2021 Honda Accord Sport SE: An Afro Samurai Themed Car Build

Brian Williams

2021 Honda Accord Sport SE

Instagram:@afrosamuride @bwillcarcast

Photographers:Jeremy Graham, Andrea Graham

Instagram:  @queenangrybee @angry_bee2018

An Afro Samurai-Themed Build

My name is Brian Williams. I'm originally from Long Beach, California, and I currently reside in Portsmouth, Virginia, in the Hampton Roads area. I'm a United States Navy veteran, and professionally, I've spent a number of years working in information technology and technical support. Outside of work, I'm a podcaster, an anime fan, an artist, and someone who enjoys fishing, growing vegetables, working with plants, building computers, and taking on projects that allow me to be creative and work with my hands.

My interest in cars really started with my father. Growing up, I would help him work on his cars, and that gave me an early appreciation for how things came apart, how they went back together, and how small changes could completely change the way a vehicle looked or performed. As I got older, I started working on my own cars and adding things like speakers, sound systems, and smaller modifications.

Car customization has been an on-and-off part of my life. At one point, I stepped away from it while I focused on the military and other responsibilities. Even during my time in the Navy, though, I had a Nissan Sentra SE-R and made a few smaller modifications to it, so the interest never completely went away. It was always there in some form.

Finding the Accord

Originally, I had a base model Honda Accord. I took it to the dealership for a routine oil change, and while I was waiting, one of the sales guys asked if I wanted to look at some of the newer models. We walked through the lot, and tucked away in the back corner was a pearl white 2021 Honda Accord Sport Special Edition.

I asked if I could take it for a test drive, and compared to my base model, it was night and day. I loved the pearl white paint, the factory Sport wheels, and just the overall look of it. It had a completely different presence. By the end of that test drive, I knew that was the car I wanted.

Why an Accord, and Why Afro Samurai

One thing I always say is representation matters. Where I'm from, you don't see a lot of African Americans building import cars. I wanted to show that you don't have to own a Hellcat or a Corvette to build something people respect. I wanted to take a Honda Accord Sport SE and make it something that represented me.

"I don't say that to turn it into a racial conversation. For me, it was more about representation and showing that everyone doesn't have to follow the same path."

I'm into anime, art, and drawing, so I wanted to blend JDM culture with something personal instead of copying what everyone else was doing. My favorite anime is Afro Samurai, so that became the heart of the build.

To be honest, though, the car didn't start out that way. I've had it since 2021, and it's gone through a lot of different ideas. At one point I thought about doing a Transformers theme. Then I kicked around a Cowboy Bebop theme. I tried different styles, added mods, removed mods, and kept changing things until I finally realized Afro Samurai was the direction I wanted to take.

Once I committed to that theme, everything started making sense. The wrap, the rain guards, the custom trunk setup, the air ride, the lighting, the Afro Samurai figures, and the interior details all play off that same idea. I didn't want random modifications. I wanted every part of the car to tell the same story.

For me, a car build has to flow. I don't like modifications that feel random or disconnected. The car should tell a story, and every part should feel like it belongs with the next. That is how I approached the design, theme, lighting, interior details, trunk setup, and overall presentation of my Honda Accord.

Engine

Performance-wise, the car is running a Mishimoto cold air intake, a Borla cat-back exhaust, and a Pedal Commander throttle response controller on top of Honda's 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. I wasn't trying to build a race car. I wanted something reliable that I could enjoy driving every day and still take to car shows on the weekends. My goal was to keep the reliability Honda is known for while adding a little more personality and improving the driving experience.

Engine Specs

• Honda 1.5-liter turbocharged engine (factory)
• Mishimoto cold air intake
• Borla cat-back exhaust
• Pedal Commander throttle response controller

Interior

The interior follows the same Afro Samurai theme as the exterior. It features custom ambient lighting, Afro Samurai inspired accents, a JBL amplifier, and dual Skar 10-inch subwoofers. I wanted the inside of the car to feel just as unique as the outside without overdoing it.

Interior Specs

• Custom ambient lighting
• Afro Samurai themed interior accents
• JBL amplifier
• Dual Skar 10-inch subwoofers

Exterior

The exterior is centered around my custom Afro Samurai wrap. Over the years, I've continued adding pieces that fit the overall look, including sequential LED headlights and taillights, a custom trunk flip, Yofer front lip, Yofer side skirts, rear diffuser, custom spoiler, rain guard graphics, GlowTow underglow lighting, and a roof-mounted cargo pod. The cargo pod has become one of the signature pieces of the build. I custom wrapped the interior of the pod, installed custom lighting, and mounted a TV inside that plays scenes from Afro Samurai at car shows. I also added smaller themed details throughout the car to help tie everything together instead of making it look like a collection of random modifications.

