Feature: Raising DA Standard

Darren’s DA6 needs no introduction at this stage. I’m sure most people throughout the Irish car scene know this car. It’s just one of those cars which goes beyond many people’s expectations of what a DA6 Integra or even a Honda for that matter should look like in Ireland. I have a personal love for cars like this because when Darren was building this car he aimed beyond the standard many people set for themselves here in Ireland which was the same goal with this website. Don’t get me wrong, we have some great cars in this country, but quite a few of the country’s population when it comes to cars are quite reserved, and most usually settle for a clean looking “tidy” example, or something similar rarely venturing outside the box. When Darren was building this car he looked towards the land of opportunity aka the United States. A country where by chasing the JDM style over the years and perfecting their version of what they thought was JDM they essentially created their own off style which is mostly now referred to as USDM by the rest of the world. Now we could get all technical about the term USDM but that would be just sidetracking.

I sat waiting patiently to feature this car for a long time, watching it go through it every process, becoming a better and better looking car with each photo that would pop up online. Eventually both I and Paddy McGrath made it a double date to get this car the recognition it deserved.  This car pushed the bar for Honda’s in Ireland and not with speed or handling but in the looks department. It just goes to show what can be done once someone has the mindset and dedication. When this car hit speedhunters I knew that it would be a big deal even for people outside of Ireland, people praised the car for its looks and its personality which is pretty much oozing out of every corner. Once this all started to die down I felt I would wait it out to put the car up on this site, just to remind everyone of just how good this DA6 is in case they had forgotten!

The outside of the car looks very fresh but simple. Darren chose the exterior parts very carefully knowing that a DA Integra looks it best with subtle extras and not a whole lot more. The colour choice of the car is amazing once the sun comes out. This car was pretty much built with the sun in mind as Darren was really inspired by the Sunny west coast Honda scene of Los Angeles. A Root bear brown covers this Honda’s body followed by a few touches of carbon was the choice for the outside look. The front end has been treated to a Seibon carbon hood accompanied by a JDP carbon lip. Darren added a rare OEM JDM bumper pole to the front bumper which is much sought after in the US.

The car has its fare share of OEM clean parts, following the right path of a Honda owners build but manages to stand out from the crowd with the right amount of personality and original touches. The rear end has been treated to a very subtle M3 lip spoiler and the original holes were flushed. The Aerial holes were also deleted giving the rear a much simpler look. Darren has added an array of new and rare OEM parts such as OEM power folding Mirrors, brand new OEM headlamps, mud flaps and wind deflectors. The back lights have also been swapped out for a much cleaner 50/50 look. The list of brand new parts from Honda doesn’t keeps on going, so many little details like light seals and windscreen seals and a host of other new OEM parts were bought from Honda and fitted. Darren even managed to find a brand new genuine rare Honda Primo dealership for the rear end. Outside the car is literally immaculate. To the average person it would take a second glance at many of the overwhelming little details that have gone into this build.

The engine bay really does speak for itself. While most people could spend their time drooling over the exterior of the car, once the Seibon bonnet is popped you are greeted to yet another work of art. This is the first full wire tuck I had ever seen in person, pretty much everything has been shaved from the bay even the brake lines have been tucked which are now running through the inside of the car. To get the engine bay looking this aesthetically pleasing the Air conditioning and power steering had to be removed as well as the battery, pretty much everything else was either relocated or removed. Darren used White heat wrap to covers the RSR exhaust manifold which leads to a de cat pipe mated to a Tanabe Cat back system. The cream and brown personality to the car flows throughout the engine bay also with additional character such as an assault with stickers on the Comptech intake which has also been finished in cream.

