It’s truly amazing to see what ends up getting donated these days. This first-generation 1986 Acura Integra RS four-door is clean as a whistle yet somehow, it still got tossed aside like yesterday’s newspaper. Of course, for many heirs and family members charged with settling estates, dealing with an old car is one of the last things your brain has time for when it comes to cleaning out a house. This Integra is a blue plate California car with the preferred 5-speed manual, and it’s listed here on craigslist for $7,500.
While the Integra does look like a mildly warmed-over Honda product (and, truth be told, it is), it’s clear Acura was making a more-than-feeble attempt at creating a compelling sport compact. Of course, when you’re starting on third base, it’s a lot easier to get home, so the Civic Si provided an excellent foundation to build from. The Integra came equipped with the wonderful driver-focused cockpit, a world-class 5-speed manual gearbox, and an athletic front-wheel drive chassis that had proven itself in SCCA racing for years at this point.
Under the hood was a willing DOHC inline-four that introduced consumers to the idea of kissing redline on your daily commute and never being punished for it. The Integra engine didn’t hide its Honda origins, with “Honda Motor Co.” stamped proudly across the top. The 1.6L engine spits out 113 b.h.p. and around 100 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine ran out of steam around 6,000 RPM, which was still somewhat shocking for a commuter car. The seller doesn’t mention any recent maintenance, and despite Honda’s bulletproof reliability, it should still get a belt change and fluid flushes.
The interior is in exceptional condition, especially considering these were not particularly high-grade materials. Honda’s cabins were still light-years ahead of its competitors in terms of build quality, but fading of the fabric and some threadbare qualities appear to be present here. However, that’s likely more a result of the California climate than anything else. The seller is correct that very few of these early Integras remain in this sort of condition, but I would still like to see it properly detailed before being listed for sale. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the find.
I haven’t seen one this clean in maybe 2 decades. The four doors are like bug repellent to most of the JDM crowd. Still, I hope it goes to a good home that will respect its preserved state.
Interestingly, these are longer (wheelbase and a corresponding amount overall) than the 2 door but no taller, which probably makes them one of if not the lowest 4-door sedans ever (even if technically a 5-door hatchback).
I have my mom’s 1999 Honda Accord she left when she passed back in 08. She bought it new, put very few miles on it (even today it only has a little over 140K on the clock) and it still runs like a little boring beige Swiss watch. But I love it.
Owned one. It was an extremely solid car and we ran the wheels off of it with very few problems, beyond the usual brake service, CV joints, tune-ups, and the requisite timing belt replacement at about 100k.
We probably tapped it out at about 200K, when owning it would’ve cost more than buying something else.
140,000 miles already is a bunch, but it appears to be in very good shape. If proper maintenance was done, you could squeeze another 100k out of it. This owner probably has the service records.
Look up prices and good ones are not cheap. There is a reason for that. They are solid, still reliable, and still affordable to repair.
This and the Legend put Acura on the map, for good reason.
All this time I thought this gen Integra was Accord based. In any event excellent condition. Good thing it’s not in the south east. I’d be very tempted by it
I took a couple photos of this very car (same plate) driving on NB85 in Mountain View last October. So I can confidently say it was on the road then! I was an original owner of an ’86 5-door LS, so, I have a soft spot.
There was a beautiful 2 door for sale late this spring in Gatineau, Quebec. Not stock, at all. Claimed 240hp from the turbo’d motor. Ask was $21k Cdn. I was in Ottawa, across the river, for 7 weeks in May and June. It was really tempting to drive it back to Edmonton.
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