My feet feel like puddles of mush sloshing around in my socks. I’m doing my best John Wayne impression, wincing as my sweaty, chafed inner thighs burn like tandoori chicken drumsticks. It’s been a long, hot day. My ears are ringing, yet somehow, amidst the continual exhaust explosions echoing from the underground parking exit of Retro Havoc 2024, I spot four Civics spitting fire as they roll past the assembled crowd of thousands onto the main roads of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Rewind a few hours, and those four friends had drawn big crowds with their itasha/Group A/JTCC-inspired Civics in a much more civilised manner.
Just days earlier, they had travelled from the Thailand-Malaysia border after transporting their cars from Bangkok. That’s a solid six-hour drive, equating to at least three packs of sour worms, twice as many coffees, and very sore lower backs by the end. The boys were lucky, enduring just one flat tyre and a mildly overheated engine.
Most ordinary folk would have thrown in the towel after 30 minutes of race-spec polyurethane bush torture and NVH levels akin to a ride in the Death Proof Chevy Nova. But these four friends are far from ordinary. Car enthusiasts are a different breed.
All the cars sport body kits and parts custom-made at Kaeng Siam Garage in Thailand, forming a cohesive supergroup of Thai tuner Civics.
Let’s climb the power ladder, starting with the PlayStation-themed 1994 Honda Civic Ferio EG sedan.
Echoing the liveries of the JTCC, this PlayStation design by Livery Magic would have surely been a crowd favourite had it raced in the mid-’90s era. Sure, it lacks the dynamism of the JACCS Honda Accord livery or the iconic HKS oil splash graphic, but it works, especially with the other custom parts.
The front bumper and rear GT wing come from Fullrace, complemented by side mirrors from EC Works. Additional bodywork was done at Kaeng Siam.
Five-spoke wheels look great on anything, 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 churns out a modest 200hp, boosted by a Maxpeedingrods GT3076 turbo.
Next up is the 2007 FD/FA Civic, sporting a playful Kirby wrap. And why not? Its custom bumpers, fender flares, and diffusers were handmade at Kaeng Siam Garage. Deep-dish wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes R888R tyres complete the look.
Retaining its factory-fitted 1.8L R18A SOHC iVTEC engine – now turbocharged- this Civic jumps from 140hp to a healthy 220hp. And yes, just like its video game namesake, this Kirby spits fireballs too.
The Dragon Ball Z-liveried EG Civic follows closely behind, generating 280hp from its Maxpeedingrods GT3582 turbo-equipped D16Y8 engine.
It runs locally-made Raxer GTR Sport wheels with Toyo Proxes R888R semi-slicks and BLOX Racing suspension.
As with many Thai builds, the ECU of choice is FuelTech – specifically, a FuelTech 450 tuned by local wizard N-Tech. I particularly love the placement of the Dragon Ball Z decal over the fireball-throwing top-exit exhaust.
Last but not least is the LEGO-liveried EK Civic. The group’s unofficial leader, Akwood Lamueyut, has created a livery that resonates with car enthusiasts worldwide.
Some of my happiest childhood memories are building LEGO Land Cruisers – complete with spring suspension – and racing them down dirt tracks, lost in my own little world where grown-ups didn’t exist. Fast forward 30 years, and I’m still happiest driving quirky cars through the wilderness, far from adult troubles.
LEGO teaches us many things as kids: design, problem-solving, and, most importantly, imagination. After following the instructions once, I’d toss all the pieces into a big chest and create custom cars of all shapes and sizes. “LEGO is a toy, but it’s so much more,” says Akwood. “It’s the start of a journey. I’m still playing with toys – just bigger and more expensive ones.”
And there are indeed more than a few expensive bits on this build, including the BuddyClub P1 wheels wrapped in Toyo tyres, 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 510hp.
These four Civics from Thailand prove that car joy isn’t about who has the biggest spec sheet; it’s about enjoying your car your way.
Cars are just big-kid LEGO, so let’s have fun and play nicely.
Toby Thyer
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