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.
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