For Jeff Tidwell it seemed like it was only a short while ago that he used to watch cool cars roll down the highway with some of the latest eye catching modifications. That was cool, but at the same time disturbing. In fact those cars looked like they were from another place... something that may be seen in a dream. In fact such cars used to stick into Jeff's mind so much that he would toss and turn just dreaming of the day he could go to his local speed shop or custom chop shop and throw down some mother green so he too could be with the "in crowd."

Well, on a cold day in January of 2000, Jeff laid down the dollars to purchase what would be his pride and joy, the thing that would make the rest of us envious. Jeff invested his hard earned cash into a 1997 Honda Civic that would go from a stock white Honda to an eye catching green show machine. Jeff's car is unique in the fact that it stands out when it's burning rubber down the tarmac. Having a car like Jeff's Honda is like running down the street naked. No, it's like running down the street naked with your hair on fire, while screaming profanities and slapping yourself like a deranged mental patient. People look sickened by the sight of a perfectly good Honda that has been chopped, re-painted, and basically, as far as we are concerned, improved upon.

Most of us would want to jump out at the first stop light and attempt to explain our philosophy of custom autos, but most really wouldn't understand. Instead, when the light turns green, we just move on and hope to run into more people with like minded ideals. Ahhh, as they say, beauty, is in the eye of the beholder and this car makes us all a little "green with envy!"

As mentioned earlier, this car was built for the show grounds and just one look at the exterior definitely will get your attention. The Honda was stripped of its former self including the door handles, hood squirts, roof lines, side moldings, and fuel door. The inner taillights were swapped out for a set of Lexus IS 300 tails. The stock antenna was shaved and then relocated to the rear where it was frenched in. The Honda also received a Black Widow body kit, by Ground Designs, which gives the car a more agressive appearance. After the rest of the body was smoothed and rid of any other minor imperfections, Jeff tossed the keys to the talented painter, Tim Armstrong of Kreative Kustoms. Tim laid down a House of Kolor candy green with chromalusion ghost flames that dance across the hood and sides of the car.

Under the hood, Jeff kept the power plant pretty much stock except for a few mods. Engine power is up thanks to the AEM cold air intake, powercore header, and a custom performance all stainless steel thermal cat-back exhaust system. The car definitely sounds good, but isn't obnoxiously loud like some aftermarket systems.

The Honda's cornering performance was improved with a set of 18 inch G-Racing wheels wrapped in 215/35/18 NanKang rubber. With increased rotating mass, Jeff realized braking could be an issue, but only if it let it be. To squash the slow down blues, Jeff installed an AEM big brake kit which nearly gives back the car's factory stopping distance.

In the suspension department, Jeff wanted to be cool like the rest, so he opted to go the air route. Under each corner now resides an air spring that is fed by two Viair air compressors attached to two five gallon air tanks.

The suspension, wheels, and tires, which perfectly fill the Honda's wheel wells, gives this little Honda an "oh so right" highway ride and a killer stance. With 10 switches, Jeff has a lot to play with... front-to-back and side-to-side.

Other knick-knacks and sundries bolted to this little car include leather covered seats with green leather inserts, and a Rockford sound system with two trunk-mounted subs, in a custom fiberglass enclosure, powered by an 800-watt amp, while a 400 watt amp handles the mids and highs.

After photographing this little coupe, it became clear that it is an example of all that is right with the automotive aftermarket. Everything installed on the car does its job very well and looks very good. One thing's for sure, when Jeff is rolling down the strip, his little Honda is definitely leaving people "green with envy."