There's a Honda Buried Somewhere
Charles doesn't just own a cool Honda, motorsport has been in his blood for a very long time, he started navigating in Rally at an early age of 16.
I absolutely love hearing a good story from someone much older and experienced than I am, especially if it's about driving or building a car from a period before I was around to know it. This little Honda somehow survived a death at the hands of neglect and now it's alive as proof that some patience, ingenuity and passion can go a long way. Along with some help from friends who are mechanical engineers.
Meet Charles, I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Classic Car Show in July, he really loves his S800. He had a long history of the car to share from when he found it to when it was finished, and the process he had to go through to get everything working at tip top shape. Rumour has it there's another Honda S800 Coupe buried somewhere on the island now because of this build, it sacrificed itself so that the other one could be finished.
Charles came across an advertisement in the local newspaper back in 1990. The previous owner owned both an S800 Coupe, and the Cabriolet, but the Coupe was too badly rusted to be salvaged. This Cabriolet on the other hand was plagued with some engine trouble. It sat for a long time, and eventually the owner sold it. When Charles got the car, he was able to use the coupe for spare parts and build on the cabriolet. Albert, a friend of Charles who is a mechanical engineer, took up the work on the engine of the car getting it running again.
With engine work out of the way, it was time to order the parts that the car needed, and he found a dealer in Sherwood Forest, England to send him all the original parts for car. The entire restoration of the car took around 2 to 3 years to finish.
“Robin Hood drove a Honda.”
What makes the S800 so special though? At the time Honda produced these cars their speciality was motorbikes. This led to the cars being an interesting mix of motorbike and car. The engine used is a 791 cc, twin overhead light alloy engine. It makes 70hp to the rear wheels, and in a car that only weighs about 771 kg.
This car's weight and power and size matched up directly with some other European sports cars of the time, cars like the Triumph Spitfire and the Austin-Healey Sprite. It has one thing they can't compete with though and that's the sound of the engine. Hearing those cams rev up to 10,000 rpm is ethereal.
The car currently has its own garage at home, where it spends a fair amount of its time. Charles isn't the type to allow his car to sit in its garage and gather dust though, he built it because he loves it and he believes it deserves to be driven. He takes it for a spin at least once a week, on a Sunday, making sure he can have clear road where he can hear this engine sing.
I wholeheartedly believe in this as well. In modern times, we have come to know Honda for producing cars that are pretty well rounded, even their sport cars hardly skip out on creature comforts which make for a comfortable driving experience. Owning a piece of automotive history like this, reminds us where things come from. Honda's ability to break into new markets really has been amazing over the years, taking their mechanical know how, from motorbikes, into cars and improving on them, even having a few super cars under their belt.
“Oh yeah, the sound is very nice. ”
Check out the video down below.
Charles doesn't just own a cool Honda, motorsport has been in his blood for a very long time, he started navigating in rally at an early age of 16. It's really always a pleasure a meet someone that has a love of cars that has stayed strong over the years, and I hope he is able to continue to cherish his machine for many more years to come !
Alex - Until next time, happy motoring!
A Daily Joy
We may not realise it but we actually ask a lot more from a daily than we do a track car. Track cars usually tend to be fast, loud and "high fashion", like $25 New Balance stylish.
What would you say makes the perfect daily driver?
For me, it has to check a number of boxes, has to be good on fuel, comfortable with modern amenities of life all packed into something that's nice to look at when you do that car lover double take after you park. We may not realise it but we actually ask a lot more from a daily than we do a track car. Track cars usually tend to be fast, loud and "high fashion", like $25 New Balance stylish.
This build is a little different though, you see, the owner isn't Chris, this is a gift to his wife. When he moved to live here in Barbados, they had to sell her 90's Hyundai Coupe and he in a sense owed her something, and this where this Honda comes into play.
Chris sent me the lead on this beauty, while she was still being built. I had the privilege of seeing Daniel in action in this shop, Autoderm. By the way, go check out his page on Facebook, he does amazing work. Daniel, is a very interesting person, having lived in China while in college, he spent loads of his time hanging out with the elusive underground racing and drifting scene over there. He is a true car enthusiast in the purest form.
Without any doubts, I can say he really loves his wife.
The car on the inside is stock, its a Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo, I will vouch it's still capable of giving some unsuspecting opponent the chop, from a Traffic light start or side by side pull on the highway. It makes around 175 hp, at 16.5 psi, the turbo helps a lot with the torque output of the engine making 162 ft lbs of it, but get this, still makes 35 miles to the gallon. That's even better than most econoboxes, and it's still fun to drive. Honda is onto something here.
The results of the wrap as well as a few cosmetic modifications really push the looks of this car over the edge, from looker, to double take material. Chris actually brought to my attention, that this Civic, looks like a later iteration of the 90's Hyundai Coupe, in some respects.
When we really go in depth on the looks of the car though, first and foremost the wrap was chosen for the protection of the paint, but with the results here, I'd opt to wrap any car and not for the protection.
Beefing up the visuals of the car, are the aftermarket add ons, the wing of a period correct Honda Civic Type-R was added as well as a rear diffuser.
A front splitter was added to the front of the car, as well as side skirts, and it sits on 19" Konig Intention Rims, they really do complement the overall angular shape of the car.
Looks like an F117 Nighthawk
“It’s a sort of elegance, the way the matte black highlights the subtle curves of the body panels. ”
Check out that quad exhaust.
