If you could get into the possession of a ’90s Japanese sports car without paying a dime, what would it be? For some, the poison would be the Acura Integra Type R because 1) the car’s an icon and a blast to drive and 2) used Integra Type Rs cost an arm and a leg these days.

The Acura Integra Type R aged like an exquisite French wine

A couple of years ago, Integra nuts would shell out anywhere between $30,000 to $40,000 as Hagerty points out for a Type R version. These days, those willing to get their hands on a low-milage Acura Integra Type R will need to pay double the price of yesteryear. And that is solid proof on just how much today’s gearheads are longing for the ‘90s.

Heck, according to Regular Car Reviews, you’ll find people lurking Bring a Trailer willing to pay the better part of $20,000 for an Acura Integra Type R that has burned seats, peeled off dashboards, and all sorts of time-related flaws and defects. A pristine model, however, like the 1997 Integra Type R you’re about to meet, well, that slots into the price ranges we enunciated above.

So, why is the Acura Integra Type R so sought after?

Well, as with any perfect storm, it’s all about a combination of factors, most of them of mechanical ilk. Acura’s skilled tuners extracted almost 200 horsepower from a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder VTEC engine that redlined at 8,500 rpm. Other bits and bobs were thrown in for good measure, including an oil cooler, a limited-slip differential, bigger brakes, and a toughened-up suspension.

Aerodynamics were a priority, too. For the Integra Type R, Acura/Honda cut the lift coefficient by 30 percent thanks to a new chin spoiler and a rear wing.

Car and Driver reported in its March 1997 issue that the front-wheel-driven sports car would sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and clear the quarter mile in 15.2 seconds at 93 mph. It also goes without saying that the Acura Integra Type R was a driver’s delight, one than when new, came with a $24,000 list price.

Did we get you drooling? Wait until you watch the video.