NOI's H.R.M.O.D.D.

[NOI]

Homage, Retro-esque, May-October, Daily Driver...it's a mouthful.

I'm in my early 40's and grew up in Europe, thanks to the Uncle Sam. So I grew up...weird, let's say. I never really idolized euro cars, well, because I saw them everyday. I never really saw a muscle car in person until my teens.

My dad was an aircraft mechanic in the service, and we were poor for the most part. He was into bikes, Hondas specifically, and raced them. So my family car experience was used clunkers like Chevy Vegas and Chevettes. Rust buckets that he was always replacing every three years or so when a single corporal or something was headed back to the States and need to get rid of his ride for nothing.

So why Japanese cars? Well all the junior pilots were driving RX7's, Supras, 240's, and Preludes, because they were more affordable and easy to work on. I looked up to those guys for what they did, and thus their cars. So I fell in love with smaller sporty cars, and Japanese cars.

My first car was a POS Mazda 323 hatchback, and I loved it. Bought it from a guy headed back to the States for $300. The floor rusted out under the drivers seat in about 8 months, but I was the only guy at school who didn't have an econo euro car and I liked being different.

I've been a Japanese car person ever since, but not as a passion. Now that I'm older (and have money), I'm finding myself enjoying automotive everything, and this little car has made me a kid again.

So this will be my first build of any kind, and I'm having a blast. I'm blending the old and the new, as an homage to my life experience and becoming a car guy late in life.

That's my story. Here's my car: 2013 Firestorm FR-S AT, bone stock.

My goal is to add to the build a little at a time, (something each month)for the anticipation and enjoyment. I'll do as much as possible by myself as my skills, tools, and time allow. So far this is what I'm planning (which will probably change over time, because time alsways creates change).

Month 1 Completed:
Custom badges
Perrin Shorty Antenna
DUB IR window tint (70% windshield, 50% all others)

Exterior:
Wheels and tires (something classic looking)
TRD Louvers
Intec tails (because euro influence)
New headlights
New side panels
Maybe new front grills
Duckbill spoiler
Maybe fender mounted mirrors?
Mud flaps
Vinyl wrap later on?
Stickers

Interior:
Eliminate the red...(because red car already)
Quilted seat covers black and grey
Ebony wood vinyl wrap accents
Grey accent vinyl wrap on larger parts like door cards and lower dash.
New steering wheel covering to match
New shifter and e brake covering to match
New door leather to match
Classic looking gauge cluster
New shift knob
Grey headliner

Driveline/suspension etc:
4.88 Weir final drive
Springs (1" drop)
Caliper spruce up and new pads

Engine/etc.:
New silicone hoses
Silicone intake and sound generator delete
Dry drop in filter
Headers
Cat back
Decorative touches
Tune