Find of the Week: Heavily Modified Honda CRX Si

Our Find of the Week this week is one of Honda's ultimate sport compact cars. But this one has a difference. It's been modified. Very heavily modified. It might not bee to everyone's tastes, but it will definitely stand out. It's a 1991 Honda CRX Si.

The first generation CRX launched in North America in 1984. The tiny car used the driveline from the Honda Civic, but had sportier styling and handling, as well as its own interior. The first-gen CRX was most well known for one of two features. The ability to eke out 4.6 L/100 km highway in an era where other compacts were lucky to get into the 7-litre range, and go-kart handling thanks to an 800 kg curb weight.

The second generation CRX became one of the sport compact benchmarks. A more modern car inside and out, the CRX gained a new suspension and new drivelines. The torsion bar rear axle of the first-generation was dropped for a double-wishbone independent suspension at all four corners.

The CRX stayed light and it stayed nimble, but ultimately it stayed slow. But when you own the same car for 22 years, you can make a few changes to make the car a little quicker. And you can make some changes to turn the car into exactly what you want it to be.

Enter our Find of the Week. It's a 1991 Honda CRX Si, but it's had just two owners since it rolled off of the showroom floor. The seller has owned this car since 1996. He was 18 when he bought it, and as the seller has grown, so has the car.

This CRX has seen extensive modifications. It starts with a widebody conversion body kit. Nearly everything was replaced on the outside of the car. The front bumper and front fascia are aftermarket, as is the rear bumper. Aftermarket taillights and HID headlights have been installed. All of the factory exterior trim is gone, including the door handles, shaved for a sleeker look. Of course, it has Lambo-doors. The kit was installed in 2005, and I'm fairly certain that it was impossible to escape a body shop without them back then.

Filling out those wider arches are 18-inch wheels with tires that are much wider than stock. Those wheels show off Wilwood brake callipers and rotors installed at all four corners. Keeping the tires planted are Yonaka coilover shocks.

I said earlier that the CRX was slow. In North America, the engine choices ranged from slow to slower. Even the sporty Si model used a 1.6L four-cylinder that made just 108 hp and 100 lb-ft. The 7,200 rpm redline was impressive, but it was sound without fury.

This car fixes that. Gone is the lowly D16, in its place is a B16B. If you don't know your Honda engine codes - and don't worry, we have to look them up too - the B16B is the glorious powerplant that Honda put under the hood of the 1997-2000 Civic Type R. The first Civic Type R. The 1.6L double-overhead-cam engine is the one that made the VTEC name what it is today. 187 hp, 118 lb-ft, with an 8,400 rpm redline and a rev limit set to 9,000 rpm. The engine was never offered in here, and it's a screamer.

That engine comes with a host of modifications to go along with it. Like the five-speed manual with limited slip differential, Magnaflow quad-tip exhaust with header, Mishimoto rad, underdrive pulleys, and a body-colour painted cam cover.

Inside, the interior was completely redone. The existing interior panels were dyed in black. The door panels have been refinished with light-up CRX badges and black trim. The seats have been reupholstered with black leather and Versace cloth inserts. And of course the headliner, rear panel, and shift boot are all redone in Versace cloth. The carpets were replaced at the same time. The stereo is a JVC touchscreen system with navigation.

So yeah, this car has been extensively modified. In 2013, an appraiser called it "a very well built full custom CRX with a high attention to detail and a quite stunning custom body and interior."

Like any modified car, it won't appeal to everyone. But it's been very appealing to the owner, and he's hoping that one of you will find it very appealing too. It's for sale in North York, Ontario, and it could end up in your garage.