When most people hit 40, they're perfectly content with a dinner at a local steakhouse. But Acura has a more spirited idea for celebrating the milestone — Honda's luxury division is marking its 40th year with a purpose-built Integra race car that honors the brand's early glory days in IMSA competition.
The date was March 27, 1986. That's when Honda introduced Acura to the American market as the first Japanese luxury brand to reach U.S. shores. The brand hit the ground running: the Integra sport compact earned a spot on our 10Best list for 1987, and the flagship Legend coupe followed it there in 1988. On track, the Comptech Integra — running No. 48 — captured back-to-back manufacturers' championships in the IMSA International Sedan series in 1987 and 1988, then added the drivers' title in 1990. That legendary race car now inspires the Acura Integra 40 Racer.
Constructed by Honda Racing Corporation USA, the tribute machine wears No. 40 for the occasion and goes far beyond being a first-generation Integra dressed in Rio Red metallic paint with white 14-inch Mugen wheels and some decals. This is a seriously modified car. Under the hood sits a rebuilt version of the original D16A1 engine, now finished in Quartz Silver. The DOHC 1.6-liter four-cylinder breathes through stainless-steel long-tube headers and a custom Borla exhaust, with a five-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential directing the power forward.
The Honda Civic-derived Integra chassis — which Car and Driver editors praised lavishly for its dynamic qualities back in the 1980s — has been extensively reworked. Tein coilover dampers and an adjustable panhard rod handle suspension duties, while HRC US deleted the power-assisted brakes to match the unassisted steering setup. Performance stopping hardware includes stainless braided brake lines, race-spec pads, and semi-slick Yokohama ADVAN tires. This is very much the real thing.
The interior has been stripped of its audio system, door panels, carpet, and rear seating. A pair of OMP racing buckets with red six-point harnesses occupies the cabin, while a custom roll cage protects the occupants in the event of an incident. The original dashboard has been retained.
Fans attending the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach this year will get to see the Integra 40 Racer in the flesh — the brand is debuting it at its hometown race. If you're planning a birthday of your own, take a cue from Acura and think bigger.
