2000 Honda S2000 Convertible

Rich people are a peculiar bunch. It's funny, once they gather up a truckload of cash they start wanting to live the good life. Mid 80's Dodge trucks get traded in for a brand new Benz, marble shows up where broken tile used to be, TV's go full digital high-definition, and women suddenly become a whole lot hotter. Money is the ultimate mind altering substance to abuse, and why the hell not? I mean, who wants a Chevrolet Celebrity in their driveway anyway?

Don't despair though. Here's an interesting fact for you, don't tell any of your fabulously wealthy friends or their butlers, but you don't need sacks of money to fall from the sky in order to get what you want. Hard work and perseverance can get you to where you want to be. Jon Magelssen had big plans for his 2000 Honda S2000 convertible, and he's no Donald Trump.

As part of Team Auto Concept, Magelssen found himself working at fellow teammate Ben Abutin's speed shop High End Performance. Abutin himself is famous for assembling the custom wide-bodied blue and light blue Power Enterprise twin-turbo'd 350Z that is seen virtually everywhere a show is promoted. In case you haven't noticed, High End Performance specializes in one thing, selling quality, high-end parts that have distinctly ludicrous drool factors.

When he purchased his S2000, Magelssen knew he wanted to build the car up so that it had, in his words, "a clean look like it was made in Japan." An HKS Hi-Power exhaust and Espelir springs soon found their way onto the drop-top. But once Magelssen caught wind of what Japanese tuners were doing to S2000's across the Pacific, he wanted more. Extremely high quality with a price tag to match, Japanese parts manufacturer ARC produces some of the most sought after parts for the JDM-hungry US market. Magelssen's oil cap, radiator cap, radiator, intake chamber, and induction box are all by the elusive company, with a Mugen header and T1R test pipe, all tuned by a A'PEXi V-AFC II, the only other real power adders.

Pop open the Top Secret carbon-fiber hood and you'll catch a glimpse of the land of the rising sun. Sun Automobile grounding materials lurk beneath a Cusco front tower bar. Motorsports friendly, Cusco also produced the hood panel and oil catch tank, both sure to be fully functional and aesthetically pleasing. Samco Sport silicone hoses replace the stock radiator hose, providing extra durability and shine versus the stock Honda pieces. Interestingly enough, the engine torque damper and heat shield are by less famous JDM tuner Alex, a respectable company making quality parts. Installed more for weight savings and performance than looks, the T1R lightweight battery rests under the hood, hinting at the intense track capability of a well-sorted S2000.