From garage to loop: the Kanjo-Spec Civic Type R
“Give a man a body kit, and he'll look great for a day.” Give it a sheet of raw carbon fiber, and it will look great for life
Masato Nitta He lives by this philosophy, and he built a one-piece carbon front hood for an EK9 Honda Civic Type R to prove it. Of course, although this old Japanese proverb uses man in the context of humanity; Everyone can live by this philosophy.
On my recent trip south to the Kansai region of Japan, I planned to go and check out the local urban scene in Nara, specifically a tuning shop called Real Company. Unfortunately, the day before filming, a crew of road workers took to the street outside the store, restricting access, so we'll have to try again.
Not wanting to go home with just one feature, I started messaging my local contacts, asking if anyone knew of an interesting car I could shoot for immediately. My dear friend Park San came to the rescue. He works at Tommykaira, owns two Civics, and knows almost every modified Honda worth knowing in the Kansai area.
after a while “Sorry, I can't do that.” In letters from different owners, Masato-san called me to tell me that he was going to brave the snowstorm and drive through the mountains from Nara to Mie Prefecture and my location near the Suzuka Circuit. I was already freezing by this time, and the long drive home wasn't looking any fun at all, so I warmed up in my rental car with the heater on full blast and waited for Masato-san to arrive.
I've photographed a few Civics over the years, from Pandem-equipped cars to converted sedans, but nothing beats this Kangoo Racer-Spec EF, EG or EK good looking.
Real didn't build Masato-san's Civic, but they are good friends. Nara is a stone's throw from Osaka and its legendary Kangō Circuit, where civilians have raced ferociously for decades on the highway, outsmarting the police along the way. But we'll delve into the rich history of that subculture again - for now, let's check out Masato-san's build...
The design is of course inspired by the Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 team, which switched to Honda engines in 2018 (as Toro Rosso) despite being an Italian team. Honda, as an engine supplier, is synonymous with Formula 1, so to have an F1-inspired exterior is pretty cool.
But the party piece is the genius carbon fiber front end. Instead of replacing the fenders, hood and bumper with off-the-shelf parts, Masato-san went the DIY route and made a one-piece carbon front hood in his home garage.
First, Masato-san prepared the surface, filling the panel gaps before applying fiberglass to make the mold. This mold was then used to create a single carbon fiber piece. You don't need a hinge; It is light enough for Masato-san to lift and place next to the car. I'm sure this would drive any normal person crazy, but when 'race car is life' it probably never gets old.
Under the carbon hood is the original EK9 1.6-litre DOHC VTEC B16B engine, which now sits on stiffer Cusco engine mounts and benefits from J's Racing T suchinoko Chamber intake and ROM-tuned ECU.
The interior is pure Civic Streetfighter spec, a six-point roll cage that acts as a chassis reinforcement and every ounce of unnecessary weight is removed. This means no air conditioning, no cup holders, and certainly no sound system.
The rear end was reinforced with a tubular frame under the floor pan, all welded by Masato-san. The tow rope is proudly displayed, not as an acknowledgment of the inevitable malfunction, but as a demonstration of readiness to clear the highway in the event of any mishaps. She says, “If anything happens, I am ready to escape from the police even if my car engine blows up.” Live by code, dissolve by code.
Featuring BuddyClub P1 Racing wheels on all four corners, they are wrapped in Dunlop Direzza V01 ZIII 190/600R15 semi-slicks manufactured specifically for the Japanese auto racing series Zeta Kit.
Improved stopping power comes from a set of NSX front brake calipers. Honda parts seem more like LEGO parts than Subaru parts.
I wish I had spent more time with Masato-san and his Civic, but I had to leave him at 10:00 PM and had a four-hour drive home. Maybe one day I'll be able to drive a little Honda like this around a circuit or around the Canggu loop itself, but I was more than happy to return home in a warm rental car on this cold occasion.