On November 8, local time, Round 3 of the Gran Turismo World Series took place in Los Angeles, California. Running alongside the main event was the “GT Fan Fest,” a celebration for Gran Turismo fans that also marked the return of the “GT Awards” for custom cars, the first time they’ve been held in seven years.

Among the many custom builds showcased by creators from across the Los Angeles area, the car that earned the coveted “Best in Show” title was a 1992 Honda Prelude.

This Prelude was built by Big Mike, a well-known figure in the Honda tuning community. The base car is a fourth-generation Honda Prelude, first introduced in the 1990s. Seeing it as an often overlooked model from that era, Big Mike set out to transform it into a world-class custom car, using the Prelude as his canvas.

Big Mike’s Prelude has been transformed in the “restomod” style, blending classic design with modern performance, but his execution reveals a level of passion that goes far beyond the norm. The body was stripped down and restored from the ground up, with every nut and bolt replaced. Under the hood, the engine now features a bespoke setup centered around a Garrett GTX28 turbocharger, supported by a custom radiator along with custom oil and fuel systems.

The aesthetics draw inspiration from both JDM and USDM traditions, highlighted by a one-off front bumper crafted in Big Mike’s own design language. The body is finished in Nardo Grey, a color made famous by Audi, giving the car a subtle German high-performance flair. Inside, the entire cabin has been meticulously reupholstered in two types of Alcantara suede, creating a refined and cohesive look.

This car is slated for inclusion in a future update of Gran Turismo, where players will be able to experience its performance firsthand.