Acura Celebrates 40th Birthday with Ridiculous Cool Retro Integra
Acura has hit middle age. Yup, it might be hard to believe, but the Japanese brand turns the big 4-0 today. It was March 27, 1986, when Acura was first launched in America as the first Japanese luxury car brand ahead of Lexus or Infiniti.
The first models to hit our shores were the mid-size Legend and compact Integra. Although the Legend is well known with gearheads, it’s the Integra that’s arguably the second most well-known Acura model after the legendary NSX.
To celebrate the brand’s birthday, Acura has released something special and ridiculously cool. Called the Acura Integra 40 Racer, it’s a modified first-generation Integra tribute build to honor the manufacturer's first race car: the Comptech Integra No. 48. For those not around in the 1980s, the Comptech Integra was a wee bit dominate in its time. It won consecutive IMSA International Sedan Series Manufacturers' and Drivers' Championships from 1987 to 1990.
"As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Acura brand, we're not just honoring our history, we're accelerating toward a future that will continue to be defined by daring innovation, a deep commitment to Acura customers and our Precision Crafted Performance brand DNA," said Mike Langel, assistant vice president of Acura National Sales.
As cool as the car is to look at, the specifications and modifications done are more than just skin deep. Take a look at the entire laundry list of upgrades below.
Acura Integra 40 Racer | Modifications |
|---|---|
Powertrain | Rebuilt original D16A1 engine and 5‑speed manual Monsoon ECU Coil‑on‑plug conversion Stainless 4‑2‑1 long‑tube header Custom Borla exhaust Torsen‑type limited‑slip differential |
Suspension, Steering & Brakes | Tein coilovers Adjustable panhard bar Manual steering rack Manual brake conversion Carbotech performance brake pads Stainless braided brake lines Lightweight Mugen 14‑inch wheels Yokohama ADVAN - A050 semi-slick tires |
Interior | Custom roll cage by Blackbird Fabworx OMP racing seats with 6‑point Endurance harnesses |
Body and Paint | Rio Red Metallic exterior paint Quartz Silver stripped interior and engine bay |
The tribute race car is built by Honda Racing Corporation US (HRC US) and will make its debut at the 51st Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
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This would be a hoot to drive! I had a '92 LS... fantastic car!
My step mom had the stock version of this car. Super fun to drive!