My feet feel like puddles of porridge sloshing around in my socks. I do my best John Wayne impression and shudder as my sweaty, chafed inner thighs burn like tandoori chicken drumsticks. It’s been a long, hot day. My ears are ringing, yet somehow, amid the constant exhaust explosions resounding from the underground parking garage exit Retro destruction 2024I see four Civics breathing fire as they drive past the gathered crowds of thousands onto the main roads of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Rewind a few hours, and those four friends had drawn large crowds it will be so/Group A/JTCC-inspired Civics in a much more civilized way.
A few days earlier, they had traveled from the Thailand-Malaysia border after transporting their cars from Bangkok. That’s a solid six-hour ride, which amounts to at least three packs of sour worms, twice as much coffee, and very sore lower backs by the end. The boys were lucky: they only suffered one flat tire and a slightly overheated engine.
Most ordinary people would have thrown in the towel after 30 minutes of race-spec polyurethane bush torture and NVH levels akin to a ride in the Deathproof Chevrolet Nova. But these four friends are far from ordinary. Car enthusiasts are a different breed.
All cars feature body kits and parts custom made at the Kaeng Siam Garage in Thailand and form a cohesive supergroup of Thai tuner Civics.
Let’s climb the ladder of power, starting with the PlayStation-themed 1994 Honda Civic Ferio EG sedan.
This PlayStation design from Livery Magic reflects the liveries of the JTCC and would certainly have been a crowd favorite had it raced in the mid-1990s. Sure, it lacks the dynamism of the JACCS Honda Accord paint scheme or the iconic HKS oil splatter graphic, but it works, especially with the other custom parts.
The front bumper and GT rear wing come from Fullrace, supplemented with side mirrors from EC Works. Additional bodywork was done at Kaeng Siam.
Five-spoke wheels look great anywhere, and these 15×7-inch Fifteen52 Rally Sport Tarmacs wrapped in 205/50R15 Yokohama Advan A052 semi-slicks are no exception. The Civic rides on Silver’s NeoMAX coilovers.
Under the hood, the D15B engine produces a modest 200 hp, boosted by a Maxpeedingrods GT3076 turbo.
Next up is the 2007 FD/FA Civic, with a playful character Kirby wrap. And why not? The custom bumpers, fender flares and diffusers are handmade in the Kaeng Siam Garage. Deep dish wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes R888R tires complete the look.
While retaining the factory-fitted 1.8L R18A SOHC iVTEC engine – now turbocharged – this Civic jumps from 140 hp to a healthy 220 hp. And yes, just like its video game namesake, this Kirby also spits fireballs.
The Dragon Ball ZThe full-color EG Civic follows closely behind, generating 280 horsepower from its Maxpeedingrods GT3582 turbo-equipped D16Y8 engine.
It features locally made Raxer GTR Sport wheels with Toyo Proxes R888R semi-slicks and BLOX Racing suspension.
As with many Thai models, the ECU is FuelTech par excellence, specifically a FuelTech 450 tuned by local wizard N-Tech. I especially love the placement of the Dragon Ball Z sticker on the fireball throwing exhaust from above.
Last but not least there is the EK Civic in LEGO livery. The group’s unofficial leader, Akwood Lamueyut, has created a livery that resonates with car enthusiasts around the world.
Some of my happiest childhood memories are building LEGO Land Cruisers – complete with spring suspension – and racing them around dirt roads, getting lost in my own little world where adults didn’t exist. 30 years later, and I’m still happiest when I’m driving quirky cars through the wilderness, far away from adult problems.
LEGO teaches us many things as children: design, problem solving and, most importantly, imagination. After following the instructions once, I threw all the parts into a big box and made custom cars of all shapes and sizes. “LEGO is a toy, but it is so much more,” says Akwood. “It’s the beginning of a journey. I still play with toys, just bigger and more expensive ones.”
And there are indeed more than a few expensive parts to this build, including the BuddyClub P1 wheels wrapped in Toyo tires and HKS coilovers. The aftermarket bodywork was done at Kaeng Siam Garage.
Akwood’s Civic is powered by a serious K24 paired with a Maxpeedingrods turbo. Engine management is handled by a FuelTech 450 ECU, tuned by BungTuneVer, to produce a solid 510 horsepower.
These four Civics from Thailand prove that car fun isn’t about who has the biggest spec sheet; it’s about enjoying your car the way you want.
Cars are just LEGO for big kids, so let’s have fun and play.
Toby Thyer
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