In 23 minutes, years of neglect are over.
It’s hard to believe that the Honda Civic TypeR was built over 20 years ago. This video shows the EK Civic that is 23 years old. As you can see, it has seen worse days. It’s practically being eaten by the forest, with its front fascia gone, its fenders crumpled and the interior ruined. It’s an original Type R. Someone must save it.
Fortunately, someone does. It’s not all bad, even though the YouTube channel Mad4Motors chronicles the journey. Experts have the ability to make difficult tasks seem easy. It’s clear that we are dealing with someone who is knowledgeable about Hondas as well as auto repair.
The first step is to disassemble the vehicle. Once the engine is removed, we can pull out the worn-out fenders and hood. It’s not a problem, as the original engine came with the car. In fact, it makes disassembly much easier. The engine bay is given a new coat of white after minor welding to repair damage to the structure. This project, presumably Championship White, isn’t about just fixing the Type R but also returning it to its original specs.
The rest of the car will need to be repainted. It is actually a wrap. With some elbow grease and a heat gun, we can find the Civic’s original color underneath. The engine is inspected and reinstalled. New or refurbished parts are also installed in the engine bay. To complete the interior, new carpeting and seats are installed. Used wheels, headlights and taillights will be sourced to replace any damaged or missing parts. The original white exterior gets buffed back to its original shine, with rusty areas on the floor and rocker panels being refinished.
The final assembly brings everything together and makes the Type R look brand new. Although the restoration took only 23 minutes, it is worth remembering that this was the result of many hours of hard work. Although the video may make this look simple, it’s no easy to restore a car that was so neglected.
Another iconic performance car is now back on the roads. Bravo!