Many people will make a promise to themselves when they are young, to own a “supercar” when they realize themselves in the future. For most car fans, it may be a classic design from Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ferrari, or Porsche, but for graphic designer and artist Joshua Vides, his dream of “car love as a young man” came through this car. The slightly less popular 2001 Acura Integra Type R implementation.
The Guatemalan-American contemporary artist is known for his signature hand-drawn compositions of black and white lines, depicting reality through brushstrokes on paper to achieve stunning visual effects. The classic characteristics of the work and the diversity of its application scenarios complement each other. Joshua’s perspective is so diverse that his creations resonate globally, attracting Disney/Pixar, New Balance, Converse, Topps player cards, Fendi, and even BMW and Collaboration offers from automotive companies such as Toyo Tires. In 2018, Joshua also applied his iconic two-dimensional brushstrokes to the classic Acura NSX 1995, which caused quite a sensation in LA at the time.
Vides’ keen eye for the visual arts also shines through in his taste in car selection. As a long-time car enthusiast, his car is an example of the 2001 Acura Integra Type R. Once a member of Nissan sports cars such as Honda Civics, Mitsubishi EVO and Subaru WRX, it has now become a favorite among JDM enthusiasts. Timeless.
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This year Acura has revived the Integra name and launched a powerful Type S racing version. Even so, Joshua’s car arouses our curiosity even more. The 3rd generation Integra Type R DC2 was only sold in small numbers worldwide, with the 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001 models only selling around 300 to 2000 units per year in the United States. Among them, the 2001 model owned by Joshua is particularly rare. The dazzling “Champion White” shell combined with the icing on the cake is red interior, imported from Canada. Cars with this color scheme were not launched in the U.S. market in 2000 and 2001. Most of the Type R models on the market were pure yellow or pure black.
This time we invited artist Joshua Vides to share anecdotes about his youth, thoughts on the automotive industry, and the story of his Acura Integra Type R that was almost stolen during transportation.
Hypebeast: Tell us about your car!
Joshua Vides：My car is a 2001 Acura Integra Type R, made in Canada. As far as I know, there are only 187 units of the same color scheme in the world.
When did you buy this car?
I purchased this car in June 2021, and it took me a few months to get it all settled and ready to come to the United States. To be honest, I didn’t know how difficult it was to import second-hand cars from Canada. After experiencing it once, I didn’t want to do it again haha. The EPA certification registration approval and the back-and-forth communication between Honda Canada and Honda America took several weeks. In addition, during the transportation, someone learned how rare the car was and tried to steal it. We will talk about this story another day (laughs).
What’s the main reason you chose this car?
The Type R, or Integra in general, brought a lot of attention to Acura in the late 1990s. The round front lights are the focus of the styling, and the lightweight body coupled with the B18 engine creates a raw and exciting new experience for the two-door coupe with 2,600 pounds of downforce. But for me, the key to ultimately choosing the Type R is still my preference for the “Championship White” paint job. When I was 12 years old, I promised myself that I would own a car like this in the future. After 21 years, I finally made little Josh’s dream come true.
“When I was 12 years old, I promised myself that I would own a car like this in the future. 21 years later, I finally made little Josh’s dream come true.”
What is the main purpose of this car?
I mainly keep it in the garage for viewing, but if road conditions permit, I will definitely drive it out for fun on the weekends. It currently has 76,000 miles on it, and I want to keep that number as low as possible because I may one day hand this car over to someone else.
Can you tell me any details about this car? What modifications did you make?
I actually wanted to keep the car in original condition. The only “modification” I’ve done to it so far is changing the tires, since the last set was 10 years old. If there is anything to do after that, it will probably be to upgrade the lower suspension system, replace it with 1998 Type R 16-inch white wheels, and install larger tires. The interior of this car is impeccable and the exterior is stunning enough, so if any changes are made, it will only be in pursuit of higher performance.
Are there any interesting facts about this car that you can share with us?
My brother had a sedan version of the GS Integra before. When I was a kid, I would secretly drive his car out to meet my girlfriend at 3 o’clock in the morning. That was probably the beginning of my true love for Integra (laughing).
You’ve worked closely with car brands before. How did this industry attract you to create?
I think everything I do happens organically and naturally. I like cars, and car brands like people who like cars, it’s that simple. My cooperation with Ferrari and PUMA was also announced at F1 Las Vegas. I hope you all like it.
“I think artists and the automobile industry have certain similarities. Both pursue perfection through exquisite craftsmanship.”
How do you think art and cars intersect?
I think artists and the car industry have something in common. Both strive for perfection through exquisite craftsmanship. At least that’s what good artists and car companies do…
What recent car-related experiences have given you new inspiration?
Recently, I was driving my 993 series Porsche 911 to play in the mountains. The car skidded on the dirt left by the storm. I adjusted the steering wheel in time when my body was at a 65-degree angle. I felt like I was in a movie at that moment…it was magical. So, yes, this experience made me quite emotional. Fortunately, I am still alive.
What does a car mean to you: a desire finally realized, a practical tool, a stress reliever, etc.?
It’s a hard question to decide because all of these descriptions fit the bill for me. I think the answer depends on the different cars, because they all bring me different emotions and experiences.
If you could only store three “Dream Cars” in your dream garage, which ones would they be?
Wow, that’s like asking me what my three favorite movies are. If I just refer to my first reaction, my answer would be the following three cars:
1. 1980 BMW M1 – White
2. 1998 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta – Black
3. 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo S 3.6 Packag – Black
What do you think the future of the auto industry, and car culture in general, will look like?
For now, there should be a large number of electric energy vehicles appearing in our field of vision. It seems interesting to me that people adapt to changes and transform old cars into new electric energy vehicles. As far as car culture goes, I feel like we’ve been through its best days. New cars just aren’t as exciting to me as they were in the early ’00s. Of course, there are some shiny new cars that stand out, but really, anyone who cares about car culture is looking for old stuff and praying that the air conditioning in the car still works (laughs).
