On March 27, 1986, Honda officially launched its luxury division on American shores, not with an SUV or a bloated executive sedan, but with a sports coupe and a four-door saloon, the Integra and the Legend, respectively, under its new Acura brand.
Forty years later, Honda Racing Corporation is celebrating by building a full recreation of the Comptech No. 48 Integra that dominated the IMSA International Sedan Series from 1987 to 1990. And it’s one heck of a way to celebrate your own birthday.
Why the Integra?
The NSX gets most of the oxygen in conversations about Acura’s performance legacy, but it was the first-gen DA Integra that actually went racing first, and won. Just one year after Acura opened its doors, Comptech USA fielded a 1986 Integra in the IMSA Sedan Series. Driver Parker Johnstone claimed the 1987 drivers’ championship, and Comptech took the manufacturers’ title to boot. They backed it up with additional championships through 1990 before transitioning to an NSX-based prototype. In other words, the dynasty was built on a front-wheel-drive hatchback with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder.
Built Right, Not Restored
Modelled after a 1986 First-Generation DA Integra, the one-off Integra 40 Racer wears chassis number 40 in place of the original 48, a small nod to the anniversary. It’s finished in Rio Red Metallic and rides on 14-inch Mugen lightweight alloys wrapped in Yokohama ADVAN semi-slick tires.
Under the hood, HRC retained the car’s original D16A1 naturally-aspirated four-cylinder and five-speed manual, rebuilding both from the ground up rather than swapping in something newer. The ignition was converted from a distributor cap and rotor setup to an electronically-controlled coil-on-plug system, and a Monsoon ECU now manages engine operations. Exhaust exits through hand-formed stainless steel 4-2-1 long-tube headers feeding into a custom Borla system and a Torsen-type LSD handles the front differential. Meanwhile, it sits on Tein coilover suspension with an adjustable panhard bar, and the brakes were converted to a manual setup with braided stainless lines and performance pads.
Inside, you’ll see a Blackbird Fabworx roll cage, the original dashboard and steering wheel survive intact, and OMP RT FIA racing seats with six-point harnesses replace the stock furniture. The rear seats, center console, and carpet are gone entirely, and red door-pull straps replace the interior handles.
Spec Sheet
Name: Acura Integra 40 Racer
Based On: 1986 First-Generation DA Integra
Engine: Rebuilt 1.6L D16A1 DOHC inline-four
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Differential: Torsen-type LSD
Exhaust: Custom stainless 4-2-1 headers + Borla system
Suspension: Tein coilovers, adjustable panhard bar
Wheels: 14-inch Mugen alloys
Tires: Yokohama ADVAN semi-slicks
Safety: Blackbird Fabworx roll cage, OMP seats, six-point harnesses
Production: One-off
Debut: April 17, 2026, Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
Pricing & Availability
The Integra 40 Racer is a one-off built purely for display and commemoration, debuting at the 51st Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 17. If you’re anywhere near Southern California that weekend, it’s worth the trip.
Recap
2026 Acura Integra 40th Anniversary One-Off
Acura built a one-off recreation of the Comptech Integra that swept IMSA championships from 1987 to 1990 to mark the brand’s 40th anniversary, and they did it the right way — rebuilt original engine, period-correct details, zero restomod shortcuts. It debuts at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 17.
