As car enthusiasts, we don’t like to admit when we’re defeated. And sometimes defeat isn’t because we’ve failed but because we recognize that a project is not ours for completing. This 1988 Honda CRX Si is a desirable hot hatch from the boom times for sport compacts of the late 80s and early 90s, and good ones are fetching into the high teens. A “good one” is often described as being rust-free and bone stock, and this CRX Si listed here on eBay has both of those things going for it – but it’s sadly sporting some unfortunate tree damage that the owner has no interest in fixing. The seller has listed it with a suggested opening bid of $3,350.

That’s a strong number to start the ball rolling on a car that likely has close to $10,000 in bodywork needs, so I’m sure the seller is assuming that a potential buyer has some ability to perform their own bodywork. Outside of a total loss collision, weather-related damage is a major fear of any car enthusiast who lives somewhere that the climate can do funny things (which is anywhere these days) and between floods, hail, and storm damage, there’s no shortage of meteorological events that can trash a vintage car. This CRX sadly looks like it was slightly tatty before the large tree branch fell on it, which may limit its prospects.

However, when you see the clean interior and stock appearance, you can begin to understand why the seller chose to save the CRX and attempt to re-home it. It does look far too clean for relegating to the scrap heap, and finding a CRX of any variety in stock condition is a feat and a half. Seeing the factory steering wheel, shifter, and nicely-bolstered sport bucket seats are all signs of a car that has never been subjected to the atrocities of the Honda aftermarket, even if the abundance of go-fast parts make it sorely tempting to tweak this iconic hot hatch. The photos show damage to the windshield frame, windshield, and driver’s door, and the seller claims he has all of the parts needed to make a repair.

So, this is not the type of part you acquire when you’re thinking of selling a project like this CRX; this only happens if you intended to complete the work yourself. I should know, as I sourced all of the necessary repair panels from eBay in Australia when I had my Toyota HiAce van project! I sold that with all the body panels packed inside, so it’s not outside the realm of possibility that someone goes so far as to cut off a replacement roof section before deciding it’s a bridge too far to complete (removing the roof is easy; re-installing it is hard.) Does this project deserve to live on – and if so, what’s the right number for the work that will be involved?