Owner: Joe Cooper
Location: Locust Grove, Georiga. USA
Vehicle: 2006 Acura RSX Type-S
Horsepower: 305 whp
Car Club Affiliation: Team Emotion
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rjsdxm
Instagram: @cooparelli

Photography Credit: Kevin Cho, John Balasmo, Sticky Diljoe

STORY
People always say that their dream car is a Ferrari or a Lamborghini or maybe a Skyline GT-R, but honestly, my dream car has always been the DC5 Honda Integra. When the car came out in 2001, I just fell in love with the car. The car was just one of the best built in my opinion from the engine to the exterior to the interior. From that day, I always wanted one. I owned a 2002 Acura RSX Type-S when they first came out and replicated the Type-R as much as I could. Unfortunately, I sold the RSX and purchased an Evo IX when they came out, and I regretted selling the RSX everyday. When I purchased my ‘06 RSX Type-S I had an idea that this time I would make the car as close to the real Integra Type-R, but put my little touches on the car to make it my own creation.

There were lots of challenges sourcing the parts. There was one Max Racing front bumper cover in the states already, so I knew I needed to purchase that one even if it was used, so I did. I then purchased another Max Racing front bumper from Bulletproof Automotive along with the Max Racing side moldings. The side moldings are the only set in the US right now, and the two Max Racing front bumpers that I own are the only two in the US. Bulletproof was helpful sourcing the parts for me, but it did take almost eight months to receive the parts. The Safety 21 cage was already in the states and I got lucky and grabbed it before anyone else did.

I chose the Comptech supercharger because it wasn't common on the RSX. Lots of people were running the Jackson Racing supercharger and a lot of RSXs are turbocharged, but you didn't see many RSX engine bays in complete sheet metal, fully tucked with a supercharger thrown in there. It gives the car that surprise/wow factor. No one really knows it’s boosted until the hood is opened or they hear that loud winding noise when I go full throttle. I also like that fact that the supercharger gave the car instant power.

I’ve always been a Honda fan pretty much since I became interested in cars. My first Honda build was a 2002 Acura RSX Type-S, which was one of the first GReddy turbocharged RSXs. I then decided to build a Acura TSX, which I converted to a Honda Accord Euro-R. My latest Honda project other than the ‘06 RSX is the 2013 Honda Civic Si I just purchased. Not sure what’s to come for that car yet. I’ve also owned two EVOs; a IX and a X.

ENGINE/PERFORMANCE
Comptech supercharger polished
Pulley Boys 10 lb pulley
K24 crank pulley
RC 750 cc injectors
Hybrid Racing (fuel rail, fuel line tuck kit, clutch line kit)
Power steering delete
Polished alternator
Toda Race header
ARC induction box fully polished
Spoon Sports (rad hoses, rad cap, valve cover)
Koyo radiator
Skunk2 throttle body
Hondata K pro

DRIVETRAIN
Buddy Club short shifter
Hybrid Racing shifter cables
Exedy stage 2 clutch
Driveshaft Shop axles

WHEELS/TIRES/BRAKES
Volk TE37 Super Lap in Hyper Blue – 18x9.5 +22 (f), 18x9.5 +22 (r)
Falken Azenis tires - 245/40 R18 (f), 245/40 R18 (r)
Spoon mono block calipers
Stoptech rotors
EBC yellow pads

CHASSIS/SUSPENSION
J's Racing rear tie bar
JDM DC5 rear sway bar
BC coilovers
JDM DC5 front sway bar
JDM DC5 lower control arms
Opak Racing front strut bar
Safety 21 13-point roll cage
EM Racing trunk bars
Miracle X rear trunk bar

EXTERIOR
Max Racing (front bumper cover, side moldings)
Aspec rear lip
First Molding (carbon rear diffuser, hood)
Charge Speed Wide quarter panels
J's Racing wide front fenders
Voltex wet carbon spoiler
Championship white paint
JDM DC5 power folding mirrors w/spoon convex mirrors
Mugen gas cap
JDM DC5 emblems

INTERIOR
RHD Conversion
Spoon Sports steering wheel
JDM DC5 (Kouki gauge cluster, blue carpet, blue floor mats, center console w/ DC5 e-brake and Mugen blue stitched e-brake cover, pedals and dead rest, engine start button)
Bride Vorga seats
Takata black harnesses
Full shaved trunk, color matched champ white
EM Racing Trunk bars fully polished
Carbon fiber fuel pump cover
Suede headliner
Spoon Sports (titanium shift knob, rear view mirror)
Mugen rear view mirror cover

AUDIO / MULTIMEDIA
Sony touch screen double din
Pioneer front and rear speakers

COMPETITION EVENTS / CLASSES / RESULTS
Spring Nationals English Town: 1st Place RSX / Best of Show
Import Expo: Best Acura, Best JDM, Best RSX
Tuner Evolution
Best RSX
Honda Day English town: Best JDM
Wekfest East: 2nd place Best Acura

FAVORITE MODIFICATION
RHD Conversion. I’ve always dreamed of having a RHD car and I like to see the look on people’s faces when I pass them on the road.

SPONSORS
Falken Tire
Bullet Proof Automotive
Hybrid Racing

SHOPS
D&D Kustoms in Georgia
Origin Fabrications in Georgia