SP Rides: All About The Benjamin
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Allyza Calderon
Age: 25
Occupation: Sephora Makeup Artist
Hobbies: Working out
Year/Make/Model: 1991 Acura Integra
Color: Desert Sage Metallic
Exterior: Smoked One piece Jdm Oem headlights, Smoked bumper signals, Jdm Oem thin side moldings, Authentic Jdp front lip spoiler, Jdp Roof wing, Jdm Oem side markers, Password Jdm window visors, Wings west side skirts
Interior: Custom Wood grain trunk flooring, Nrg Tilt Hub, Wood grain Grip Royal steering wheel, Pioneer Double-Din, Custom Dash Cover, Special Edition Rear Leather Seats
Suspension: Tokiko Blue w/ground control coilovers, Ground control top hats, Em-racing strut bars x2, Skunk2 control arms
Born and raised in Aiea, Allyza Calderon’s first introduction to cars was when she was around 15 — primarily through her Honda enthusiast friends known as The Runumhard Crew. As it so happens, her mother owned this ’91 Acura Integra, nicknamed “Benjamin,” with the intent to pass the automobile on to her when she was old enough to drive.
It wasn’t until Calderon was 19 that she was finally given the opportunity to start modifying the ride. At first, the primary goal was simply to return the car to a functional form of transportation. The car needed a serious refresh of all the bits and pieces that seem to fall apart after 15 years of use, including the door handles, seats, missing screws and power steering. With the help of her boyfriend, Jeffrey Pascual, they got to work. Even the transmission had to be replaced.
After this, a new paint job came next. The car had a bit of rust that needed attention, so the body was one of the biggest things on the to-do-list. Westside Autobody in Waipahu took care of the bodywork and paint. The ride was coated in a gorgeous Desert Sage Metallic from the Lexus pallet and the result is absolutely unique and different. JDM one-piece headlights were swapped in and smoked along with the bumper signals. JDM side moldings and side markers were combined with a JDP front lip spoiler, roof wing as well as Wings West side skirts for a magic combo.
It takes a brave woman to ride static on Oahu roads, but this Integra rolls with Tokiko Blues matched with Ground Control Coilovers. Ground Control top hats, Skunk2 camber arms and EM-Racing strut bars are fitted both on the top and bottom. Calderon loves her shoes, and has several sets of them. The current setup is a set of custom 16×9.5 SSR Defi Fins, considered the only set on the island.
The interior has been left relatively untouched, but the trunk has been prepared for some more upgrades with wood grain flooring panels and a wrapped setup. A Grip Royal steering wheel is fitted to an NRG Tilt Hub while the sounds are pumped through a Pioneer Double-Din receiver. Special Edition rear leather seats have also been added.
The engine was left as is for now with the intent to swap up to a 5-speed in the near future to make this ride complete. Even with more custom work in its future, this ride has already nabbed the best in the Female Ride category at Spocom 2014.
“Anything is possible,” said Calderon. “I was able to pick and choose what I wanted with this ride … and the chance to be me. The progression wasn’t just to impress people, but for myself. It’s been through a lot and I intend to keep it forever.”
