When Honda unveiled the S600 and proudly proclaimed that it believed its motorcycle successes would translate to automobile production, many people giggled quietly. After all, it was hard to take the company seriously when you assessed its offerings at the time. However, history shows that Honda not only succeeded in the passenger car market but also became a global motorsport behemoth. This 1985 Prelude is a result of the company’s focus on combining quality with performance. It is a wonderful survivor that has no apparent needs and could serve as a practical, affordable daily driver. The seller has listed the Honda here on eBay in Clifton Park, New York. A solitary bid of $1,000 is below the reserve, although there is plenty of time for interested parties to throw their hats into the ring.
Honda released its Second Generation Prelude in 1982. The company turned to Masahito Nakano as its designer, and although that name may not ring any bells for some readers, he was also responsible for developing the original NSX. With a pedigree like that, it is little wonder that the Prelude received praise from many journalists for its sleek appearance. Honda offered Prelude buyers five paint shades in 1985, with this car’s first owner selecting Graphite Gray Metallic. The seller believes that the paint may be original and that the car is an unrestored survivor. They admit that a close inspection will reveal minor flaws, but the way the hood reflects the clouds in the shot above demonstrates how nicely this classic shines. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and this beauty is rust-free. The headlights raise and lower as they should, and the sunroof doesn’t leak. The glass is clear, and the first owner chose to order this car with wheel covers rather than the optional alloy wheels.
Tipping the hood forward reveals this Prelude’s 1,830cc four, producing 100hp and 108 ft/lbs of torque. Honda was a master of front-wheel drive technology by the time this car left the line, with this Prelude sending power to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The company offered an optional four-speed automatic, but it significantly impacted performance and reduced the driving pleasure that was a hallmark of the Prelude. The seller recently invested significantly in this Honda, replacing the tires, brakes, alternator, vacuum lines, and battery. They state that it runs and drives perfectly, and they wouldn’t hesitate to drive it anywhere. That makes it a turnkey proposition.
Honda’s from the 1980s developed a reputation for interior trim deterioration. Cloth upholstery could be a nightmare, with fading and splitting quite common with age. This Prelude has avoided those dramas, although the seats sport some visible wear. Interestingly, the passenger seat shows more deterioration than the driver’s, though with no rips or tears, the interior remains comfortably acceptable in its current form. The seller states that while the air conditioning is intact, it doesn’t blow cold. However, the AM/FM radio and cassette player, with its graphic equalizer, work perfectly.
After what could be described as a faltering start with vehicles that were tiny, interesting, but lacked mass market appeal, Honda really hit its straps with the Prelude. It demonstrated that it could produce cars with sparkling performance, excellent build quality, and exceptional fuel economy. This 1985 Prelude is a wonderful survivor, and although it has attracted only one bid, the listing statistics suggest it has generated healthy interest. Recent successful sales suggest that the price could hit $5,000, but a higher figure is possible if two (or more) people want this classic badly enough. Even at that price, it is undeniably affordable. Is this Prelude a car you might consider pursuing further?
The best shifters in the business š
shifted like butter!
Soichiro, so the story goes, was dead set against building automobiles. The old man thumped his hands on the table, waved his chopsticks and proclaimed “we will not build cars”.(paraphrasing here). The shareholders however had more of a say (actually several million green-backed says) so the Honda automobile was born. The rest is history. The Prelude, Honda’s first sport sedan, was a great effort too. The handled like they were on rails , looked great and were stone reliable in typical Honda fashion. The vehicle featured here is a real rarity as, unlike most Preludes, it hasn’t had a career of being rode hard and put away wet. It appears in great shape too especially for its age. If eBay bidders don’t go nuts you could get a good deal here.
In the last forty years did cars really get any better than this?
From a time when cars made sense…
Great cars, have owned at least a dozen Honda’s. No complaints, normal maintenance, a timing belt if needed. They will run, and keep on running.
Best looking Honda ever. I bought a new Honda Accord LX in 1985. Wanted a red Prelude, but wife was pregnant with our first child, who is now 40. Time flies. I have driven several 80s Preludes. Far better looking, built and performing than any NEW junk being built today. Amazing this car’s undercarriage is mint being in upstate NY, land of salt.
i am sure there is a crazy reserve for this hooptie.
Bought This exact same car same color everything in 1984. Possibly the best car I ever owned.
I had a bright yellow 89 Prelude in 1990 and loved it. If they sold them new now Iād buy one today.
I worked at a Honda dealer in the late 80’s for a bit. And had a chance to drive a number of these used. Hondas just seem to have the best shifting transmissions in the business. Always liked these. And its not easy finding one all original that hasn’t been modified, or rusted out from salt. Really nice one here.
This is in amazingly good looking shape for a over 40 year old NY vehicle. Simple, dependable and will probably still outlast most of the over priced, computerized crap on the road today.
My wife had a 86 Accord LXI 2 door hatchback when we met. Fantastic car. Sadly she yielded at a sign and the dump truck behind her did not one day. Crunched it up to the rear wheel wheels. The insurance company gave her 3 grand for it and let her keep it , circa 1998. We were still just dating then. I gave her 500.00 for it and drove it for about a year like that before I swear I just sat down flat on top of its rear tires in a parking lot one sad day. Still ran like a top and looked great , in the front at least š¤£ we still miss that car
I had this exact car back in the day I have always regretted selling it but I was going abroad for a long period. Back in the 80s this car got me more “lady friends company” than any car I have had since. They were a babe puller down under in the days of Yuppies.
MSRP in 1985 – $10,345.. Imagine that.
Lovely looking car. My mother used to jokingly call these cars the “Squanda Quaalude”.
What about the 70’s Civics and >76 Accords – did they just disappear from your collective memory? My 1976 Accord was the first car I ever borrowed money to buy (courtesy of USN E-5 and Navy FCU) and I loved it.
Didn’t they make some preludes wit 4 wheel steering
Yes they did. More details will have to come from some one else. But I know they did
Yes , the generation that started in 1989 was available with 4 wheel steering.