2005 HONDA CIVIC

For sale: Honda Civic Type R JDM – 2005 Facelift Model – 48,840 miles – Championship White. 2 previous UK owners. £21,500.

The star is the infamous K20A engine, which has a fully balanced crankshaft assembly with a different intake manifold, exhaust manifold, higher-lift camshafts, higher-compression pistons, chrome-moly lighter flywheel and ECU programming, developing 215bhp. Although JDM EP3's were exclusively manufactured in the UK, the K20A engines were in fact made in Japan then shipped to the UK to be fitted. Once the cars were complete, they were shipped out to Japan, purely for the Japanese Domestic Market.

In addition, they have shorter gear ratios, a helical Limited Slip Differential, High Intensity Discharge Headlight Units (Xenon), Automatic Aircon, Stiffer suspension and Anti-Roll Bars, plus Recaro Seats (in black Alcantara and and red cloth). To stand out from the Euro spec EP3's the JDM model was also available in Honda's famous Championship White. My car also has it’s original JDM Dark Red Type R logo’d floor mats in great condition, which are probably worth a small fortune, but I’ve never used them. Instead I used an “everyday” set of red Type R logo’d mats front and rear, which will also come with the car. Overall, this is a more focused and much rarer alternative to the UK car and values are predicted to climb year on year, because only 1,000 facelifted cars were sent to Japan and not that many have returned to the UK.

Registered in June 2005, it was imported back into Britain in August 2010, by parties unknown, then the vehicle went through its SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) with VOSA on the 30th August 2010 with 40,006km on the clock. I can only presume that while converting the speedo and odometer to mph the speedo unit broke and had to be replaced by a second-hand unit with 12,265 miles on it. This is shown in its MoT of 20th October 2010. Therefore, although the dash shows 36,200km, I’ve calculated the mileage is actually 48,840 miles. This is reflected in the MoT’s on Gov.uk, which I have printed off for total transparency to show any potential buyer.

I bought the car on the 7th May 2016 (with 35,136 miles showing on the odometer) from renown specialists Millennium Classics in Surrey (part of the Octane Group) and I have only done 1,000 miles since then. It’s spent over 10 years in storage in a dry, heated garage, mostly because I had other cars and was too busy to use it. It’s never been driven in the rain, nor the winter and consequently, there is zero rust, either on the bodywork or the underside of the vehicle.

When I first got the car I made a few choice changes to the spec, adding:

• Bilstein B16 PSS9 suspension (adjustable coilovers at the front and separate springs and dampers at the rear, with adjustable spring platforms and 9 clicks of damping adjustment).

• ITG Maxogen Carbon Fibre Air Intake.

• Tegiwa 2.75” diameter Resonated Exhaust system with 3.5” tailpipe.

• Yellow Speed Racing big brake upgrade with 6 pot callipers and 330mm slotted discs on aluminium bells, plus fast road pads. The rear has new Tegiwa grooved discs with fast road pads.

• Goodridge braided brake lines.

• 10mm hub centric wheel spacers all round.

• Nankang NS-2R 205/45 R17 Semi-Slick but road legal street tyres.

• New clutch slave cylinder and upgraded braided stainless steel hoses.

Thousands have been spent on the above, but I have the original suspension, brakes and airbox in case the buyer wants to revert to the standard spec and sell off these valuable items (the Bilstein suspension now costs £1,800 and the brake kits are about £1,440 with the air filter being sold for £510).

To prepare it for sale, I have had the car recommissioned. It’s had new spark plugs, fresh Motul engine oil and a genuine filter, new gearbox oil and Honda specific blue coolant. The aircon has been re-gassed and blows ice cold. The brake fluid has also been flushed and replaced with Motul RBF660. The car even has a fresh tank of Shell V-Power!

Consequently, it drives superbly and is an absolute hoot. While she idles with the smoothness of a sewing machine, she simply flies when the VTEC shifts into high lift cam mode at 6,000rpm and the acceleration is that of a much more modern machine, probably due to the weight being only 1,210kg. It’s an ideal car for a collector as it’s in smashing condition. The only issues I’m aware of are that the drivers seat tilt release lever has broken off and a clip that holds the extendable under thigh cushion in compression has broken. But it makes no difference when you are sat in it.

The MoT is valid until the 14th May 2027. HPI clear and no finance outstanding.

I also have a very comprehensive file of documentation (except the importation which must have been done by the first UK owner). This folder contains the original Japanese brochures and manual, plus many invoices, MoT’s etc.

The car has 2 keys and one remote locking fob, plus a Thatcham Cat 1 immobiliser with both keys and the paperwork to prove it’s installation to an insurance company.

I’m only selling it as I am now retired and suffering from health problems.