When you have memorable experiences with a certain make and model, it’s hard to ignore them, even years later. The Barbados Yellow Honda CRX is a vehicle I can still remember seeing in the showroom when it was new, or picking up the brochure out of the racks of marketing materials nearby. The car shown here is pretty far removed from its showroom days, but it’s still worthy of preservation. It’s a 1989 Honda CRX Si, listed here on eBay with a few modifications including an engine swap, along with a respray in its original color. Bidding sits at $5,300 with no reserve.

Now, right off the bat, I can’t shame the engine swap. There are simply too many options in the Honda world to not only make your car faster but also to increase its reliability by simply getting into a vehicle with lower miles or improved engine management systems. The B16 engine shown here is a Japanese-market mill that was Honda’s first mass-produced DOHC engine with VTEC – with all the acronyms broken down, that’s a dual overhead cam engine with Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control. With about 160 horsepower stock, this represents a huge jump over power compared to a bone stock CRX Si, which made about 108.

While I understand the cooling effect modifications can have, this CRX is a nice balance of stock components and enhancements. The fact that the stock Si seats remain in place and that the interior overall appears to be factory is a huge win for the next owner. It’s surprisingly hard to find these seats in good condition, and the same goes for the door panels. The carpets are in good shape, too, and even the center stack is more or less unmodified save for a basic aftermarket head unit. When you factor in the limited extent other modifications, it’s pretty appealing to just enjoy the added power and make a tweaks to enhance the sleeper vibe.

The CRX rides on a set of Ground Control coilovers, which was a pretty standard upgrade for every Honda of a certain vintage back in the day. Personally, I wouldn’t necessarily swap them out, but I would raise the suspension slightly to reduce the “dumped” appearance. The stock wheels need their center caps re-installed and maybe a fresh coat of paint, but other than that – this looks like a fun, appreciating classic to simply drive and enjoy. If the original motor is still sitting in a storage unit, I’d be sure to grab that, too. What do you think this “golden era” Honda will sell for?