Many cars produced in the 1980s have disappeared from our roads. The combination of high mileage and plummeting values has seen them driven into the ground before being driven to the junkyard. That fate hasn’t befallen this 1982 Honda Prelude. It isn’t perfect, but it is a rust-free survivor that could make an excellent daily driver. It is mechanically sound, and the factory moonroof adds to its appeal. Located in Mesa, Arizona, you will find the Prelude listed for sale here on Craigslist. It can be yours for a mere $6,500. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting another fantastic survivor for us.

The 1982 model year also marked the final year of production for the First Generation Prelude. Honda offered the car in four colors, and this one wears its original Arctic Silver Metallic. While the color remains consistent across the vehicle, there’s no denying that the car would benefit from a repaint. The existing paint exhibits the type of matte appearance that you would expect with Silver that has endured long-term exposure to UV rays. However, the lack of major body issues would make this a pretty straightforward proposition for a refresh. The panels wear a few minor bruises and marks, but there’s nothing severe for the buyer to tackle. It appears that it has spent its life in Arizona, which has allowed it to remain rust-free. The wheels also show their age, but the buyer could attend to these when they apply the new coat of Silver. The trim is in generally good condition, as is the glass. Overall, returning this car to something resembling a factory-fresh state should be easy and inexpensive.

Another ace up the sleeve of this Prelude is its factory moonroof. If the car is to spend its remaining days in a warmer climate, this could be a bonus. The original owner didn’t order this classic with air conditioning, so the moonroof would provide much-needed flow-through ventilation. There is no evidence of any issues with the seals on this feature, with no signs that water has found its way into the interior. It will require close monitoring due to its age, but seals remain readily available and affordable if problems develop.

As with the rest of the vehicle, this Honda’s interior is original and unrestored. It has many strong points and only a few obvious weaknesses. Considering the negatives first, the door trims have become stretched and discolored. This is a common problem due to UV exposure, and the buyer may need to search online resources to find a good set of secondhand replacements. I performed a brief search for new trims but came up empty. A more thorough search may produce better results. The seats are stunning and show no wear or stains on either the vinyl or the velour cloth. The condition is consistent across the front and back seats, which is impressive from a Honda of this vintage. The dash is in excellent order, with no signs of any cracks or other problems. The carpet is also excellent, as is the plastic trim. The factory radio has been consigned to the pages of history, and the previous owner has installed a CD player. If the buyer can locate replacement door trims, this interior will present nicely for a car of this age.

When you sit back and consider some of Honda’s offerings from the dawn of the 1970s, you can’t help but be amazed by the progress made during the following decade. Comparing a 1972 Honda Z with this 1982 Prelude is a chalk and cheese proposition. The company was still utilizing front-wheel drive technology, but they had refined it enormously between 1972 and when our Prelude rolled off the line. Its engine bay is occupied by a 1,602cc four-cylinder engine that produces 79hp. For me, the highlight of this car is that its power is sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The company also offered a three-speed automatic, but that transmission hampered outright performance significantly. The Prelude is not a muscle car, but it can still scamper through the ¼ mile in 18.1 seconds. It is in excellent condition, and the odometer has recently rolled over to 100,000 miles. The Honda runs and drives extremely well and could serve admirably as a daily driver. It seems that all the new owner will need to do is slip behind the wheel and hit the road in this classic.

When this 1982 Honda Prelude was shiny and new, it would have cost its original owner somewhere around $8,000. In today’s terms, that equates to approximately $23,100. For a two-door Japanese classic with sporting pretensions, that figure still looked pretty respectable. The current asking price for this car is above reasonable market value, but it does have a couple of factors in its favor. The first is its general lack of rust, while its factory moonroof helps its cause. The five-speed manual transmission will make the car particularly attractive for motoring enthusiasts. Overall, a light cosmetic refresh, including a repaint, would have this car presented in as-new condition for minimal outlay. Those factors make it worthy of a closer look.