There is quite a lot to take in, but that’s what you have to love about this car. For example the custom spark plug coverwith the personal touch of graffiti. Even the rocker cover has been modified; check the DA motor which was shaved from the word Honda, or the “stickydiljoe” signature and the ever so awesome Robocop x Unicorn sticker paying respects to one of the best Honda blogs on the internet. Even though this engine bay may as well be complete work of art, it’s not shy of performance parts because after all it is a Honda. Under that cream rocker cover a set of Civic Type R cams and fuel injectors and an EK9 N1 crank pulley. Other additions can be seen like the NGK leads or the Earl’s fuel filter and lines. The same amount of effort was given to the engine bay as the other aspects of the build. There is quite a lot of little details you would may glance over like the gold Vtec solenoid cover, or the gold/orange/chrome password JDM washers and bolts. Even the valve cover was treated to a full set of gold bolts!

Darren’s appreciation for the Honda doesn’t stop with just the exterior, many people would usually keep a reserved or stock interior with the addition of a few small extras but what’s interesting here is the amount of goodies which have been added on top of original parts to create a pretty awesome cockpit. The use of cream is very evident on a first glance; the door cards as well as the armrest and centre console have been re-trimmed in cream with an original artwork which really adds to the cars character. The Integra was fitted with a custom half cage which was also treated to a coat of cream and quite a lot of sticker, but it’s all done the right way and I have to admit the skate theme to the interior really gives the car a very original personal feel. I’m sure Domokun approves whilst he proudly hangs from the Broadway mirror.

Even though the interior car has been given a personal touch, the combination of personal and rare goes hand in hand on this car. A list of rare OEM parts such a centre armrest, a rare OEM gathers speakers system, a super awesome rare double din Gathers head unit feat. Equaliser/CD player, a rare personal box and an OEM map light were all sourced and fitted. Things don’t stop there; Darren added some DC2-R mats and painted the dash surround black. The clock surround was wrapped in carbon fibre and little touched like tagging the dash surround really add to the originality of the build. A black Apexi RSM sits behind the Genuine Mugen wheel and horn button. A set of Mugen pedals replace the original and a Mugen shift knob sits over the red and black stitch gear gaiter and handbrake gaiter. A Takata Harness is the perfect match for a Bride Low max Carbon back seat. The back of the DA6 has been stripped out and freshened up with a coat of root beer brown paint. It’s such an original but not over done interior.

The wheel choice on the car is simply amazing. Darren went against the norm for a Honda and chooses a set of 15×8 BBS RMs both front and back. The baskets were repainted in cream and fitted to the polished lips with a set of Gold plated BBS studs. These wheels really set the car off as the cream goes great against the root bear brown of the DA6′s body. Two colours I’m sure many people would have opposed to when the car was in the building process. The RM’s are wrapped in 195/45/15 Goodyear eagle rubber. Darren is a firm believer in wheels, something that could easily make or break a cars look.

Darren retained the original Brakes as they were more than sufficient for his DA6’s needs, some new OEM discs and pads with a brake refurbish was all that was needed in that department. D2 coilovers and adjustable top mounts helped this Integra to get low with the addition of Skunk 2 pro series chrome Lower Control Arms and a pro series front and rear camber kit. The addition of a Password JDM C-pillar bar and upper and lower strut bars both look aesthetically pleasing against the half cage and supply the DA with a nice amount of additional stiffness.

This car is a big deal for Ireland. It really goes to show how far the standard can be pushed in this country when the mindset is there. Darren has pulled of building one of the nicest Honda’s in the country without a doubt probably one of the nicest DA6′s in the world. From the choice of rare parts to the colour combinations right down to the personal finishes it’s such an awesome example of a Honda and really embodies what doing a car right is all about. Somehow he looked past most of the usual styles people are constricted to and went for something that hasn’t really been seen on our shores yet and managed to nail it in every way possible. The best part is the fact he chose a DA6 as his canvas, a car which is usually overlooked by people due to the amount of other choices that have been made available to over the years. I’m glad to finally showcase this car. It brings  together what is so good about the Honda scene these days, clean cars with rare parts and touch of personality. Darren’s car should be used as inspiration for others his country, the perfect execution of an original clean Honda.

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