Vintage cars are not unlike cryptocurrency. For some models, there was a great time to get in, just like if you were an early believer in alternative currencies. However, after a certain point, the winds began to shift, and it either meant you were paying a ton to have access to an increasingly exclusive club, or you were overspending at a time when demand and prices were dropping. In the case of the Honda CRX, the pandemic-era pricing surge appears to have run out, and cars like this 1986 model listed here on craigslist for $9,000 may have enticed its owner to spend some cash that will be hard to recoup.
Now, I like the CRX. For many years, I wanted an early model just like this one quite badly, to the point I dragged an ’86 Si out of the woods in Georgia and had it shipped north. Upon arrival, I discovered it had significant rust in an area of significant structural value; I sold the car where it sat, at a mechanic’s shop in Barre, Massachusetts, and the next owner parted it out down to the last washer. The car shown here is much nicer, but it isn’t an Si – and those two letters mean everything to Honda enthusiasts, as power was bumped slightly and rarity increased.
The CRX is certainly an enthusiast-car darling, a lightweight and tossable hatchback from an era wherein three-doors from all the major sport compact builders were becoming a hot commodity. In the case of the Honda, the Si was the car that would go to war with the likes of the Volkswagen GTI and the Toyota Celica, while the lower spec models like this one were sold to maintain Honda’s fuel-sipping image. You could get ridiculous MPGs out of a car like this, while still enjoying the spoils of its light, tossable chassis and wonderful manual gearbox. The interior of this car is spectacular, pointing to the likelihood of it being a bit of a survivor when the seller got his hands on it.
The listing notes it has 49,000 original miles, but we’re unsure if is still has original paint (it looks a little too glossy to be original, even with lower miles). The seller notes that new parts include a new carburetor, front shocks, OEM exhaust system, and front brakes and lines. Assuming this is the 1.5-liter SOHC 8-valve engine we’re looking at, it’s good for about 60 horsepower, so by no means a rocket ship. You have to enjoy driving one of these cars for the sense of being unencumbered by airbags and infotainment systems, and the fact that it will move along nicely with well under 100 horsepower. Is that your bag? The seller certainly hopes so, as the asking price indicates he’d like to get some of his investment back at the sale. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the tip.
This is one very nice CRX. Even if it isn’t an Si. I remember the Si, Lx, and the Hf. The Hf was geared very high, definitely for higher MPG but was still fun the drive, the LX was nice all around car. This one is very clean looking in the photos, I remember these in this color too being all over. Jeff, I hope you find your Si one day.
It seems like a lot of these (back in the day) came with a basic AM radio or no sound system (I was working in the automotive accessories business at the time). Honda actually offered some nice OEM equipment then, and dealers could just plug them in (the plugs for power, speakers, etc were right behind the radio blank out panel), but apparently, the dealership charged the sales department higher prices than we did, because we would get 10-15 of these every week for “a deck, four speakers and an antenna” dealer package (I still remember the part number for a black A pillar Honda antenna- PMB-95H). We could knock these out in about 30 minutes, as we used adapter plugs, mounting kits, speakers, grilles, etc made especially for each car model- no cutting of wires or hacking dashboards (we cut door panels when needed). I ran into this on a lot of items- roof racks, sun roofs, running boards, etc. It seems as if dealers were made up of separate profit centers, with the parts department and the service department charging the sales department for parts and labor to install accessories. We could undercut the dealership prices to the sales department consistently. The internal price competition within different departments of the same dealership never made sense to me.
Thanks for this post – I love this kind of “inside baseball” stuff! I worked in sales at a Nissan dealer in 1989-91 and these stories are great!
Having been in both the dealership and aftermarket business. This is a,constant issue that dealers themselves cause. (A very stupid situation. ) I remember a time when our dealer principal came back from a Ford dealer meeting all excited about a new Ford accessories program. Once I saw the pricing, I told the boss that it wouldn’t work. In about 6 months time Ford abandoned the program. I THEN ordered many thousands of dollars of the “distressed/obsolete” accessories at a huge discount. Having purchased at the correct pricing. I made good money AND the sales department were able to offer the accessories at a price that was competitive with the aftermarket. My boss then understood my position on the original program.
You’re so right about the factory accessory pricing. OEM parts can price themselves right out of contention. Two things I can cite today that are totally worth the price are side steps and trailer hitches. Some vehicles only look right with the factory concealed receiver. Aftermarket can look like socks on a rooster. Then the installer tells you to go to the dealer and have the wiring programed to your computer.
Aftermarket running boards and steps lose they’re appearance and just don’t last in the northern climate where we love road salt. Spend your money once.
Is the “12 valve ” label on the air filter cover from this car?
3 valves per cylinder has happened, my 1988 Mazda 929 v6 was an 18 valve engine!
The original CVCC Honda Civic introduced for the 1975 model year was the first 3 valve Civic engine. (Along with the 3 barrel carburetor.) So, 3 valves are not unusual for a Honda engine. It was a big deal at the time to have a “stratified” charge (a Honda term) which eliminated a need for a catalytic converter at that point in time. I worked at a Honda store at the time. And Honda was so proud of the achievement!
Proud as they should have been. Look up the story of the ’73 Impala that they applied the CVCC technology to. I believe it was a similar outcome.
One of the most stolen new cars ever, per my insurance Co.
A friend’s was gone in a month.
For some reason my mind went to the original Honda CBX bike. To think it had 2 more cylinders.. and 40+ more hp than this car lol. What a wild and fast machine. 🏁
Guy parks like a BMW
I believe these were the Honda’s with the plastic fender and nose. Don’t lean on the sides or front if you are working on the car.
Nice ride, back when I was 16-18 these were what the teen girls had to have there were multiple ones parked in my high school parking lot funny thing these have the same style key ignition system that some government agencies are currently suing Hyundai and Kia for being able to steal with a USB cable and I don’t remember government agencies suing Honda and Toyota even though at the time the Honda cars and Toyota camry were top on the list This is when car alarm systems were getting popular and annoying and the steering wheel Club locking devices were popular
That might be because USB didn’t come into use until ten years after this vehicle was produced. And starting a CRX with a roach clip wasn’t exactly easy… 🫢
But we did have flat head screwdrivers and those made quick work of it
This is an ear to ear grin on 4 wheels.