shade above 5k miles on the car. Honda/Acura didn't develop the B18C5 in time for the US launch so the car has an LS engine and tranny.
Do you know if it has all of the reinforced sheet metal/bracing of a ITR?
All of this good stuff?
http://www.itr1220.com/graphics_and_...tRunitbody.gif