1998 Honda Integra R 1.8 DOHC VTEC

Highlights

Car no. 44 of 500 supplied to UK
Presented in very good conditionn throughout
Accompanied by an impressive history file

The Appeal

It seems strange now that, until the Integra Type R arrived on UK shores in 1998, Honda didn’t have a reputation for performance cars, despite its long history as an engine supplier to F1. The Type R changed all that, receiving widespread acclaim from motoring journalists and from buyers, and it set the standards for all Honda’s subsequent Type R-badged models.

The standard-spec Integra had been launched in Japan in 1993 and the Type R first went on sale to Japanese customers in 1995, but UK customers had to wait another three years and even then only 500 cars came to this country. This one has a plate recording it as car no. 44 of those 500.

Production was limited to just 25 cars a day because the engines were hand-assembled, and the Type R’s remarkably light kerbside weight of 1140kg was achieved by numerous weight-saving measures, including thinner windscreen glass and lighter wheels, while the radio, sunroof, air-conditioning, rear wipers and cruise-control were all ditched (with radio and a/c available as dealer-fitted options).

This example has clearly been owned by a succession of enthusiasts, as is evident from the copious and well-organised paperwork and the car’s smart condition both inside and out.

The History and Paperwork

Full service history
Original document folder
Original service book
Original owner’s manual
Original Honda booklets
Well-organised folders of past paperwork
Dry-stored and SORNed from 2009 to 2018
MoT valid until October 2024
Past MoT certificates
Previous tax discs
Recent invoices
Recent service checklist
Spare keys and immobiliser tags

The vendor bought the car in August 2022, having long desired a Type R and then searching extensively to find the ‘right’ car. He has enjoyed driving it and has continued its long history of cherished ownership, but he owns another car and with limited storage space at home he has reluctantly decided to part with it. He is keen to emphasise that unlike many of its contemporaries this example is completely ‘stock’ with no modifications.

The car comes with a large file of paperwork, all carefully organised into relevant folders. The vendor understands that the car was dry-stored and SORNed by a previous owner from 2009 to 2018, and this long period of disuse and careful storage has clearly contributed to the car’s current great condition.

The Interior

Original red Recaro racing seats
Original seat covers also supplied
Immaculate rear seats
Integra Type R build-plate, car no. 44
Carpets in very good condition, protected by overmats
Branded overmats
Spartan interior designed with weight-saving in mind
Original leather-trimmed steering wheel
No stereo or a/c
Excellent door cards
Immaculate grey roof lining
Electric windows
Electric mirrors
Carbon-fibre dashboard trim
Glove box
Alloy pedals
Spare wheel in boot

Open the doors and it’s clear that the car has been carefully looked after throughout its life. The sporty red Recaro seats look in lovely condition, while the rears look to have seldom been used. The vendor has the red nylon seat covers which will be supplied with the car and are in very good condition except for some marks on one of them. All of the carpets are very good, with some wear visible under the pedals, and these have been protected by branded overmats.

The dashboard shows a few signs of its age but is otherwise completely original and is notable for its lack of a radio and air-conditioning (both of which were optional extras, in a quest for weight-saving), suggesting that the car was originally ordered by a purist.

The Exterior

‘Championship White’ paintwork
Classic Integra profile
Original wheels in lovely order for their age
Rear spoiler
Some age-commensurate wear and superficial corrosion evident around the arches as one would expect from a 25-year-old car
Badges and brightwork all look superb
Headlamps and rear lights unmarked
Custom-made car cover supplied

The first UK Integra Type Rs were all painted in Championship White, in honour of the marque’s first Grand Prix victory back in 1965, and the car’s sleek lines still look the part – it really is a design that has stood the test of time. The paintwork here looks in superb condition overall, with no notable damage or signs of serious corrosion. There is of course some slight patination around the wheel arches and lower bodywork, as one would expect from a highly original car of this vintage. We noticed some occasional paint bubbles and sinkage upon close inspection, but certainly nothing that appears untoward.

The original wheels present very well, with only some superficial corrosion visible around the wheel nuts in a few places.

Elsewhere the badges, decals and lights all look remarkably good for their 25 years,and there is that distinctive rear spoiler on the hatchback.

The Mechanics

1.8-litre DOHC 4-cylinder engine
VTEC variable valve timing
5-speed manual gearbox
Limited-slip differential
Smart engine bay
New timing belt fitted in 2018 at 75,382 miles
Underseal applied August 2022
CTEK tricklecharger supplied

The Type R’s 1.8-litre VTEC engine is renowned for its ability in the high rev range, with peak power arriving at 8000rpm. Autocar magazine commented that the five-speed gearbox is: ‘a joy to operate, while the polished steering and chassis creates adjustable, predictable handling’.

It was certainly clear on the drive to our photo location that this example drives and handles as well as you’d expect from a car that has been carefully maintained and has the folder of paperwork to prove it. The last MoT test recorded an advisory notice that both offside and nearside rear brakes are ‘worn, pitted or scored’ and also records an engine management light that was not apparent on the day of our photo shoot.

Under the bonnet, the engine bay is all clean and tidy and the paperwork records a new timing belt was fitted some 6000 miles ago.

The underside of the car has been undersealed just over a year ago and looks good.

Summary

Declared by Evo magazine in 2006 to be ‘the best front-wheel drive car ever made’, the Integra Type R is a true enthusiast’s car, and with only 500 cars sold in the UK good ones are now extremely hard to find. Despite its 25 years, this one presents in lovely condition, has the attraction of being completely ‘stock’, and comes with a folder of paperwork that is testament to its long history of cherished ownership.

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