Cars

Pawl Shanley’s 1985 Dodge D350 dually isn’t your average pickup. This British truck has been transformed into a show-stopping masterpiece with an air suspension that lets it kneel at the pavement, a BMW Montreal Blue paint job with intricate marbleizing, and a custom interior by Aerotrim, a company that usually specializes in aircraft. Despite the challenges of modifying such a large vehicle, Shanley’s vision has resulted in a truly unique and impressive truck that stands out even in a country known for its Minis.

From showstopper murals to Nitrous Express-fueled speed, Darren Pellechia’s 2002 Ford SVT Lightning lives up to its name in every way. Don’t be fooled by the lowered stance and sleek custom bodywork – this truck packs a punch under the hood with a 75hp nitrous system and tuned Eaton-supercharged engine. Inside, Von Otto murals and premium sound complete the package, making this Lightning a true masterpiece on wheels.

The ididit steering column in the 38 Chevy presented a conundrum for the SRRC crew. Its intended path straight through the engine compartment was blocked by the mighty LS1 lurking beneath. Instead of compromising on engine placement or aesthetics, the team got crafty. Inspired by modern car designs, they opted to dramatically shorten the column and snake it around the engine, hugging the underside of the custom aluminum dash. This not only cleared the heads but also resulted in a sleek and streamlined look that complemented the truck’s overall transformation. This excerpt highlights the resourcefulness and ingenuity involved in custom car builds, showcasing how unconventional solutions can lead to stunning results.

Free Jaguar? Don Shirer couldn’t resist the tempting offer, even if it meant just for the prized suspension lurking beneath. This XJ6 boasted the coveted independent rear suspension and A-frame front, perfect for his vision of a smoother-riding ’55 Chevy pickup. Follow along as Shirer masterfully tackles the swap, using readily available tools and his own ingenuity to bridge the gap between classic and modern.

Northern California native Fred Chapman’s ’96 Honda Civic is a project he undertook after having owned a handful of water-cooled Volkswagens. Chapman decided it was time to make the move to the Japanese market, and he found himself owning more Hondas than you can count on one hand. Having been around the Honda scene for well over a decade now, Chapman, with the help of his wife, recently acquired the one “H” car he had always wanted—the one you see here.

The Honda Prelude may not be as popular as the Civic or the Integra, but it does have a rather large tuner following. One of the reasons that the Prelude isn’t as modified as often as other Hondas is that the model’s initial purchase price is considerably more than a Civic Si or Integra GS-R, since the Prelude was better appointed with options and a more powerful engine.

The next level we refer to is the kind of sick power found only on the racetrack. Make no mistake, stuffing a 475hp turbo motor in the engine bay of any Civic will make for one wild ride, but we’re talking about crazy turbo power now. If 475 hp isn’t enough to get the party started, how about 500 hp? Still not enough—what about 550? Now things are starting to get serious, don’t you think? But we think we can do even better than 550 hp. Thinking that 600 hp had a nice ring to it, we decided to see what it took to produce over 600 hp from a turbo B-series.

Discover the remarkable journey of Ben Bodor’s Civic transformation as it defies expectations, emerging as a formidable contender in the U.S. car scene. From its origins in Canada to its stunning evolution, follow the Bodor brothers’ quest for automotive excellence in this gripping tale of innovation, carbon fiber craftsmanship, and the pursuit of perfection.

When Hot Import Nights strolls into Seattle, typically two cars end up battling it out for Best of Show honors. Earlier in the year, Kelly Williams, one of the two competitors, took home the Best of Show honors when HIN first rolled into town. His Civic has been cleaning house for several years up in the Northwest and there hasn’t been a Honda to touch what he has built. Until Dara Sordano showed up and surprised them all— including Williams.

You may be familiar with the fable of the Phoenix, the beautiful bird that burned and died after a spark from a cherub’s flaming sword fell into its nest. Once the flames went out, a single red egg remained and from the ashes, a new Phoenix bird hatched and so the cycle continued. This legend is similar to the lifecycle of the Honda Civic Si hatchback.