Trust fund babies and high-rollers, this 2001 Honda Civic could be your next ride! This weekend project car is listed on eBay in beautiful Saint Helena, California with an unmet opening bid of $450. Grab your duct tape and let’s check out this future Pebble Beach collectible.
I have to believe that Jay Leno is eyeing this one up for his collection. What multi-millionaire car collector doesn’t want a taupe Honda Civic with four doors? Especially one that’s a project? This is obviously a tongue-in-cheek exercise about future collector cars. Given what some people consider collector cars today, some of which none of us ever thought would be coveted, can a car like this Civic ever become a collector car?
I often say that I grew up in whatever era of vehicle that I show here and that’s why I personally like them, for the memories. But in this case, I was already old when this car was made so I don’t have any fond memories of a 2001 Honda Civic other than maybe seeing my first gray hair appear around this time. This Civic has somewhat of an unfortunate story in that it “Ran off road to avoid collision and ran over stump and hit side of a tree on rear passenger side.” Hopefully nobody was hurt but this car is obviously not something that we show here often if ever. It’s too new, it’s too commuter’y, it’s too taupe…
… and it even has an automatic. As if a taupe 2001 Honda Civic sedan can get any better for a classic car website! There’s a “carpets need a deep-cleaning” statement to be made here but I’m not saying a word. We all know that Honda Civics, especially of this generation and later, are as reliable of a car as ever roamed the planet and I’m betting that quite a few of you have owned them and some of you drive them today while your classics sit in the garage and wait for the weekends or for sunny weather. Am I right or am I right? Ha, I thought so.
Here’s where the “Drop an SBC in that thang!” comments go. I’m not going to mention that I’d love to detail this engine and I won’t even mention the Interstate Battery, mainly because I’m so depressed that I didn’t invest in that company a couple of decades ago. This car was in “perfect running condition before accident.” Um, it’s a Honda Civic, that goes without saying. Seriously though, this car was submitted by a Barn Finds reader and that’s why it’s here. So, given that 20 or 30 years ago not one living human thought that old trucks and Porsche 914s would be worth anything, will a 2001 Honda Civic ever be a collectible?
The way the tech is going in our modern cars that are quickly approaching self drivers, I think it is likely that most of the cars that will be considered classic cars already are classic cars. Cars like this civic even though it was a great little car will disappear as part supplies dry up. The collector market is bound to shrink as time marches on. One reason is what’s being built today won’t be restorable due to high cost, complexity! And disposability. Secondly I don’t think the interest is there to any great extent like it was in a time before computers. When atonimus car start hitting the streets and insurance companies see that they have higher safety records than Joe public. They will raise rates on older cars that need a driver and soon you will have no choice but to ditch your old collector car. The insurance company wants you out of your old car, as do the auto makers, and the government. There is only so much room in museums for all the collector cars too, and less people will want to come and see them. Enjoy it while it lasts the love affair is almost over. I predict ten to twenty year. JMHO.
Fairly sound thinking. I agree; the ‘computer age’ cars will more likely than not be forced off the road due to unavailable parts, and/or costs to replace computerized parts. I had to replace my 2013 Nissan [which was fully optioned] last year. The 2017 Ford that replaced it has so much tech that it’s not so much a car as it is a computer on wheels. The tech advances in just 4 years floored me [you can even REWIND live radio]. Not sure we’ll see fully autonomous cars in 10 years, likely closer to 25, as the interstates have to be upgraded/adapted to the new tech
Unless it’s just distortion from the camera lens, I see possible chassis damage, so you’d have to put this on a rack to make sure the engine and suspension are still in line with the body. I also see lots o’ plastic, computers and printed-circuits, all of which would be potential problem areas for us old unbolt-and-repair types.
Decent cars, but unlikely (in my view) to be “future classics.” And this one is unlikely to survive except as a donor car, anyway. The world is still full of these puppies, and more than a few are still in better shape.
Before the accident it had the potential to become a mildly desirable future collectible. After the accident, it turned into a parts car.
Steve R
Scotty,
I was too “old” when these came out as well so I have no attachment to them. Boring but otherwise good cars. And yes, I remember my first gray hair also, and it wasn’t on my head. :-)
As ray said. great cars but can’t see as collectible. If this car was easily fixable someone would have fixed it and sold it, High demand for these , even this old….
A 4 door automatic won’t have much collector value. It’s the 2 doors with a standard tranny, that people (like my nephew) desire. It’s a shame what happened to this car,as it looks like it was in good condition. It should be good for parts, however.
