In some remote corner of Australia there’s a secret factory full of Oompa Loompas. You won’t find any chocolate bars there though because all they do is detail cars. I’ve never seen the factory myself, but I know it exists. I knew as soon as I saw Dean Leimeister’s phoenix yellow Integra Type R. Dean tried to tell me his detailing secret was effort, care and a few spare hours but I just wasn’t convinced. It’s just not humanly possible to keep a car this clean. The factory fresh paint and spotless interior sure are impressive but it’s the engine bay that blew my mind. In all seriousness, if you licked the valve cover your mouth would actually get cleaner. The car’s immaculate condition also has a lot to do with its extremely low mileage. In nine years the car has only travelled 21,646km (13,450 miles). That works out to be less than 1500 miles a year. Needless to say, Dean’s Type R is only ever driven occasionally and spends most of it’s time tucked away in the garage.
At a quick glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking the car was stock standard. The front-mount intercooler and Magnaflow rear muffler are the only clues to the cars performance credentials. Once you pop the bonnet, however, the made-to-order ram horn turbo manifold gives the game away. Dean has made use of a healthy sized GT3037S turbo to get as much as he can out of the stock internal B18C7. The result is a reliable, but still spine tingling, 274whp (204wkw) at a relatively low 9 psi. Dean describes the driving experience in one word, “phenomenal”. It’s high praise from a guy who rides a Honda VFR800 motorcycle as a daily and previously owned a turbo CRX del sol with 180whp (135wkw). Given that Deans Integra has a better power to weight ratio than some exotic super cars, I’m inclined to believe his evaluation.
He also told me, that even with all the extra power, the car has maintained its drivability. That’s a real testament to the Type R chassis; there aren’t too many front wheel drive cars that can take an engine with this much power and torque and still maintain their road manners. Of course, the way the car drives also has a lot to do with the parts Dean has selected for it. He’s a very organised and detail orientated kinda guy and planned out the cars build, part by part. A lot of the parts you see in the engine bay have been imported into Australia from the U.S.A and Dean has been more than impressed with their quality, pricing and performance. He would know too, having done all of the work on the car himself Dean has built an encyclopaedia of knowledge on what works and what doesn’t. It also helps that his dad is a retired A-grade mechanic and Dean says his advice and know how have been extremely valuable.
Although the power plant is the centrepiece of the car, it’s the less noticeable upgrades that make this Type R a dream to drive. A set of firm Tein HR coilovers and sticky Federal 595 RSR’s tyres ensure the extra power finds its way to the ground, while Endless brake pads and AP rotors keep stopping distances more than safe. It doesn’t end there though and, as you read through the cars mod list, you start to see that dean has effectively removed any performance bottlenecks the extra power may have created. If the Type R came with a turbo from the factory, I’m sure Honda would have taken a very similar approach. Funnily enough, that’s part of the reason why Dean was drawn to the Honda make in the first place. He said he values the “quality, performance and the engineering behind Hondas” and that “they make the best all-round cars”. Dean’s car hasn’t lost any of those qualities and, ultimately, that’s thanks to his tuning philosophy. He says it’s all about, “Simplicity and Functionality. No frills, do it right the first time, no fuss. If you don’t need something don’t put it on your car for the sake of it”.
I was also relieved and somewhat surprised to hear that Dean has no plans to sell-up. It’s so common these days for project cars to be sold off as soon as they’re finished (or sometimes even before they’re finished), it’s a wonder the owner ever gets to drive the car at all. Maybe it’s the sense of commitment that comes with marriage and fatherhood or maybe it’s the addictive driving experience. Either way, Dean is genuinely passionate about owning his Type R and it certainly shows. He told me he has, “always wanted a modified ITR for the pure performance, handling and that feeling you get when driving one. Its rough, raw and beautiful at the same time, I love it. I understand it’s not for everyone, but it’s something I have always craved”.
It seems like there’s more than a few Honda enthusiasts like Dean in Australia these days. Dean say’s the scene is actually, “Pretty dam good. Especially the Brisbane scene. There’s such a range of people and cars. Regular meets. It’s really good to know everyone here. The Brizzy boys and girls rock! They are a great bunch of people”. In some ways, it’s the smaller number of Honda enthusiasts in Brisbane that makes the scene what it is. You don’t own a Honda to be cool here and, in some circles, it even makes you an outcast. You own one because you appreciate the level of engineering and the way the car drives. It seems the majority of Honda drivers are genuine Honda enthusiasts and that’s always healthy for the scene.
When I asked Dean about his future plans for the car he was tight lipped but assured me, “the fat lady hasn’t sung yet”. I get the impression he has some big plans. At the same time, he’s not in any rush and says, “I like to take things as they come. I don’t like to predict things, as anything can happen. Sure, I have goals in my mind, but I like to let the results speak for themselves”. It almost makes me feel guilty for writing so much about the car, Dean’s right, it speaks for itself.
Dean says, “I would like to thank my Dad Bernie for his unlimited knowledge and my wife Penny for her understanding”.
Gallery
