Ata Ehdaivand - 2000 Honda S2000
Some cars just always stick around. Not because they’re the fastest or the flashiest, but because they’ve been around long enough to collect real history and make enough memories that selling them just isn't an option. That’s what Ata Ehdaivand’s 2000 Honda S2000 is. It’s more than a build at this point—it's a long-term relationship.
This car was one of the first AP1 S2000 models to hit the East Coast, ordered brand new by a friend of Ata’s who ran a shop called Car Trendz. Red paint, black interior, supercharged almost right away—this car was under the knife early. It was then sent off for a Veilside kit, and Ata handled the original audio system back then, not knowing the car would eventually be his.
After a minor accident took out the factory paint, it got resprayed in a custom PPG Harley Quinn finish. From there, the car floated through the early 2000s show circuit. When the original owner closed up shop, the car was parked—and unfortunately stayed parked—for 15 years. It sat, tucked away, while everything else in the scene kept moving. Trends, cultures, builds, and more came and went, while time stood still for the S2K.
In 2015, Ata got the call. “Come pick up your car.” No sales pitch. Just a $12,000 storage bill and an S2000 with 12,000 miles on it, untouched since a time before iPhones—back when the newest N’SYNC song played on the radio. The car still ran, and it still looked the part. Most importantly, it still felt like the same machine Ata worked on two decades earlier. He brought it home and didn’t want to rush anything.
It wasn’t until 2020 that things started to change. The old supercharger came off, and an Inline Pro turbo kit went on. Tuned on ethanol using modern technologies, Ata brought the car to the 700-horsepower mark, making all the right turbo sounds. Then came the bodywork. After another front-end hit, Ata ditched the aging Veilside bumper and replaced everything with a Tamon widebody kit. Same painter, same color. Somehow it all matched.
From there, the rest started falling into place. Volk GTC wheels. Bride carbon Kevlar seats. Suede door panels. A carbon hardtop. An iPad dash setup, neatly integrated with the Hondata KPro. The audio system got loud again with custom Gladen drivers, four subs, and three amps. No sponsors. No shops lining up to post about it. Just one guy building a car on his terms over two and a half decades. Some things were left as-is, because not everything needs to be updated. The car grew up the same way a lot of us did—slowly, with a few scars, but overall improved.
Ata’s S2K isn’t built to impress just anyone scrolling by. It’s built to last, and built to be driven—because letting it sit another 15 years would’ve been a waste. Now that it’s back in action, it’s not going anywhere.
ESSENTIALS
2000 Honda S2000
Location: Linganore, MD
Horsepower: 600 whp
Club: Team Emotion
SOCIAL
IG: @absoluteelectronixmd
ENGINE
Inline Pro (turbo kit modified by Justin at Bad Cat Engineering, fuel rail, evap block-off, 1700cc injectors)
Hell cat fuel pump
Hondata KPro
Turned by Jason Hunt
Custom engine panels
ARC (battery shield, coilpack cover, cooling plate, oil cap, radiator cap)
EXHAUST
Custom 3-inch stainless steel exhaust
DRIVETRAIN
AP2 S2000 transmission
Competition Clutch
R200 differential
Solid diff mount
Inline Pro diff kit
Driveshaft Shop axles
WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES
Volk GT-C wheels - 17x8 (f), 17x10.5 (r)
Falken RT660 tires
StopTech ST40 brakes
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
Tein Flex Z coilovers
Cusco 6-point bolt-in roll cage
EXTERIOR
Custom paint PPG Harley Quinn
Veilside carbon rear Spoiler
Tamon Design widebody kit
Carbon fiber hard top
INTERIOR
Veilside (steering wheel, shift knob)
Cusco roll cage
Bride seats
Custom door panels
LED door lighting
AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS
iPad integrated in dash
Gladen (3-inch speakers, tweeters)
8-inch subwoofers (4)
3 amplifiers
SPONSORS
Bad Cat Engineering
J Hunt Tuning
