Donald Bastain needed a car. The problem was he also needed a co-signer. That co-signer was a mother not fond of the idea of lending her signature as license to upgrade a stock 1995 Honda Civic that would get the wrong kind of attention. But Bastain had big plans that could not accommodate trivial matters like social contracts. Around the same time, Bastain found a local group of tuners. When he asked to join, he was told that stock cars were not permitted. So Bastain got to work lowering the suspension a few inches on the Civic to give a lower profile to the body. The next upgrades came fast and furiously: A cold air intake, aftermarket header, cat-back exhaust and 17-inch Motegi MR8 wheels were installed. No sooner had he qualified for initiation then his car was vandalized. The disappointment was enough to cause someone to question the course they were on, but Bastain refused to interpret the misfortune as an ominous event predicted by his mother. He was instead determined to turn tragedy to triumph. The vandalism would only prove an excuse to create a wild ride that screamed excitement.
Bastain wanted to start by making serious modifications to the body of the vehicle, but learned quickly that he was no professional body fabricator. He wanted a Cervinis-style hood for his car, but no such part was available. Using an example from an existing model, he took his idea to a garage in South Hill, Va. After welding together two hoods to create a unique-looking scoop, and shaving the body free of protrusions like taillights, the gas door, and the license plate, the next step was to paint the body. Bastain wanted ghost flames, but was talked in another direction, since they’re a common application on many custom vehicles.
When he first saw the car, Bastain was ambivalent about the work. But it soon grew on him. Next he bought a set of 18-inch Focal wheels. The next move, however, would radically redefine the development of his vehicle. A friend at Xtensive Body and Paint told him about Air Ride suspension. When another friend was looking to trade out his own Air Ride system for Bastain’s wheels, the offer was too tempting to pass up. Meanwhile, Bastain’s wheel-less Civic was blessed with another set of 18-inch wheels — this time for free.
| Stats box |
| » Engine: JDM GSR B-18 |
| » Performance: Air Ride suspension |
| » Paint: candy apple green with custom tearing/pop-riveting. Rear is candy apple green and Chameleon. |
| » Wheels: 17-inch black MSR Wheels |
| » Interior: black Honda panels with green tweed accents, black Sparco racing seats |
| » Exterior: custom body work |
The interior was fitted with green tweed upholstering. Other interior features included black Sparco racing seats, while the final plan is to coordinate the green tweed with alternating tan tweed.
In 2006, Bastain’s 3-year-old son died. He had registered his car for show competition at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Nopi Nationals the following month. He ended up going to the event and when he did not place, the building stress of the past month became too much. He decided to park the car for the next three years. As time passed and the pain eventually eased, Bastain returned to his car club.
In March 2011, he swapped old the old stock motor and replaced it with a JDM GSR B-18, which has been the largest project to date. These days, he shows his car with a plaque in dedication to his son. Still, the most difficult challenge he faced was trying to motivate himself to return to a hobby he once loved, a process he takes one day at a time.
What do you drive? I drive a 1995 Honda Civic EX.
Why do you drive it? When I was 18, I wanted a Honda Civic just like everyone else. I found one I liked and financed it. One month later I lowered it and the fun began.
What makes this car so special? This car is special to me because it is the first car I ever bought new and paid for myself.
What is your most memorable driving experience with this vehicle? Once we got the car back from the body shop my wife and I decided to take the car out to the local hangout spot to show it off. We had both of our kids strapped in the back in their car seats along with our friend Devin. The wife was driving and I noticed we were slowing down, I asked her what she was doing and she said the car had stalled. We pulled over in the grass on the side of the road only to notice the car was on fire. Devin and I had to push the car out into the middle of the road. The car wasn’t on fire, it was the grass. The catalytic converter had stopped up from the car sitting so long and it got hot and was glowing red. It had caught the grass on fire. So here my wife is scrambling to get the kids out of the car as we are trying to push it into the middle of the road and out of the grass. That was a hectic night but funny now that we look back.
What was the first vehicle you owned? A 1983 Honda Accord four-door with a sunroof that I paid $75 for. I’d be driving down the road and it would just cut off. I would get out with a hammer, beat on the motor a little, and she’d start back up. I had it for a little over a year. When I got rid of it I sold it for $600. It looked like crap but had a hell of a stereo system.
What kind of music are you currently listening to in your vehicle? It currently does not have a radio. While it was sitting I took the CD player out and put it in my Dodge, which was my daily driver.
And your first ticket? What was it for? I got my first ticket a week after I lowered my car for being too low. Then many tickets to follow that for window tint, illegal hood scoop and racing.
