What started out as one man’s vision of experiencing a car from his youth ended up evolving into a multi-year mission of acquisition, restoration, and enjoyment. Nostalgia, without a doubt, drives the collector-car hobby, and Mike Jacobs is living out his teenage dreams.
Mike’s first-generation 1974 Civic coupe is unlike any other classic Honda you’re bound to see cruising the streets. For one thing, when new, a 1974 Civic’s 1.2-liter inline-four engine only made about 52 horsepower. Mike’s car now has four times that number, courtesy of a transplanted K20 VTEC engine sourced from a Japanese-market Honda Integra Type R.
I had the privilege of taking Mike’s Civic for a quick rip around the neighborhood during a recent trip to Utah, and it’s hard to describe just how fun and engaging the car was to rev out. There was no sound-deadening material inside the car, so the engine and exhaust note made for an incredibly visceral driving experience. Also, the car only weighed about 2,000 pounds, so a 200-plus-horsepower engine was able to move it with uncanny ability. The adjustable BC coilover suspension kept things planted and stable.
Mike told me about his two-year restoration process: The car had started out as a rolling shell with a salvage title, but every single nut and bolt was replaced with care and precision. The 15-inch wheels were even custom-designed with inspiration from the car’s original ones. The car had so many subtle details, like a small aerodynamic flap seamlessly integrated into the rear roofline.
The interior featured saddle leather buckets with houndstooth inserts, and the dash had woodgrain trim, true to the original Civic. Even though the gauges were modernized to an all-digital cluster, the look and feel held true to the car’s original aesthetic from over 50 years ago.
Mike’s Civic restomod has already garnered the attention of the Japanese Classic Car Show, where it was awarded top honors as the Best Civic last fall. I asked Mike whether he considers the project “complete,” and he said it’s now finally time to drive and enjoy it. Based on the grins we both had when taking the car to the redline a couple of times, the enjoyment is guaranteed.
Congrats, Mike, on building an amazing Civic!