Funny, my nephew has been trying to sell a five speed equipped Civic coupe for months, and NO ONE wants it! Even though the ad clearly states that it is a manual, people keep calling about it, only to be disappointed! :-)
Is this page becoming the wrecked car section for Autotrader? I can find this type of junk all day long driving through Buffalo. Sorry for being harsh, but a trashed Civic, unless it’s one of the first ever models, is simply a used car in need of repair (not a diamond in the rough).
NO………not in my lifetime hopefully
Come on guys, this one was just for a laugh!
Maybe a 1970-75 CIVC with a four speed. That was an era. Not so much this time period. This is a parts car at best. Crush it.
Future collectible? Not in any future I would want to be in. Am I being to harsh?
April 1st again or maybe this is my chance to sell my 2006 Caravan, it has the stow and go option !
I seem to have accidentally stumbled onto Craigslist again….
You’ve got to be kidding me. There is no justification in commenting other than to say that’s one email from barnfinds I could have done without.
I once had a 2000 Civic Si, and I would not at all be surprised if that becomes collectable someday. There are going to be a lot of people nostalgic for them in the years ahead, and there are few left that aren’t trashed or modded half to death.
This Civic, though? Not so much!
If you can find one today that hasn’t been in the hands of a tuner, it would be collectible today and probably much more valuable in the future.
I was the unfortunate owner of a Prelude Si that i purchased for a daily driver quite a few years back. We had several disagreements over our very short relationship. I have since decided that Honda stands for: Had-One, Never-Did-Again. Either that, or Half-Of-Needed-Drive-Assembly.
In my worthless opinion, these are nothing more than bland pieces with the only intention being to move bodies with no emotion involved. I am trying to think of a Honda that has a soul, but am coming up blank. But maybe I am wrong?
Future classic? Smile, snicker, chuckle, laugh, all out ROAR rolling on the ground. Sorry, I don’t mean to admonish Scotty’s love for Asian cars, he knows how I feel.These are throw-away cars, and have been for years. They did their job, delivering over 100K miles ( before the 1st head gasket blew) and thrown away, and they are ground up to make new ones. It’s the cycle of a modern car today. MY experience with one was not the best. I ( foolishly) bought a 2005 Civic, ton of miles (190K, 90K on 2nd engine) with, what I found out later, a( nother) bad head gasket(funny how those motors seem to go @ 100K, those Asians aren’t stupid, hit them in the head gasket) A shop wanted over $2,000 dollars to repair it( for starters) and a bear to fix, it’s easier, I heard, just replace the whole motor, and I did’t really care for the car in the 1st place, and heaven help you if the trans goes out( $3-$4 grand to fix) Hondas, like all Asian cars are good cars, but they have an engineered lifetime, and makes no sense to fix them. Another Monster truck show candidate.
Engine isn’t in straight?
Not sure if an 01 Civic is collectible, but I hope my old 1991 work car is. Now that I do not work much any more I am looking for a Z3 to replace it. Going to a funeral for an old high school buddy today, if you get it. Thanks Scotty, I enjoyed your story!
Sorry for the loss of your friend.
You’ll find a willing buyer for the Civic. And have fun with the Z3. Life is short, enjoy it!
“This weekend project car is listed on eBay in beautiful Saint Helena, California”
You spelled the word parts as project.
A 4 door civic auto a classic? A question for the ages…..and usually only heard during junior high study halls.
Absurd. The trans looks like it in gear. Why? The car is a mess. It’s nonsense.
But it for $100.00 and spend $5000.00 or better getting it right. You can’t be serious. Tell the Seller to junk it. Or part it out.
I did not realize the barn finds thinks one or two things. Number one that this is a future collectible and two that it is April first.
On a side note we bought a 2017 future collectible crv lol! And it is our last Honda ever! For the entire time we have owned it the headlight malfunction warning comes on and the sonar malfunction warning comes on all the time. The dealer says nothing is wrong. When I complained to the rep and said we probably would not buy a Honda again he said that is my prerogative! Ok no problem!
Shocking attitude of the dealer!
I’m sorry but the barn is worth more than the Honda. Now a Japanese classic is a Datsun 240-Z and the Honda is not in any classic category. But that’s just my opinion.
Was going to say something about expensive airbag replacement, but looks like they weren’t deployed in the accident. Hmm.
That thing is bent! Look at the left front wheel position in the fender. Not good. And the engine/trans are cocked. Analysis — parts car.
I currently own the 2000 model year version of this thing. Same color combo even. Bought it cheap with low miles from an elderly neighbor and quickly piled on the miles. About to hit 100k so I just did the timing belt/tensioner/water pump. It will no doubt go to 200k and I’ll still own it unless another great opportunity shows up.
I’m a mechanic and would take one of these over a 2016 Civic any day. The electronic content and complexity of current production cars is just crazy.