Daily Slideshow: Ray's AP2 is Sunshine on a Cloudy Day
In a saturated market of retooled S2000s, Ray Delgado has found a way to stand out by keeping things clean and simple. When he swapped his Civic for this S2000 he had a plan and stuck to it with the help of Spoon Sports.
Trading up
Today we have another example of a guy who went from Civic Enthusiast to S2K Enthusiast overnight. It was unexpected and improbable, but it happened anyway. Ray Delgado from the Bronx went to sleep one night with his EP3 Civic Si parked in the driveway. The next morning a very different car was parked in its place. This is how his luck... and his ride... changed.
One Friday night, he went for a drive in his EP3 Civic Si with full JDM exterior conversion, wheels, various Mugen parts. Arriving at his destination, another car caught his attention. "I was just looking at an S2000 in a parking lot when I noticed some guys looking at my car," Ray remembers. "We got to talking and one of them said how much he liked my build, that it was clean and not overly done. Jokingly I said, 'Let's trade.' We exchanged numbers, but I thought that was that. I mean, who'd ever trade an S2K for an EP3?"
>>Join the conversation about Ray's AP2 right here in S2Ki.com.
This only happens in the movies, right?
As it turned out, the guy with the S2K did. "Sunday night I got a call from him, and Monday morning I had an unmolested Grand Prix white S2000 in my possession." Of course, the first question that comes to mind is why would someone trade an S2K for an EP3. Something must have been seriously wrong with it. Like some bad voodoo must have crept into its bones and it feels like the owner of the S2K emerged from some sort of horror movie plot that required him to surrender his car to the first sorry schlump who would take it in order for his own life to be spared.
>>Join the conversation about Ray's AP2 right here in S2Ki.com.
Clean and Simple Styling
Once the AP2 was in his possession, Ray began to get to work on modifying his new wheels to his liking, mimicking the same clean and simple style he had added to his EP3 in his The combination of the Spoon Sports Version 2 front bumper, Aero mirrors, ASM carbon hood, and customized OEM rear bumper made for a subtle and attractive look that complements the car's body lines. Ray added a set of custom Battleship Grey Regamaster EVO wheels which contrasted sharply against the AP2's white body.
>>Join the conversation about Ray's AP2 right here in S2Ki.com.
Slow but steady wins the race
Yes, there are a lot of S2000s out there, and yes, they've been modified in a number of ways. But Ray's seems to stand out in the crowd. His method of modifying is one of patience and class. "I'm not buying something just because it's less money. Just save up and wait."
His mentality and thought process are good lessons for young enthusiasts who are eager to hit the ground running with their new mods. Formulating a style and process and finding the right parts can take awhile but its well worth the wait. Even now, Ray is guiding a new generation of Honda enthusiasts. "I'm in the process of building a Honda Fit with my son, Justin. It's going to mimic the S2000 all the way down to the color scheme—with Regamaster EVOs, of course. It should be fun!" We look forward to seeing it.
>>Join the conversation about Ray's AP2 right here in S2Ki.com.
Specifications
ENGINE
- Spoon Sports Kevlar air duct, valve cover
- Kevlar spark plug cover, air filter, radiator hoses, oil cap, radiator cap, radiator supports
- N1 muffler
- Berk Technologies header, high-flow cat
- KOYO radiator
- Mishimoto radiator fan shroud
- ARC titanium heat shield
- Optima Yellow Top battery
FOOTWORK & CHASSIS
- KW V3 coilovers
- Spoon Sports rigid sub-frame collar kit, front strut brace
BRAKES
- Spoon Sports four-piston monoblock calipers
- Goodridge stainless steel brake lines
WHEELS & TIRES
- 17x8" +35 front, 17x9" +38 rear Desmond Regamaster EVO wheels with flat air valves
- 215/45R17 front, 245/40R17 rear Hankook Ventus RS3 tires
- KICS Leggdura lug nuts
- Tired Wear tire letters
EXTERIOR
- Spoon Sports Version 2 front bumper
- Aero mirrors
- ASM carbon hood
- Car Show Glow rear taillights
- Top1 Motors side diffusers, rear half diffuser
- Seibon CR carbon-fiber spoiler
- APR wing stands
- OEM hardtop
INTERIOR
- Status Racing carbon-fiber Hockenheim seats, harnesses, door cards
- Status Racing center armrest, side mounts, sliders
- Spoon Sports steering wheel, shift knob, rearview mirror
- Honda CR Tonneau cover
- Cusco roll cage
>>Join the conversation about Ray's AP2 right here in S2Ki.com.