In the hurried excitement to create the next big kitbash project, some people tend to go too far. It’s not hard to understand why…when properly executed, what many people dismissed as the vision of the insane ends up as a masterpiece. Look at the Ford SHOgun, the Ford Festiva with the entire powertrain package from an SHO Taurus jammed up it’s backside. There’s no doubt that when it was first discussed, that somebody walked out of the meeting thinking that Chuck Beck and Rick Titus needed their heads examined. But the SHOgun is a wicked little piece of insanity gone right.

Now, keep the SHOgun in mind as you take a look at this 1991 Honda Civic three-door hatchback. Looks like a rough JDM project for a Honda freak, right? You aren’t wrong…this Civic has certainly seen better days. But note the rear wheels. Something doesn’t seem right, does it? Good eye…now, take a closer look at what’s sitting behind the two front buckets:

That, reader, is the non-turbocharged 3.0L DOHC V6 from a Mitsubishi 3000GT or Dodge Stealth, and is good in stock form for about 220 horsepower, and we assume it’s packaged as a full-cradle system with the five-speed transaxle, meaning that like the SHOgun, it’s a rear-engined, rear-drive conversion of a Civic, which weighs about as much as a field mouse. And because it’s on Craigslist, it’s up for sale for a couple of grand because the builder wants to move on to other projects. It runs and drives, but has a misfire somewhere, and needs an alternator, which shouldn’t be bad to source. A 20-gallon fuel tank sits where in the engine bay.

It’s an interesting combination. Yes, you’re acquiring someone else’s project, but imagine that 3.oL with adequate cooling and a turbocharger or two on it. The Civic should theoretically handle like it’s on rails with a little suspension tuning and the right wheel and tire combination, and completed, would be a money-maker on the streets. Would you give it a shot, or if not, what is scaring you off?

Craigslist Link: 1991 Honda Civic with Mitsubishi 3.0L V6 rear-engine conversion