Tolman unveils stunning Integra Type R restomod

The Integra Type-R was a street hero when it was launched and now thanks to Tolman Motorsport it’s a hero among the restomod movement.

And while this just-unveiled ‘R’ could have become an in-you-face body-kitted Max Power revivalist, the Tolman approach has been to create something that’s undeniably low-key and in the same spirit as when the car was new.

It all began when the owner wanted a colour change, but what started out as a thorough re-paint became a whole new project. Many panels had to be re-built because they couldn’t be bought off the shelf.

Honda enthusiasts won’t be getting hot under the collar with this car: using what’s described as a “sensitive but meticulous approach and engineering decisions that respect what made the Integra exceptional in the first place” the project was kicked off when a full assessment showed corrosion covered by MoT-passing repairs.

Rear quarters and wheel arch sections were fabricated, as were floor sections, which helped restore bodyshell strength. Fabrication and fitting took 180 hours.

Next stop, the paint, and the now bodily re-freshed Integra enjoyed a re-paint in Sorrento Green, to complement the owner’s Peugeot 205 GTi in the same hue. A decent touch – and one to ensure panelwork and underside longevity – was treating those areas with factory seam sealer and cavity spray.

Interior work didn’t require as much attention as the rear seat had hardly been used. However, the front seats had faded but Tolman found NOS material – in Australia.

On the mechanical front the engine was fully re-built, brake and fluid lines replaced. Suspension-wise new bushings, springs and Nitron dampers were fitted while the Enkei 15-inch alloys were re-furbished and fitted with Michelin Pilot Exalto 2 treads.

“The brief started with a colour change to sit alongside the owner’s Tolman Edition 205 GTi, but once we stripped the car we could see it deserved the full job done properly,” explains business founder Chris Tolman. “When the panels are not available you either compromise or make them yourself. We’ll never compromise, so the answer was clear. The result is a build that stays true to the Integra, is sharp to drive and can be used with confidence.”

And that, surely, is what an Integra Type R’s all about.