The seller calls this 1989 Honda Prelude Si a “modern day barn find.” Believe it or not, this phenomenon is real, as cars parked in the 1980s and early 90s begin to grow in appeal to collectors it’s inevitbable they’ll be removed from dusty garages and crowded driveways, soon to be up for sale. This Prelude is a refreshingly stock example and comes with a somewhat rare optional leather interior and just one owner. Find it here on eBay with a reasonable $3,800 Buy-It-Now.
These were the kinds of cars my brother and I grew up ogling, thanks to my parents being Honda fans starting in the late 80s. We used to check out the Preludes and CRXs while they were inevitably shopping the Accords or Civics. To this day, I can still remember flipping through the full-color brochures that put bright yellow models front and center. While this one is wearing a more subdued black, the body looks impressively straight for its age with just some door dings noted on the passenger side.
I rarely see leather in any Honda of this era, let alone one with power and memory seats. The seller is right to point out that this one may be “loaded” compared to most models, but let’s not get carried away. Typically, the “SE-i” models came with the extra goodies like leather, but I suspect this Prelude was simply ordered this way by the one previous (and original) owner. The 5-speed will deliver the customary snick-snick Hondas are known for, and it’s reassuring to see the original headunit in place.
These third-generation cars soldiered on with some variety of the B20A engine, making about 135 b.h.p. in this generation. The engine bay looks a bit dirty but not messy; the single owner may not have Armor All’d the valve cover, but all we need to see is a Honda motor with the original airbox still attached to feel at ease. This Prelude is likely one of the most honest ones left, and if it comes with any sort of maintenance history or documentation, the asking price seems fair.
I had a 1990 Prelude, probably the best car I have ever owned, five speed and fun to drive. It was a rocket but handled extremely well. Decent 3rd gen Preludes are hard to find. Mine was rust free and I only sold it because my wife got transferred to a new office and didn’t want to drive a stick in Chicago traffic. (can’t blame her) I would buy this in a heartbeat if I had room.
Looks like it was “parked” when it failed smog last year.
True that, likely parts in California. A 49 stater
Where o you see that?
https://www.bar.ca.gov/pubwebquery/Vehicle/PubTstQry.aspx
Smog check history can be queried here. It’s best to use the VIN because plates can change.
There could be nothing very serious wrong. I could just need a cat. Or being that it is an old Honduh it could have failed due to blue smoke from the exhaust.
Great Info.
I’d like to have this car, but shipping would kill the price.
I also note that the seller “Internationalautomotive” has zero feedback….
Nice car. I have been watching these early Hondas here lately as I plan on selling my 1991 Civic DX, 5 speed, air car. As I cannot find a source to give me an example of what it is worth. The DX seems to fall into just and old car zone. Where do these people come up with these buy it now prices? I do not see them on CL around here to get a base. It seems like the younger crowd really gets into rodding this generation.
try NADA.COM
Wow! Thanks Oil Slick! Like hitting the Lotto, worth way more than I thought. Kind of like most I see here. Thanks again, take care, Mike.
My brother drove Preludes for several years, had to get something different when they stopped making them. He ended up getting a Camry Hybrid! Kind of went in a different direction, car-wise.
Two things:
1) I dig this Prelude and would be interested…BUT, dog stickers = dog odors. And,
2) Your brother left Honda for Camry? He must be shunned! Shunned! I say!
He just retired (for the 2nd time), so now he has 2 pensions! He told me his next car is going to be a Mercedes C-class, and he deserves the upgrade.
One of my closest friends, has a bunch of old hondas, and he bought a gold ** prelude, took the parts we needed (trim pieces, lights, ect). The body was so rusty we cut it off and are building a tube cage for it. It is called The pre-Lewd Cart. stupid amounts of fun running around in this thing, just no gauges or windshield or seat belts.
I found if you flip the headlight switch open/close 5 times rapidly, these would always do a quick one open wink
;)
A modern born find, huh?
The tag on the plate is from 2017.
How long does a car need to be parked to actually be considered a barn find?
That’s a good question. I guess any car that is literally found in a barn, would qualify, assuming it was left there and not just parked overnight. This isn’t a “barn find”, just a nice find.
@ Miguel. I have my own modern barn find standard; If a vehicle doesn’t come up in the first page of an internet search, it qualifies as a barn find once it’s finally discovered a few pages in.
Hey, Miguel – you do realize those words were taken from the seller’s ad, right? And I’ve had plenty of cars I’ve kept registered but haven’t moved under their own power in years, just FYI.
@Miguel, it’s a California B.A.R. find – any post-1975 car that can’t pass smog.
Barn find or not, it looks like a nice car. I’m sure the late Len (LJK) Setright would give it the thumbs-up.
Hondas from the late-1980s to mid-1990s are still quite popular with the Import crowd in NZ, and there are some frighteningly quick Civics, Preludes and Accords showing up at the local drag strip.
SE-i was an Accord trim level for 1985 and 1989 and included leather. I think Preludes with leather were just that… Preludes with leather. (very rare)
I always thought Honda cheaped out by making the alloy wheels optional on the 3rd gen prelude Si. This one has steelies with plastic wheel covers, unfortunately.
These twin cam Preludes had silicone/aluminum alloy cylinder sleeves. Over heat it 1 time, blow a head gasket & the engine IS toast!! I had a customer INSIST that ALL that’s needed was hone the block, install new rings and all would be fine!! It smoked so bad , nobody could ride behind it.
I bought both my daughters second hand Prelude SI- one five speed and one auto- one with four-wheel steer and one without.
They were fantastic little cars and very quick- decent handlers..
should have kept them both
I had one of these for years. Probably the best and most reliable car I’ve ever owned. An a babe magnet to boot. I still regret that I had to sell it when moving OS.
Had one of these and loved it. Crossing the Mohave Desert it sprung a radiator leak, stopped in Barstow and poured something like 3 cans of stop leak in it, drove it that way another 50,000 miles without a problem.
Really sharp looking cars too.