This Civic from HideOut Performance is definitely no ride to keep undercover.
By Duane Boodasingh
Photography by Duane Boodasingh
Owner Musa Rahaman

Well yes boy Musa yuh really gone all out this time - this one definitely ON!

Is like every car Musa gets his hands on becomes one of his wild projects and transforms into a real show stopper. I remember the white Corolla he had parked up in Gulf City car park some time ago and I was wondering exactly how the hell he could drive it with those massive rims and extreme low profile tyres - but it seems that there is no limit to what this man capable of thinkin up and this totally wild Civic is proof positive of that.

Initially Musa had decided that his new ride would be a Honda Accord, but after some maths he decided that with insurance and all that was too pricey so he decided to go for a Civic instead.
Around the end of February 2000 he found an emmaculate '97 model owned by Nigel Nanan and at first look he decided that this was THE perfect choice for his project.
The Civic was stock with 14" steel rims and hubby caps, factory interior and factory Honda green paint.
Five minutes after buying the car Musa took it down to Harry's Auto Clinic in Coconut Drive, San Fernando were the body would be transformed and he got the unique interior upholstery at Rahaman's Upholstery also in Sando.

At the paint shop the car was completely dismantled down to its sub frame (interior included) and was painted in two months.
First, quarter panels of the car was painted in a lighter green and that idea was scrapped for a bold yellow. Musa just didnt like the results of the colours he initially chose so then he decided on the Victory Red that the car is now in.
The Modern Image decal kit was chosen from their catalog and flown into Trinidad and applied to the car last.

Wheel wise Musa had intended on 18" TSW Trophy's seeing that he already had tyres to fit them, but he opted for the more practical 17" Focal R3's. He said the roads are way too bad for 18" and that he might be able to get by on the 17's. These marvelous R3's are wrapped in 205/40 ZR17 Falken's which hold the road pretty well with their very soft compound, but are sometimes known to have a short life depending on how aggressive you drive. The Falkens are REAL pretty though!!!
Initially he had ordered 17" BF Goodrich 'Scorchers' which have coloured beads on their thread (he ordered the yellow), but he was shipped the Falkens instead due to availability. He plans on getting the silica based BF's soon though as he has an order confirmed.

The suspension was beefed up using upper front and lower rear strut and tie bars to reduce body roll and movement and progressive Jamex 2½" lowering springs to lower the center of gravity and give the car a more aggressive stance. Musa hopes to change to coilovers soon though to help smoothen out the ride (anybody from south would definitely agree to this).

Unfortunately, as soon as this photoshoot was over Musa took the car to Aleem of Barely Legal Customization in San Fernando to install the ICE (in car entertainment) so we couldnt show it to you, but have no fear as soon as the installation is complete we will bring you pics.
Plans are already underway for a Sony Playstation with two 4" LCD panels, mounted on the dash and on the visor and a sound system.

Musa insists that the Project Civic is only 50% complete as he has plans for a body kit, carbon fibre bonnet and some serious engine work and bolt on mods are already underway. So its no 'all show, no go' 'riceboy' ride here!!!