Or maybe you are like me and you have a stock-pile of ITR parts, bits, and pieces... Of cars. And wiring... and panels... 
So I have always had an ear out to see what kind of shells are out there and need to be saved. My friends who come over always say "there's a whole other car... or two here"...
So in the past months I was in contact with another ITRCA member for some other items/parts and as most of us members have, we shared stories of the Type R and parts, old cars, current projects, etc. One conversation led to another and there was talk of a '98 shell in good shape, but in need of repair, and basically every ITR specific part. Stashed in a Barn in the middle of Minnesota... My first glimpse.
This. Has. Potential...
My excitement begins, and the thorough search of history and anything I can find out that may be posted on the interwebz. Luckily the badge has stayed with the vehicle, and is one of the only R specific parts left. #BigWin Badge reads 98-1046. :Opens browser...... and down the rabbit hole we go:
I find a Honda-Tech For Sale ad from May 2012, car is located in Iowa. 124k Miles, OG motor has been replaced, Clean title.
A bunch of pictures in the ad, showing her slammed low, long tip exhaust cannon, but not too shabby for what you would see out there in 2012.
Next owner (ends up being cousin of 2012 owner) shows up with heR for sale in 2015 following a "disabling accident" in Central Iowa. 132k miles, still JDM motor with VIN matching trans and a mix of new and some old parts from 2012 sale. For sale ad notes the car still holds a clean title, however Carfax shows insurance declared it a "total loss" and made a payout on the vehicle.
**In the state of Iowa, a vehicle can be declared as a "loss" if the cost of repair is/or exceeds 50% of current market value of the vehicle** (As comparison I bought a clean title 2 owner, PY in 2014 with 87k for under $14k) The radiator support is toast, the front crash beam did exactly what it is supposed to and absorbed the brunt of the hit. The crash bar is bent and not re-usable. It bent the driver frame rail, and passenger rail has some sway. In my opinion from now seeing it even today in 2022, was it enough to "total" the car in cost? I don't think so... Not sure what transpired with the "payout" or what the amount was since owner still holds clear title and the vehicle.
Car is even listed in ad as "running and driving" but with bent control arm and may need frame work, but perfect for JDM front swap. Well I can say it definitely needs frame work, but it's not "totaling" damage.
Over the next 7 years, the car passed through a few hands and was slowly stripped down piece by piece. But it doesn't seem there was any attempt to ever repair/recover/revive the damage. At this point it has no engine, no interior seats, no door panels, no rear 5 lug, 36mm front, no brakes or ebrake, no spoiler, wrong wheels, and tons of misc. along the way.
So after many texts back and forth and finding a time that would allow from work off, we packed up and ventured on the 18hr+ trip each way, over 1,200 miles to the middle of more corn land than I have ever seen, to a metal barn in the middle of Minnesota. Took an hour to strike a final deal, and we were packed up and turned around for our trip back home.
Of course you know we had to give heR a good bath since shes back out in the sun after who knows how long shes been hiding in this space...
We got right back on the road after driving the hours straight through from NY ---> MN. Now we drove about 5 hours just outside of Chicago. Good food and crash for the night to finish the trip tomorrow. Of course on our way home, we realize that in #Roadkill fashion, we are driving right past Summit racing headquarters!! Of course we had to make a little detour/stop to see where all of our money goes over the years!! What a place. If you get the chance, stop by and check it out. Amazing to see complete cylinder heads lining an entire aisle like groceries. Engine blocks, piston and rod combos on the shelf like cookies. Fuel managements and wiring harness aisle after aisle. So cool, I wish we had one closer.
Finally, after wayy to many hours on the road we made it back to NY. We left Thursday night at 8:15pm and we pulled back into my driveway Sunday morning at 3am. Roughly 36+ hours of driving over 2,400 miles in just shy of 55 hours.
Luckily the trailer rental on a one-way trip form Uhaul is a 5-day. So I had a few days left with the trailer and was able to coordinate dropping it off at the frame shop the day after I got home. Huge win. I was given a new OEM control arm as well as the driver apron to repair the damaged pieces. A used but good condition crash bar was included also so I dropped the caR and all of these pieces to get work started right away!!
My friend who owns the frame shop did not seem phased at all by what he was seeing and said he would give me a call when it was all set... That seemed too easy. We talked a bit more about it and I let him know I have a new radiator support on the way as well. Hoping I can have new radiator support put on, apron as well and have the bay cleaned and resprayed while it is there. Then when she comes back home she will be ready to get heR life back together!
Stay tuned for more, ITR #4.
Dc2
