The Rehab' of my BF's Del Sol

[Rush]

So I figured it was about time to make a thread about my latest 'project'.

My boyfriend's first car was a '94 Honda Del Sol. He drove it through high school and his first few years of college, till he picked up his Lexus IS300. At that point, the Honda was dumped off at his grandparents' farm .. where it sat for five years.

When gas prices took off, Brandon decided to bring the car back from the dead. It still ran well and got excellent gas mileage -- so why the hell not, right?

Only problem was, the poor thing was the epitome of 90s rice. But he was past the point of caring -- it kept the mileage off his Lexus and saved some money on gas. But I hated being anywhere near the car. It embarrassed me. I rode in it once, and wanted to put a paper bag over my head.

Fast-forward to this past January, when Brandon had his accident and when winter decided to dump five feet of snow on PA. Since I wasn't keen on having my G35 Coupe out in all that messy weather, and since he wasn't using the Honda .. I started driving it. A lot. And that's when I decided to adopt the car and start getting it back to a respectable state.

So. Here's what I've managed to accomplish. And please note, I'm not looking to turn this car into anything remotely fancy. I just want to be able to drive the car without having to hide my identity -- I just want a daily driver that looks halfway decent.


August 20, 2008:
What I had to start with. 13" steelies, an awful body kit, the classic fartcan catback exhaust, an interior with all the trim pieces painted white, NO shift knob .. just to name some of the shenanigans. My poor MSP had to sit next to that.












January 18, 2010:
Just after B's accident, when the snow started. By this point, the OEM rear bumper had been put back on.



February 10, 2010:
Fartcan catback removed, replaced with a close-to-OEM exhaust.



April 14, 2010:
Picked up a set of OEM sideskirts and installed 'em. Also ripped off the old badges, which were fogged over from the plastic sitting out in the sun for so long.





April 15, 2010:
Ripped out all the interior pieces that had been painted white. Repainted 'em a textured gunmetal silver. Note the silly shift knob in the second pic -- I threw on a leftover knob from my MSP, which didn't even have the right threads, but I needed SOMETHING. Also put on some new badges, yay for fake Type R.









April 26, 2010:
Skunk2 shift knob.



May 1, 2010:
B finally told me that he had some wheels lying around his grandparents' farm. Once I found out, I demanded that he get them. He did, they got some new rubber, and were put on the car. Also got some smoked bumper reflectors.









Still waiting on a pair of one-piece headlights, black housing, which should arrive on Monday. Also debating getting some new auxiliary lights, depending on how the new headlights look. Probably gonna paint the front grill mesh black. Might get the windows retinted.

And that's where I'm at right now! Just thought I'd share, cause I'm rather proud of myself.

[94integra]

Wat kind of wheels are those?

[Goddabob]

Nice work saving the car, paint looks good for sitting for 5 years.

[gtsiawd96]

It looks much better, good job!

[97TurboDSM]

take that horrid grill mesh nonsense out of the front and it'll be sooo much better

[JDMTyler3326]

Car looks awesome for sitting in a farm for 5 years. Car looks good other then grill.

[Rush]

Thanks, guys.

That grill mesh is on the list of things to be addressed .. I'm gonna see about pulling it off when I have to remove the front bumper to install the one-piece headlights. Hopefully Brandon didn't rip the stock bumper to pieces under the mesh back in the day .. Guess I'll find out. Worse comes to worse, I'll paint the mesh black, so hopefully it won't be so obvious.

As far as the wing's concerned .. There's no way in hell I'm paying the money to have it removed, patch the holes, and repaint everything. Cause the wing actually wore patches into the paint of both back fenders too -- along the tops, where you can't see as long as the trunk's closed -- so it wouldn't be as 'simple' as repainting the trunk. So the wing stays.

[Slick 87]

those wheels look really nice.

good work rehabbing it. new headlights and bumper, and your set. The wing actually doesnt look too bad.

[abrok99]

i hate to say it but that wing isnt that bad. it kinda flows with the car. good job restoring it also.

[telopyros]

looking good reminds me of mine...

[lownslow95]

Looks good. Like the progress you have made so far.

[JDMmuscle]

Now just get rid of that wana be supra wing, lower her a bit and the thing will be golden!



ps: wish i had my first car back =/ hes a lucky man

[CR4CK]

That look sick dude.
Ditto on removing the grill.

Good luck.

[lownslow95]

RUSH is no dude.

[DPancoast]

looks good CINDY. lol

[Scapegoat]

Originally Posted by lownslow95

RUSH is no dude.

chick's can be dudes... i call my gf "dude" every so often

[jen.]

awesome improvements, and i like the new wheels!
and i think you're right, if you can't take the grill out due to damage, painting it black would definitely make it less obvious.

[Rush]

I've been mistaken for a guy on car forums so many times that I pretty much don't register it anymore.

Anyhoo .. today's updates!

Got the new headlights installed. One-piece, black housing. Also pulled out the mesh of the front grill .. but B doesn't like how it looks without it. And since it's technically his car, I have to respect his opinion at least a little bit. So we're gonna try painting the mesh black, then see how it looks.

I also ripped off the red Honda emblem up front. It just looked ridiculous, all red and obnoxious against the blue and black. I ordered an OEM one, which I'll paint black, then slap on.

Ordered a set of new auxiliary lights with black housings as well, to match the headlights.

[Honest_Bob]

Good job, I like your taste.

[boostedfury]

very nice job Cindy..looks very respectable now.. also how is your bf health wise.. I remember reading about that horrific accident..hopefully hes coming along well!