In the end though, many persons daily an unremarkable car, sometimes we find ourselves behind the wheel of a car so forgettable, you can't remember where you parked, thats a fact. Having something interesting as a daily driver can really change your day for the better.
Is this car quite possibly the perfect daily driver ? I myself wouldn't go as far as to say that, but it really does score pretty high.
Alex - Until next time, Happy Motoring.
Vtec Meet Up
Honda, Honda, Honda, but not your grandmother's Honda. Hondas are pretty common cars on the road, and to modify them you really have to be creative about it.
The advantage of covering a motorsport event, is the chance to meet up with the spectators, persons who are also motor enthusiasts. They gather up in the parking lots and turn the parking lots into meets for themselves as well.
Ever had that feeling of walking in a candy store as a youngster, and literally being incapable of finding the first place to focus your eyes on? Imagine you could feel that way in a car park.
Honda, Honda, Honda, but not your grandmother's Honda. EKs, DC5s, DC2s, EP3s the full assortment. Hondas are pretty common cars on the road, and to modify them you really have to be creative about it. But when you are, the results totally worth it.
This Honda, really took my full attention though,as well as everyone else's, when the hood came off, the whistles went out.
Feast your eyes on this K-Swapped Honda, you haters. Seriously though, unless you really hate Hondas, anyone with an appreciation for modified cars would really love this build.
Hondas are all about the small details you add that make it yours.
She's quite something.
With the car being a platform, and so many aftermarket parts being available for them, and the owner really took advantage of this, and went all out on his build.
The rear seats were deleted, and a roll cage installed, along with a Takata 5 point harness.
Adding a Dragon? Now that's some personality.
A thriving Honda community is definitely alive and well here in Barbados. Look out for more Honda content coming soon!
Alex - Happy Motoring!
A Classic Sunday Afternoon
I believe time machines were invented, but we haven't taken the time to notice them as yet.
I believe time machines were invented, but we haven't taken the time to notice them as yet.
I met up with Woody again, and met his friends, who are also huge classic car enthusiasts, it turned out to be almost a British Classics Owners Club, call it what you want, it was amazing to see these gems with impeccable restoration work done to them.
These Classics, transform their surroundings and take to you to the time they exist within. These cars can give you that glimpse of the past, and they do it so effortlessly.
Their presence is indelibly made known anywhere they are parked.
This gorgeous MGB - GT is a work of art. It's not a roadster no, but it certainly is beautiful in its own right. The hard top adds that Grand Touring feel, giving it character. The MGB - GT sports the same engine as the MGB, the same 98 horses and similar torque, at around 110 ft lbs, and it's a bit heavier with the hardtop, but goodness, that form, its just the perfect shape.
The fun really came with this Austin Summerset. Mr. Cozier took me for a spin in it, it was unexpected but a pretty amazing experience.
This Austin Somerset was made in 1954, and has been left untouched since then, tiny rust lines and some cosmetic flaws show the age of the car, but mechanically it's been well maintained, it's a sound machine.
It's "massive" 42 hp output from it's 1.2L engine, along with some beer, really got the rear wheels spinning in the grass. Somersets were used for racing at one point, in the past, its racing pedigree showed that afternoon.
Photo By Terrell Inniss
Some familiar faces were there as well, this Elan, we would've read about it at the Vintage Car Show was owned by Derek, he wasn't afraid to get into some of the action as well.
To wrap it up, I'm glad I got this chance to hang out with a community of classic car enthusiasts, for them, these gems aren't just cars to keep in the showroom, they are machines that deserve the life they were built for, they deserve to be driven, let's hope they keep it that way.
Alex, until next time, happy motoring!
The Best Yellow
This Ford was unapologetic, and yes, hate me for it, I love that wing.
After moving on from the "Brothers" we met up with what could be called their Dad. The Ford Escort RS Cosworth.
Normally, this Escort was one of 2500 made in collaboration with Cosworth and Ford, but it was even more unique because its modifications made it one of a kind.
Using a Turbocharged 2L 16V DOHC engine, it would've normally made about 220hp. This figure was pretty similar to the car that came before it, the Ford Sierra Cosworth, it actually was made even more famous because it was the Sierra which Colin Mcrae would've driven for a time in Rally. This Ford Escort though, ironed out the issues Ford thought plagued the Sierra, and instead of being Rwd, its 4wd.
The "Whale Tail" anyone who vaguely knows Ford from the mid 80's, to the early 90's would remember that time Ford made cars with wings that were so odd, you either threw up or fell in love. This Ford was unapologetic, and yes, hate me for it, I love that wing.
It was far from stock though, this car was also prepared by Graham Goode Racing, meaning it wasn't just modified, it was heavily modified. The huge intercooler to the front of the car should've given that away.
Using the same 2L engine, this car was able to produce around 512 hp, at 21psi with its Garret Turbocharger. It was possessed with the demon of speed, and left hidden under covers in this garage.
This car amalgamated all the research and design Ford acquired over the years of racing and rally, although stock, it only made 220 hp, it was a platform that could be modified and used in racing like we see here. It gave the racing experience to everyone, and gave them the joy of building or preparing a machine they could use everyday.
This Escort RS Cosworth mk5, shows Ford closing the chapter on the Escort and Sierra line of cars, with one last hurrah. Its thicker wheel arches, slight aero modifications, and enormous wing showed that Ford wanted to make a statement.
Alex - Until next time, keep motoring.
