The origin of aftermarket modifications of cars can be traced to the invention of the car itself and the automotive industry at large. However, courtesy of several highly rated tuning companies, such as Spoon Sports, the Japanese are redefining the modification game. Notably, from racing and testing cars for Honda back in the days, Tatsuru Ichishima, having secured support from Honda and Mugen for parts, decided to go one better in 1985 by launching an aftermarket modification company for Honda cars, later calling it Spoon Sports.
Ichishima’s foray into tuning started after he souped-up his Honda Civic E-AT for racing. Amazingly, his car became the first Civic to feature in the Japan Touring Championship series, even before Honda had prepared a team for the event. This will only be the first of many. From its Tokyo headquarters called Type One and its other factories, Spoon Sports has produced several insanely-built race-inspired vehicles, and these examples are some of the best.
10 Delgado’s S2000
Bronx-based Ray Delgado couldn’t take his eyes off an S2000 he’d seen in a parking lot, but it was his lucky day, as the owner couldn’t resist his EP3 Civic Si, as well. Hence, they traded. Adopting the same simple approach he used in tuning his old car, Delgado modified his S2000 with a combination of Spoon Sports Version 2 front bumper, ASM carbon hood, custom OEM rear bumper, and Aero mirrors.
The engine is souped up with Spoon Sports Kevlar air duct and spark plug cover, as well as N1 muffler and KOYO radiator, among others.
9 1985 Honda Civic (E-AT)
Way before the proliferation of carbon fiber, high-tensile steel, and titanium, Spoon had known the importance of weight reduction in performance cars. Hence, this Spoon-prepped 1985 Honda Civic was gutted out to achieve a reduced weight of 1,984lbs in preparation for racing duties.
Under the hood, it has a naturally aspirated ZC engine 1.6-liter DOHC with Spoon valve cover and custom header with spring flange joints mated to a 5-speed close-ratio transmission for an output of 230 horses. The car also received the Spoon Sports paint scheme and several other aesthetic enhancements.
8 S660
The mini car class is the equivalent of the smallest highway-legal passenger cars, known as Kei cars in Japan. Therefore, here is the S660, a relatively more expensive Kei car when it was released. Spoon adopted this piece as its developmental mule, building it in-house and adorning it with several yet-to-be-released prototype parts.
The rear-mounted 658cc inline-three has been souped up with Spoon’s bolt-on turbo kit and N1 muffler kit, thereby increasing the output to over 105 horses from 63 horsepower, then finished off with an extremely driver-focused interior.
7 TypeONE NSX-R GT
For not being so common, the combination of a roof-mounted intake with aggressive bodywork might sometimes be pointers to awesomeness, just like the example featured here. This is the TypeONE Spoon Sports-tuned NSX-R GT, and asides its aggressive build and unique aero, it also features the classic Spoon livery with all its attention-grabbing details.
Power comes from a turbocharged C30A producing 540 horses. Furthermore, the interior is every bit racing-tuned, while the wheels are RAYS Volk Racing TE37 in Saga form.
6 Type R Killer
Spoon veteran Daisuke Jomoto led the modification team of this FK7. As expected the car is race-focused, hence, several niceties in its interior have been deleted. This includes the stock driver’s seat, which has been swapped with a carbon-Kevlar Spoon bucket. For power, the FK7 adopted an L15B7 VTC Turbo engine that has been boosted for an output of about 247 horses.
The steering is a Spoon’s Momo variant, gear is selected through the popular lightweight Duracon shift knob, and it features centrally placed custom large diameter stainless steel double exhausts.
5 2010 Honda CR-Z
Here is a 2010 Honda CR-Z running on a Spoon-modified Honda LEA-MF6 powerplant. The engine features a Spoon Sports baffled oil pan, engine torque damper kit, 4-1 exhaust manifold, N1-type exhaust, heat barrier tape, magnetic drain bolt, and so on. The car also adopts Spoon Sports limited-slip differential with cross gear set, and final gear set, while the engine management is handled by Spoon Sports ECU.
The car’s awesomely crafted exterior is enhanced by Spoon Sports carbon hood and side mirrors, while the interior features its custom carbon bucket seats and steering wheel.
4 Honda Civic Type R (FD2)
Another awesome build by Spoon, this Honda Civic FD2 Type R has several cool attributes, and one of the most conspicuous of them has to be its center drive. An advantage of the center drive other than being a marketing gimmick is that it allows moving the shifter to the sides of the seat and back.
This change prompted the strengthening of the chassis for better driver protection. Also, the FD2 gets its power from a Spoon Sports tuned K20A2 engine while the entire car is draped in Spoon Sports colors.
3 Honda S2000
This is a Spoon Sports-modified S2000, and while several other tuning shops might replicate its amazing sound, we aren’t certain many can build a better-looking version. Specially built for the launch of the American division of Spoon Sports, the S2000 features a unique open-air concept roof fabricated by Japan’s Spoon Sports.
Amazingly, as a show car, almost everything on this S2000 is available in the Spoon Sport aftermarket shop, including the awesome body kit and the Spoon Sports-tuned engine.
2 Inspire USA’s AP1
Before he even acquired this S2000, Eric Tsoi had sourced for all the aftermarket products he’ll need to upgrade his imaginary S2000 through a company he owns, and Spoon Sports authorized dealer, Inspire USA. Nonetheless, he got his car and the rest is history.
The AP1 received S-Tai’s bodywork, Spoon’s front bumper, and rear diffuser, as well as D2 air struts with Air Lift Performance’s 3P management setup. Also, the car was finished off in Spa Yellow Pearl, among several other details.
1 Gorgeous 1999 AP1
This car is incredibly stunning, to say the least. It’s a modified S2000, courtesy of the awesome guys at Spoon. Sporty to the wheels, this car rolls on silver Spoon CR93 wheels, mated to a Spoon monobloc brake package. It gets more serious under the hood, as the AP1 is powered by a Spoon F20C 2.2-liter engine with all the right accessories, including a Spoon transmission.
Peep the face behind this incredible creativity — the amazing Ichishima himself — sitting inside his gorgeous black-painted street-tuned S2000.