When the Prelude first arrived on our shores in 1979, it seemed like everyone in my neighborhood suddenly bought one. The car’s virtues included sporty looks, great visibility from the cabin, bucket seats, a moonroof as standard equipment, and good handling thanks to four-wheel independent suspension. The first-generation Prelude engine produced only 72 hp, but that was about to change for the better. Second-gen cars were delivered with a 1.8-liter or 2.0-liter injected four-cylinder (“Sport injected”, or Si), good for 100 to 110 hp. Today’s example has notched 127k miles under one owner on its 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and it’s available here on craigslist for $12,000. The car is located in Issaquah, Washington, and Curvette sent us the tip – thanks!
Honda had accumulated a modicum of sports-car expertise before introducing the Prelude, but those previous models – the S600 and S800 – were lightweight roadsters sold only in its home market and Europe. The front-wheel-drive Prelude was based on the widely sold Accord, with its mechanical bits wrapped in sporty compact bodywork and its interior given upscale appointments. This example has been well-maintained: it was recently serviced, and the timing belt was replaced 1800 miles ago. The tires are days old. The seller notes that the brake fluid should be flushed, and the drive belt needs renewal. The car’s underside presents well, given its age and miles, and it comes with the original window sticker, manuals, warranty book, and three keys, including the valet key. We could wish it had a manual gearbox, but the four-speed automatic was a desirable extra-cost option back in the day.
Honda aimed high when it designed the Prelude’s interior. The seats are well-bolstered and upholstered in deep-pile velour. That moonroof we mentioned was the first of its kind provided standard on a Honda production car – and buyers loved it. This car’s equipment works well, from the air conditioner to the cruise control.
The second-generation Prelude was restyled to accommodate its larger engine, retaining the low hood line. It was also given pop-up headlamps – all the rage in the late 1970s/early 1980s. (These work well.) This example’s paint, rubber, and lenses all look great, and the price is close to market, possibly a bit on the high side given the automatic and its mileage. But if you have in mind collecting a Prelude, better hurry – prices are trending up. This low-mileage example sold for $79k about three years ago, while others with mileage readings in the 20k-35k area will sell for $25k. Have you ever owned a Prelude?
I had found a red 1989 prelude but my father wouldn’t let me buy it. He found a black 89 si prelude that had a large dent in the back corner, the right fog light was broken and missing and the moonroof glass was cracked and when it was closed the moonroof tracks collected rain water and leaked inside. Yet my father said it was better than the red one. Never forgave him for convincing me and I will never buy a car sight unseen again!
Aaaargh! I’ve bought cars unsern, with results about as good as when I bought them when they were in front of me – mostly good, some surprises.
Nice car and per the add they have already done the timing belt. This car will easily hit the 250k miles my only concern would be finding other basic maintenance parts as time goes on it’s going to be expensive to maintain as cost of parts continue to go up to stupid high prices
Michelle, you’re full of surprises!!! I did not see you going in this direction at all. I’ve had a chance to drive a couple of Preludes and Accords from this timeline, and they are very nice driving, and shifting cars if they have a manual trans. This one looks like it just stepped off of a Honda used car lot in 1990. It really has held up well.
Too bad its an automatic. Old Japanese cars suck with automatic transmissions,they dont last and suck up insane amounts of power.
I don’t know if they improved by ’86 but my buddy in high school had a ’79 with the automatic. To date, it remains one of the very slowest cars I’ve ever ridden in!
I had a blue 86 SI after owning an 84 standard Prelude. Both were great handling cars with the former having a lot more power. Great road cars on trips.
I had this exact same car as a young yuppie down under in the 80s and I am feeling all silly and young again just looking at this one. I had several Preludes incl 1st gen and they were bulletproof fun machines and the ladies also enjoyed being seen in them (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Service them properly and they run forever. The Preludes as well. ;-)
If that mileage claim is accurate, then this car only averaged less than 4 miles a year. So as long as it hasn’t been in any bad accidents over the years, I’d have to say $12,000 is a fair price.
I had an 88 Prelude S, I purchased new and absolutely loved it. My only issue with it was rust, even though I had it “rust proofed” by the dealer. They would never honored the warranty claiming it was surface rust which the warranty did not cover, was their claim. I finally got tired of fighting with them and got rid of it. This one brings back a lot of memories.
I won’t be surprised if the seller sheds a tear watching this drive away. 40 years of ownership from the day they picked it up at the dealership – that’s got to be tough.
That’s a great opportunity for anyone wanting one of these – not too many 40 year old original owner cars out there.
Absolutely love this. I remember back then, at 14 years old, thinking that was a car I would buy and keep forever! Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely love this. I remember back then, at 14 years old, thinking that was a car I would buy and keep forever! Thanks for sharing.
I had two of these second generation Preludes. First a 1985 twin carb 5 speed bought in 1988, that I kept for three years.
Much later on, about 11 years ago, I purchased a 1986 SE 5 speed, the Canadian version of the Si, with 386xxx km, and drove it home from southern Ontario to Winnipeg MB. Only kept it for a year because a young enthusiast, who was an employee at a Honda dealership, offered me what I had paid for it, with plans to restore it with an upgrade to a JDM B16 engine he had. I had already purchased a 1992 Acura Integra GS and driven that home from Toronto and was out of garage space, so I agreed. Still have the Integra, and it’s a really fun driver, but those old Preludes really were magical little cars.
Regarding that red one that sold for huge money on BaT, it didn’t even have the power covered foglights that I would expect to be on one going for top money.
Great little car! Hardly ever saw an automatic though?
My sister have one of these new in 1986. In red with a five speed manual transmission. Was a great car and actually turned a lot of heads back then. I remember me, my brother and my sister learned to drive stick shift on that car and had to replace the clutch at 12,000 miles! She taught us to hold the car on hills using the clutch which isn’t really a good idea. The car have plenty of pep, and with the five speed could easily spin the tires, don’t ask me how I know that… ;-)