The Honda Civic and Acura Integra have always shared a cross-platform connection that, much like your favorite LEGO set as a kid, allowed savvy DIY'ers the freedom to snap together all sorts of suspension, engine, and interior concoctions based on parts from both parts bins. Unfortunately, that user-friendly tie-in brought out an army of thieves that for years has had a field day picking off higher-end models to strip down and harvest parts for both personal builds, and for profit.

The Integra Type R, with its premium, sporty seating, desirable 5-lug hubs and capable brakes, and highly-touted engine and transmission duo might as well have included a big red target on its doors when introduced to the U.S. market in late 1996. As a result of it playing so well with lower-tier Integra and the Civic family, Type R theft has always been a constant threat to owners. This featured car is one such victim, having been snatched up way back in 2004.

Originally Nighthawk Black Pearl, it ended up making its way to an auction missing its entire engine and drivetrain, front end, seats, and more. It was purchased by a member of Honda-Tech who'd also purchased another ITR from the auction in an attempt to combine the two and build a single usable car. He succeeded in the effort, but after a few years personal issues led to the car sitting still. It was then sold and the new owner tore it down, had it painted grey, and had plans to take on a complete build-up but that was pushed aside after he picked up a BMW M3.

Since its theft, the ITR was used more for collecting dust rather than actual driving duties, but that would all change once Jorge Sandoval stepped in. "I purchased the car in April of 2017," he says. "The paint looked great in videos and photos but when it arrived, it looked like a poor job. I decided I was going to completely strip the car and have it refinished."

Taking the car apart once again, its first stop was a local paint shop that Jorge had gone to for previous paintwork, but in this instance, massive unforeseen delays tripled the shop's original six month estimate. That year and a half wasn't a complete waste as it gave Jorge plenty of time to track down parts, many of which were becoming increasingly difficult to find.  He adds, "A lot of the parts were becoming discontinued from Acura at the time I was installing them. Just about every molding and seal was bought brand new and replaced."

Those fresh OEM seals were installed on the newly sprayed Vogue Silver Metallic body - a color taken from the Japanese market's DC2 color wheel, which flows well with the JDM front end conversion. Ganador mirrors and a First Molding vented hood were colormatched during the body shop stay, while a carbon fiber Spoon lip and Voltex Type 1 GT wing were left naked. Additional OEM optional exterior touches included UKDM taillights and optional window visors.

The Integra and Volk's TE37 seem to go hand in hand, especially for a build destined for track days but in this instance, it's the far less common first-generation model, known as the TE16 that Jorge added to his project. The 16x8 classics were refinished in brilliant mag blue and joined by Toyo's Proxes R888R, with stopping power provided by custom finished Endless 4-pot calipers.

To upgrade the suspension, Ohlins DFV coilovers were brought in and accompanied Honed Developments' front upper control arms, Skunk2 front LCAs, Function7 rear LCAs, and a host of PCI arms with spherical bushings. Stiffening up the chassis further is a CTR rear shock tower bar, Carbing 3-point front bar and, most significantly, a Whitfield Mfg. 4-point roll bar.

Back in 2013, Jorge's 1994 Civic was featured in the pages of Super Street and was powered by a K20R engine. That same set up and Type R transmission were still under his care, so he swapped them into the Integra and headed out to Laguna Seca to officially christen his new weekend warrior the right way. All was good throughout that entire track event, right up until the end of the day when the 2.0L spun a rod bearing. Fortunately, the head and transmission were both unharmed in the incident and all that was needed was a new long block.

The idea of starting with a fresh bottom end seemed more like an opportunity to turn things up, so a K24 block was sourced and fortified with 12.5:1 Wiseco slugs and Mahle H-beam rods, while the refreshed Type R head received Blueprint stage II cams and a Supertech valvetrain. Supporting bolt-ons included a Skunk2 Ultra Street intake manifold and 70mm throttle body, RCrew header, and Hytech twin loop exhaust. With Lawrencebuilt customizing Hondata's K-Pro V4, the K24/20 dished out 261 whp and 190 lb-ft of torque.

Much of the build leans toward the performance end of the spectrum with touches of style at play, and the inside is no different. Recaro RS-G and SR-6 seats, the previously mentioned roll bar, and rear mounted BeatRush X-bar that replaces the rear seating remind you that this car is built with a purpose, yet you'll also find a mix of Mugen, Spoon, and Japanese market OEM optional gems scattered throughout to satisfy Jorge's true Honda nerd roots.

Ever since that first engine called it quits, the rebuilt ITR has been up to the task during track days, some general street miles, and, on a few occasions, a car show or meet. After being picked off by bandits, then neglected by a few different owners, it finally got the revamp it deserved and it's not going anywhere. Jorge mentions, "I just got an AIM MXL Strada cluster that I'll be wiring up pretty soon, along with adding a catch can. Also, I'm going to look at adding A/C to the car. Other than that, I'll just keep tracking it and enjoying it!"

Car 2001 Acura Integra Type R

Engine K24 block; K20R head; Hasport engine mounts; Wiseco 12.5:1 pistons; Mahle H-beam rods; Blueprint Stage II cams; Supertech valvesprings, retainers; Skunk2 Ultra Street intake manifold, 70mm throttle body; RCrew header; Karcepts intake; Hytech twin-loop exhaust; RDX injectors; Aeromotive fuel kit; Walbro fuel pump; Mugen oil pan baffle; C&R full size radiator; Hondata K-Pro V4; K-Tuned coil pack cover, alternator relocation kit; Seeker oil cap; custom valve cover, tucked engine harness; Password JDM radiator cooling panel

Drivetrain K20R transmission w/LSD: Competition Clutch unsprung 6-puck clutch

Power 261 whp/190 lbs-ft. of torque

Suspension Ohlins DFV coilovers 14k front/6k rear; OEM CTR rear shock tower bar; Carbing front shock tower bar; Honed Developments front upper control arms; Skunk2 front lower control arms; PCI spherical compliance bushings, rear toe arms, rear camber kit, Function7 rear lower control arms; spherical rear trailing arm bearings

Braking DC5R master cylinder; Endless front 4-pot calipers, brake pads, steel braided lines

Wheels and Tires 16x8 +33 Volk TE16; 225/45 Toyo Proxes R888R; ARP extended studs; J's Racing titanium lug nuts

Exterior Vogue Silver Metallic color change; JDM front end conversion; Spoon Sports carbon fiber lip; Racebred Components front splitter; Special Projects splitter brackets; Voltex Type I GT wing w/titanium hardware; Ganador aero mirrors; First Molding vented hood; OEM optional window visors; UKDM taillights; Mugen gas cap

Interior Recaro RS-G seat w/PCI seat brackets, Recaro SR-6 w/Vision Technica seat rails; Crow 5-point harnesses; Whitfield Engineering roll bar; BeatRush X-bar; Spoon Sports Gen II steering wheel w/titanium hardware, rear view mirror insert; S2K push-to-start, Honda Gathers audio package,JDM personal box; Mugen ECU stay, gen. 1 pedals, rear view mirror cover; Hybrid Racing V3 adjustable short throw shifter; NSIDIUS Industries shift knob