A 1988 CR-X was restored? Yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like, according to the seller’s description. That’s amazing, and it sounds like it was a solid car before the work began. This great-looking, Superior Blue, 1988 Honda CR-X DX hatchback can be found here on eBay in The Spoke (Spokane, Washington). There is no reserve, and the current bid price is $5,100, with three days left on the auction.
I assumed this was another fantastically preserved Pacific Northwest car, but once I started digging into the seller’s description, I was shocked, to say the least. Please check out the eBay link and read everything that was done on/to/with this car to restore it, which is an unusual word for a car that sounded like it was in nice condition before being restored. The mileage is listed as being 230,000, so it’s not a low-mile car, but it appears to be one now, if that made any sense.
By “restored,” I don’t mean repainting it or anything like that, I mean it was disassembled, sanded, primered, painted, all of the trim was redone, the windshield and gasket were replaced, the engine was removed and rebuilt, new suspension, the interior was restored, good grief. This bid had better get to three or four times what it is now to even begin to pay back the seller for all of the work and money they put into this car. They say it was a one-family-owned car before they got it, and it had been sitting in a garage since 2002. The DX wasn’t the highest trim level here in the U.S., so I’m surprised this car was restored. I’m sure a lot of us have restored things that didn’t make sense to other people, hopefully?
Honda offered the CR-X from 1983 for the 1984 model year until the end of 1991, and the design changed quite a bit over that time, while still being unmistakable. This is a second-generation CR-X, and they were available from the 1988 model year until the end of the run. They were only four inches longer than what seemed like such a tiny car in the first-generation version. The seller talks about all the interior work that was done, and it looks nice, but maybe not like new. The back seat isn’t really a back seat, and the rear cargo area looks clean.
The engine was reportedly removed and rebuilt, and is Honda’s aluminum, 1.5-liter SOHC inline-four with 92 horsepower and 89 lb-ft of torque when new. Power is sent through a 5-speed manual to the front wheels, and it’s said to run and drive like new and it looks fantastic in the many great photos they’ve added to their eBay listing. Have any of you restored a “non-classic” car like this Honda CR-X?
If it wasn’t on the other side of the country, etc. ….
I really don’t care why the seller did the restoration, but am glad it happened. These are neat little cars, and are seldom seen without modifications these days, when they are seen at all.
Don’t be surprised if the price jumps considerably as the auction winds down. Even though this is a relatively basic-spec car, that won’t deter the hard-core Honda fans. There is a lot of scope for “improvement,” such as engine swaps — Honda loaned me a CRX in Germany years ago that had what I recall as the Acura Integra engine slotted in, plus other mods — but none of that is necessary. This should be quick and nimble enough just as it is.
Scotty asks about restoring “non-classics,” and I must plead guilty, having given a Renault 16 roughly the same treatment as this CRX. Too much time, and too much money, but it was a pretty nifty machine when finished. My criterion: if you like it, it’s worth whatever you spend to make it fresh and shiny.
I completely agree with what Ray T said above. If you like it, and you can afford it, do it. I had a short stint at a Honda dealer in the late 80’s. This brings me back!!! It does not look restored either, it looks like it rolled off the showroom floor!! I’m seriously impressed and very happy to see such a high quality restoration too. These CRXs are a hoot to drive, even the non Si ones. Great write up Scotty!! This has to be one of the nicest ones left on the planet!!!
Seems that there was one of the CRX’s on here a few weeks back. These cars are absolutely fantastic and no matter the trim model they are just FUN and economical! If it is exactly as described this truly is something to keep an eye on! Well done to the owner for preserving a piece of motoring history!