The iconic Honda Civic, which many of today’s tuner kids have taken up as their generation’s flagship vehicle of choice, has been around longer than they have. That’s saying something for a car that has gone through numerous face-lifts and upgrades, and even switched classes from a subcompact to a more beefy compact driver.
Perhaps the Civic’s main attraction, along with its reasonable price tag, is its seemingly limitless potential for customization. The car, which has been around since the 1970s, has more aftermarket support than most tuner vehicles. This allows the community to rally around the Honda emblem and almost ensures that, with minimal effort, no two customized Civics will look alike.
The sixth-generation Civic marked this vehicle’s last stand as a true subcompact before the trunk was permanently extended for more space. It was from this generation’s stable that a 1996 Civic caught the eye of Brandon Elste while visiting a small dealership. Elste, who had always enjoyed custom cars and the local scene, knew the potential wrapped up in the stock Civic and felt up to the task of turning out a true project vehicle.
Elste’s first change to his two-door notchback was ADR J-Cross wheels measuring 17 inches. His current setup drops a size but beefs up the lower-profile ride with a staggered lip configuration. The D-series 1.6-liter stock engine, which puts out a forgettable 106 horsepower, was given greater range by the addition of an HKS intake, DC Sport headers and an HKS exhaust. Elste even changed the hood to give a more aggressive appearance, complete with air dams right at the tip of the hood, which he eventually swapped out once more when his friends nicknamed his car “nostrils.”
Of course, the exterior of the Civic had to change, and so Elste updated the blue paint job with darker accents. A carbon fiber Mugen lip kit was added to the front fascia followed by a carbon fiber overlay on the trunk lid. The lights were given a more understated appearance using JDM parts, while the roof sported a military theme as rows of vinyl decals of tiny automatic weapons were positioned across the top. But the tow hooks that protrude from the rear and front bumper areas are purely cosmetic, so don’t expect the subcompact to pull a 4×4 from that nearby mud hole.
Of course, the exterior of the Civic had to change, and so Elste updated the blue paint job with darker accents. A carbon fiber Mugen lip kit was added to the front fascia followed by a carbon fiber overlay on the trunk lid. The lights were given a more understated appearance using JDM parts, while the roof sported a military theme as rows of vinyl decals of tiny automatic weapons were positioned across the top. But the tow hooks that protrude from the rear and front bumper areas are purely cosmetic, so don’t expect the subcompact to pull a 4×4 from that nearby mud hole.
Elste’s interior is also a complement to the work he’s done to the exterior. With blue racing seats, a racing steering wheel, an NRG short hub and quick release kit, 2000 Civic Si interior, a Wink mirror, and a carbon fiber headliner, the amenities inside help pull together this classic tuner platform’s overall look.
What do you drive? A 1996 Honda Civic.
Why do you drive it? I love my car, and I’ve always been in the Honda game.
What is your most memorable driving experience? I would have to say the first time I cruised Coastal Highway in Ocean City, Md.
What was the first vehicle you owned? This is my first vehicle.
What music are you currently listening to in your vehicle? I listen to Baltimore club music.
And your first ticket? What was it for? It was a speeding ticket.
