Backyard Special bumpers along with Mugen wheels are normally parts that you do not see the average joe posted up on the corner with, but what about out in horrific rain storm? This story is true for Jared’s 1998 Acura Integra Type R. Now, throw in 2 idiots running for cover, lightning strikes that were too close for comfort, and a wall of rain and you will now be able to call this whole article pure insanity!

What happens when you are about to do a photo shoot and you just run into problem after problem?  Do you run back to camp and wait for another day? Do you wait til it stops raining and clean the car again? Do you hold off because now the place you were going to shoot is muddy? You can check no to everything that was just listed because we still shot!

The storm was probably the worst storm I have seen in my area all year, and on top of that my Vagabond power unit took a crap on me on the 1st flash burst! Without my bee’s, I got extremely mad. Still, Jared stayed around with me and we decided to still shoot. He had already traveled to the update from Columbia, SC just to hang out and shoot. No turning back now.

When we ran into this storm, it was a moment of “OH S&$%” between us. You see, there was a good bit of golf ball sized hail involved right after the downpour started. Things got so bad at one point that we ran for quick cover under an overpass that was packed. We looked at each other and wondered what we were going to do to move the car out of this mess. Considering the ITR has fresh paint on the body, we were in a panic!

Knowing how Jared came up on this ITR is funny in itself. The car had been sitting for a year since about the last time I shot it. The previous owner, Casey Whittaker, had this thing diced in Mugen Hardware from head to toe. It was probably one of the best Mugen equipped cars on the road in the US. All of the parts were real as well, unlike many other clones which were not even real Type R’s in the 1st place, but that’s another story for another article!

Jared’s old GSR before this car was a K20a Monster (I will have a feature of that car coming up here in the next week or so. Be on the lookout!) And yes, the K20a from Japan is still ready for a new home if someone is looking for one (useless plug on a for sale topic, I’m cheesy!)

Jared sold the majority of the Integra parts from the old GSR, he paid Casey a visit in North Carolina to lay down some bills on one of the most documented Integra Type R builds ever recorded. But like anyone who looks to continue modding and changing a car, Jared had a hell of a task in front of him. Have you ever tried taking someone else’s car and making it your own. Many times, people will see a car out and they will say “Hey, that’s xxxx’s car” or another phrase along those lines.

After scooping up the car from NC he quickly came home and got to work. In that time he sourced a motor, got some paint work going, picked up a set of Mugen MF10’s from the homie Blackstarr in NC, and got the car running. The time line for all of this is just under a month and I have to say that’s moving if you ask me! On a shell, a month, with no outlook on a motor when you get the car home.

I have to say that Jared is keeping the history going well on this well known ITR by not only changing up the build some, but actually driving the car still! These days, you don’t see many of these parts out on the road, and its about damn time someone actually is using a car for what it was meant for… FUN!

• 1998 Acura Integra Type R
• 98+ JDM OEM HID front end conversion
• Backyard special front bumper
• Mugen active gate brake kit w/ optional rear stainless lines
• Mugen MF10 silver 16×7 +50
• Mugen rear view mirror cover
• Spoon n1 exhaust
• Spoon duracon shift knob
• Spoon kevlar spark plug cover
• NRG v2.5 quick realease
• NRG short hub
• Nardi classic 330mm wood grain steering wheel
• Benen front strut bar
• Honda verno banner
• Beaks tie bar
• PasswordJDM rear upper strut bar
• PIC apex coilovers
• Ingalls F&R camber kit
• All carbon fiber interior pieces from 00+ ITR
• Red JDM SRD recaros
• Apex’i VAFC
• Blox lug nuts
• Benen rear tow hook
• EDM tail lights
• EDM rear fog light
• EDM clear side markers
• Pioneer 4100dvd double din media unit
• Infiniti reference speaker in all four corners
• Golden Eagle fuel rail
• Chase Bays wire/brake line tuck
• 4 door rear handles
• CDM airbag tray delete
• Viper 5900 alarm

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