Collectors know all about the agony of an incomplete set. Regardless of whether the hobby is Hot Wheels, comic books, or car builds, few things are more mentally tormenting than missing that last piece, that final element that will finish off a series.

Nolan Whitenack from Phoenix, Ariz., is a hobbyist who deals specifically in Hondas, and some pretty nice ones at that. The architectural firm Project Manager has, over the years, been the proud owner of a '95 Integra GSR, '93 and '99 Civic Si's, and an '05 S2000 roadster. Whitenack currently holds the pink slip for a '97 Integra Type R, which led him to the Vogue Silver Metallic J-spec DB8 chassis sedan pictured here.

The RHD four-door Integra was picked up "pre-owned" in April '07 for about 17 Gs, and admittedly wasn't a planned purchase.

"I made the move from Virginia to Arizona and needed to pick up another car, as I left my ITR in VA for a few months before I could go back to get it" explains Whitenack. "I couldn't find an acceptable car that would satisfy my needs [until I] stumbled upon this car."

He sums up, "What it boiled down to is that I wanted another ITR, and this one being a '97 four-door would complement my '97 two-door perfectly."

The shocker for many seeing the car for the first time is that not many know the third-generation Integra R hatch had a sib with two more doors and a proper trunk. The rub is that the car was available only in Japan, and is therefore quite rare in the US. Whitenack didn't import the DB8, but did buy it off of someone who did, and gets repeatedly approached by people who mistakenly believe the car is a conversion

"A lot of people [also] never realized that the '96-'97 JDM ITR's came with a 4x114 hub bolt pattern, which mine is. The set of Mugen NR10 wheels on the car are one of only two sets that are 4x114 and 15-inch diameter that I have heard of in the US."

In fact, sourcing honest JDM bits for the atypical car became something of a hurdle, especially since the sedan is now track-only. Whitenack recounts the tale of going through four different rear wings before ultimately deciding on the stock one for now.

He adds, "Finding aero parts that work with the car but also help out the appearance is what I am after."

Most will note the ITR's conservative list of mods, which only further illustrates Whitenack's struggles to outfit it for circuit work. The factory inline-4 DB8 mill, a B18C that rocks a fantastic 11.1:1 compression ratio (higher than the 10.6:1 in the US-spec ITR bullet), has been unaltered save for an air filter and cosmetic improvements. The OEM LSD-enabled gearbox was cracked open to replace the 4.400:1 final drive with the 4.785:1 version from '98 to '01 ITR.

Again, these changes are of the competition variety, so by design done more out of necessity. A Tein Type RE coil-over suspension puts the DB8 in the correct stance, while Mugen front and rear strut tower bracing keeps it stiff. Hawk HP Plus brake pads are tough enough for a track day but forgiving enough to drive home from the track with. A Mugen Racing III steering wheel gives Whitenack something to cling to for dear life, and the MOMO hub allows him to remove and replace the wheel in a snap.

There's no denying what the DB8 is built for, though like a lot of car collectors Whitenack is already reevaluating the project's goals. "I only seem to be able to get about 75 percent of the car to a certain set of plans," he details, "and then I decide that I want to change them again."

Whitenack's problem right now is that he has pretty much everything he needs to do a Mugen-themed car, but it seems his parts interests have shifted to competing JDM brand J's Racing. "J's has more for my car and has more to offer aero-wise for the track."

Whatever becomes of the DB8, it warms our hearts to hear that some owners of J-spec gems like Whitenack's still put performance before looks.

"I love using this car for what it was built for and with the parts that I've bought for it," he enthuses. "Some are afraid to track ITRs because of their prices and rarity. Personally, I think that's a waste of a great car and great parts."

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