Mark Stewart’s tuned Honda S2000
They say there’s more than one way to skin a cat and Mark Stewart is only too happy to demonstrate. Not by using the family pet you’ll be glad to know, but an altogether different animal – this silky smooth tuned Honda S2000.
“I really wanted to do something that hasn’t been done to an S2000 before, he tells us. I was determined to make it unique.” With just a quick glance at the awesome end result, you can see he’s nailed it. But there are more surprises under the skin of this Jap beast.
Mark got his paws on the stock, two-owner car at an auction and it seemed a bit of bargain. But, it was all too good to be true, as the engine let go in a big way barely two miles from the auction! Instead of a lengthy legal battle to get a refund, Mark took the car and stuck it in a corner while he figured out what to do next. “My mate suggested a Nissan SR20 engine conversion, which I laughed off at first,” he grins. “But I like a challenge – plus it was cheaper, very tunable and no-one else in the UK had done it before. So we decided to give it a go!”
Within a few days, an SR20 lump, gearbox and loom had been swiftly sourced and fitted to the Honda using custom mounts. Surprisingly, this wasn’t too difficult. The tricky bit was getting the electrics to work. A Garret T28 turbo, paddle clutch, intercooler and plenty of custom pipework was added to the mix and it was soon up and running.
Other than the new engine and some KW coilovers, the car remained fairly standard for a few weeks. But being a spray painter by trade, Mark was soon itching to transform the exterior.
He made a start by removing the bumpers, before he received a call from FC Towers setting him another challenge! We told him we were going to be in the area and Mark vowed he would have the car ready within just four days for the photoshoot. Top man.
Now this was a mammoth task, as the car had to be rubbed down, smoothed, and prepped. The arches needed rolling and pulling to make the uber-rare wheels fit, before covering it in BMW Velvet Blue paint.
Amazingly, he managed it, creating this super-subtle body, sitting on gorgeous Blitz 003 split rims. Mark scoured the interweb for days to make sure no other S2000 was running them. They really are a sublime choice, especially with the centres painted anthracite.
Inside the cockpit, aside from the array of gauges, the standard black leather trim has been retained for a very good reason; it already looks bloomin’ ace. While some Defi gauges add some class.
Mark has done a fine job of enhancing the styling in the right way, and delivering a real surprise under the bonnet. Top job, fella!
TECH SPEC HONDA S2000
STYLING
Full respray in BMW Velvet Blue; front bumper smoothed including removing Honda badge, number plate holder and holes; front & rear arches rolled and pulled; APR carbon fibre wing mirrors.
TUNING
Nissan S14a SR20DET VVT engine with NATS coded key all working; SR20 gearbox & wiring loom; SR20 ECU; Garret T28 turbo; custom engine and gearbox mounts; custom gear lever; custom prop; FMIC with custom pipework; RSR turbo elbow; custom stainless down pipe; stainless steel catback exhaust with twin-exits; Walbro fuel pump; HKS mushroom fi ter; HKS SSQV2 (genuine); paddle clutch.
CHASSIS
9×18-inch Blitz 003 split rims, ET34 all round; KW coilovers; standard brakes.
INTERIOR
Full black leather trim; Defi boost gauge; rev counter; oil pressure gauge & oil temp gauge; Defi control unit; Yashio factory water temp gauge.
