1. It’s way too easy for car culture to get materialistic…
Especially in this digital landscape of hashtags and constant self-promotion. Let’s be honest here… a lot of times what we call ‘car culture’ is largely a pay-to-play game with lots of social media peacocking. I don’t dig it. But these Honda hatches often cut through that materialistic fat on the surface. And that’s in large part because – building a wild Honda isn’t status based… it’s sensory based. It’s just… fun. The OG Honda scene isn’t isn’t about cars that look expensive, it’s about cars that look meeeean. It’s about winding out VTEC until your eyes buzz in their sockets. It’s about stout stances on clean, timeless body lines. And engines that look like they were nestled into the car by God himself. Which kind of goes to my 2nd point…
2. The OG Honda scene is proud…
Not prideful, but proud… there’s a difference. This is a healthy (versus destructive) type of pride that comes from seeing it through, from dedication, and from perseverance. A pride in what you represent & what you’ve accomplished. The energizing surge from teamwork when you & your buddies actually pull it off. And the thrill of forever being the underdog hatchback… on the hunt. OG Honda builders are by definition, true authentic hot-rodders. ALSO…
3. Honda builders are approachable…
You can walk up to the roughest, toughest-looking dude filling up his Honda at a gas station. Ask him about his car, and he’ll light up like a kid on Christmas.
4. Honda guys don’t jump ship…
Speaking in terms of ‘The Honda Nation’… these people didn’t trade their Si/GSR in for an Evo, or WRX back in the early 2000-era when boost & AWD brought clout on the forums. And – they didn’t flip to build a RWD/drift car when all that stuff hit the main-stage either. They just kept plugging away. The Honda scene isn’t fueled by a societal pressure to ‘level up’ to higher-end brands & badges. They don’t care; cars aren’t status symbols for these people. They’ve found a certain level of contentment that the level-uppers will probably be chasing in vein for the rest of their lives. I’ve never liked that condescending mentality that ‘people grow out of Hondas’. It’s just isn’t true. And that falls to my next observation…
5. The Honda Culture is forever reinventing…
The Honda culture has broken through every barrier that’s even been in its path. And it’s a testament to the strength of the Honda community. Together – the Honda culture has figured out motor swaps, wiring, mounts, axles, forced induction, and even all-wheel-drive conversions. You can look at the street, a drag strip, or a road course on any given weekend… and there will probably be some golden-era Honda driving right up the ass of whatever the baddest new car on the market is. Not to mention, somehow these little hatches just keep looking better & better with age. Proving that performance never goes out of style, and simplicity is timeless.
6. Lastly – since I just said the word ‘timeless’...
We’re living in a time where right now where drivers are getting more & more removed from driving. And most of modern America welcomes that with open wimpy arms. A lot of people see driving as a task or an inconvenience. Teenagers don’t rush to get their license anymore, yet they stand in lines to get the new-model phones.
But on the opposite end of that spectrum, everything about Honda culture is visceral. It’s loud, it’s angry, it’s expressive, it’s connected to THE DRIVER… not to bluetooth, backup-cameras, and Progressive’s ‘Snapshot’ little tattle-tale monitors. These are cars that require both hands to drive. They take a certain level of know-how, & commitment. They’re fast & you drive ‘em hard. In a world of virtual… this is the real thing.
This is Carlo Uribe’s 1992 B18 Honda Civic CX…
He purchased it as a shell for $500, and it started out as a budget-build… as most projects do. Carlo Uribe would source used parts from friends & Facebook, and then spend time cleaning them up & making it work. It took about a year to get the car on the road. And once it was together & sorted, he took it to a few shows. One of them was the Hotwheels Legends Tour. Somehow, he ended up winning… and thaaaaat meant he got a chance to showcase his car at SEMA! The golden ticket!!
SEMA was a dream come true, so Carlo absolutely had to do it up…
He had 6-weeks until The SEMA Show in Vegas… the show of all shows. Soooo being super motivated & amped, he decided to completely rebuild the car. Carlo stripped it down to nothing, sandblasted the entire chassis, and repainted it. He sourced new parts this time, a new attitude, boost, and no cut corners.
Neither one of us knew it, but this is actually where our paths first crossed. I remember this car from SEMA 2019 pretty vividly. That’s because – it’s been yeeeeears since these type of badass hatches really represented at SEMA for the Honda culture. And there this car was, sitting by one of the main entrances, flexing its little hatchy ass off lol.
Then – our paths crossed again about 8 months later…
When I did a Downtime with Downstar podcast with Frank Garcia.
Carlo messaged me on Facebook & said, “Hey what’s up brotha! I was listening to Franks podcast with you as a guest! I love the attitude and vibe you brought to the show! That being said… I wanted my shot at being featured one day. ;)”
I put 2-and-2 together, realized Carlo was the dude with the mean Civic from SEMA, Patrick Lauder was rad enough to shoot it for us… and here we are!
Text by Wooley Photos by Patrick Lauder
Engine
B18c1 block
Golden Eagle cylinder sleeves
Weisco 84.5mm pistons 10.5:1 compression
Eagle rods
ATI race damper
GSR head & cams
Supertech valvetrain
Golden eagle cam gears
Edelbrock intake manifold
Skunk2 74mm throttle body
Golden eagle fuel rail
Injector Dynamics 1700cc injectors
Speed factory coil-on-plug kit
Full Race twin scroll top mount manifold
Precision 6266 turbo
Tial 44mm wastegates
SheepeyRace up pipe & back door intercooler
Hondata s300 v3 & COP
Speedfactory drag tuck radiator & 4-port boost solenoid
JDM GSR transmission
M Factory LSD
Drive Shaft Shop 1000hp axles
WHEELS / BRAKES / SUSPENSION
Volk TE37 Sonics in 16×8 +25
215/45 Falken RT660
Wilwood 4-pot big brake kit
EBC rotors & pads
Function Form type 2 coilovers
Skunk2 front & rear camber kit, and rear toe kit
Energy Suspension bushings all around
F7 lower control arms
ASR subframe brace
ITR rear trailing arms
EXTERIOR
Chargespeed front lip & fenders
VIS carbon trunk
Livesports wing
Checkerd Sports prototype diffuser
Phantom composites carbon air ducts
Denji projector headlights
Trimmed rear bumper
Custom tail lights
Custom PPG Candy Apple Red Painted by Freddy at Hollister Powersports Custom Paint & Body
INTERIOR
S2000 cluster
Checkerd Sports boss hub, floor plates, & ECU mount
Nsidius Industries window cranks, shift knob, & shifter extension
Cusco chrome-dipped 6-point roll cage
Bennen Industries b-pillar bar
Circuit Hero shifter plate
Custom suede door panels
Miracle X bar
Dogfight rear strut bar
Plm seat plates
Cactus carbon-back diamond stitched seats
AEM wideband
Crowe 5-point seat harnesses
THANKS TO…
Megan Uribe, my wife & biggest fan! Devin Hui from SpeedElement Performance. Ignacio Magaña from @bestpowdercoatshop. Rey Sotelo & Freddy at Hollister Powersports. All the guys from Team Insidious. Gary Bains from Bains Tuning. Ngoc Nguyen at Concept Auto. And the entire Honda culture!
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