Exterior Specs

• Custom Afro Samurai vehicle wrap
• Sequential LED headlights and taillights
• Custom trunk flip
• Yofer front lip
• Yofer side skirts
• Rear diffuser
• Custom spoiler
• Rain guard graphics
• GlowTow underglow lighting
• Roof-mounted cargo pod with custom wrap, lighting, and TV

Wheels and Suspension

The car rides on 20-inch RTX R-Spec Illusion wheels wrapped in 235/35ZR20 Lexani tires. I chose this setup because it gives the Accord a more aggressive look while still being comfortable enough for everyday driving and long trips to car shows.

The car was equipped with an air ride suspension system, but unfortunately I'm currently tracking down an air line leak. While I repair the system, the car is back on the factory suspension. Once the leak is fixed, it'll be back on air.

Wheels Specs

• 20-inch RTX R-Spec Illusion wheels
• 235/35ZR20 Lexani tires

Suspension Specs

• Air ride suspension (currently on factory suspension while repairing an air line leak)

Brakes

The car is still running the factory Honda braking system. Since this build is more focused on appearance, reliability, and overall presentation than high-performance racing, the stock brakes have continued to meet my needs.

Brakes Specs

• Factory Honda braking system

Future Build Plans

The first thing on my list is getting my air ride suspension back up and running. Right now, I'm tracking down a leak in one of the air lines, so the car is back on the factory suspension until I get everything repaired correctly.

After that, I actually plan on slowing things down a bit. Since 2022, I've been on the road almost every weekend traveling to car shows. It's been an incredible experience, and I'm proud of everything I've accomplished with the Accord and the people I've met along the way. But after several years of constantly traveling, it can definitely wear on you.

One of my biggest future plans is eventually retiring the Afro Samurai wrap and starting an entirely new build inspired by Sade. I've been a fan of her music for years, and I think it would be a completely different direction while still allowing me to express my creativity. I'm not rushing into it, though. I want to make sure I do it the right way when the time comes.

Going into 2027, I plan to take a big step back from the car show scene and spend more time focusing on the B Will Car Cast and some of the other projects I've put on hold while I was constantly traveling. I still enjoy the car community, and I'm not leaving it by any means, but I want to put more energy into creating content and telling other people's stories.

I also want to spend more time refining the car itself. I've learned that building a car isn't a race, it's a marathon. There will always be something to improve, change, or clean up, and I'd rather take my time and do things the way I want than feel like I have to keep up with everyone else.

I'm proud of what this build has accomplished. I've won awards, met amazing people, traveled to shows across multiple states, and experienced more than I ever expected when I bought this Accord. I don't feel like I have anything left to prove. Going forward, I want to enjoy the hobby at my own pace, put more focus on the B Will Car Cast, and continue creating content that highlights the people who make this community so special.

"If there's one thing I hope people take away from my build, it's that you don't need the most expensive or fastest car to create something memorable. Build what makes you happy."

If you're into Honda Accords built with the same kind of intent, Cory Espino's 2021 Honda Accord Sport Special Edition is running the same platform with its own air suspension and custom interior story. And for another Accord that leans into VIP style and air ride, Jeff Enriquez's 2020 Honda Accord Sport build is worth a look too.

Shout Outs

I want to give a shout-out to Snow White, who's absolutely killing it in the car scene. Shout-out to my Swarm Mob family, C3 Car Club (especially the Hampton Roads, Ohio, and Richmond chapters), Midnight Riders, Jaw Droppers, Speedline Elite, The Syndicate Car Club, Swift Car Club, and my Mad Mafia family, the first car club I was ever a part of.

I also want to thank Vinnie, Black Panther, Dnyce, Mimi, Teresa (both of them), Rich, Carlos, Jeremy & Andrea Graham (the best photographers in the game), Ocampo's Customs, TGD Wraps, and Ron Brown and his ride, Bubblicious. Thank you to everyone who's helped me with the build, the podcast, and all the ideas I've had over the years. Whether you turned a wrench, wrapped something, gave me advice, invited me to a show, appeared on the podcast, or simply supported what I was trying to do, I truly appreciate it.

A big thank you also goes out to everyone who's been a guest on the B Will Car Cast, everyone who's watched an episode, subscribed, shared the podcast, or supported what I'm trying to build. I'd also like to thank all the great people I met at the Ohio car show, along with the many friends I've made throughout the Hampton Roads car community over the last several years.

If I forgot to mention your name, please don't take it personally. I've been fortunate enough to meet so many incredible people through this hobby that it's impossible to name everyone. Just know that if you've been part of this journey in any way, thank you. I truly appreciate your support, your friendship, and everything you've done to help make this experience one I'll never forget.

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