No Reserve: 1982 Honda Prelude Project

This 1982 Honda Prelude two-door Japanese sports coupe has driven 98,150 original miles and is powered by a 1,751cc CVCC inline-4 paired with a 5-speed manual transaxle. It originated in Washington until being relocated to Arizona in 1996 where it has resided for over 25 years in a dry climate. A refresh and light modifications were carried out in 2009 encompassing a repaint, ICW Racing 15-inch wheels, bucket seats, and a new timing belt and water pump. This Prelude is described as a project car with low original miles that is a candidate for restoration or driving as-is. Finished in a custom Copper Metallic over a black and gray interior, this first-generation Prelude is now offered with spare parts, a factory service manual, an owner’s manual, copies of magazine articles, a brochure, a car cover, a clean CARFAX report, and a clear Arizona title in the seller’s name.

Launched in the Japanese market, the Prelude arrived in North America for the 1979 model year as a two-door sports coupe with engineering architecture borrowed from the first-generation Accord. A mild refresh was applied in 1981 which brought a new grille and a stainless-steel trim strip on the bumpers and side moldings. This Prelude from 1982 has been in Arizona long-term and was originally finished in Windsor Blue. A later repaint in Copper Metallic was done around 2009 under prior ownership and the vehicle spent the next 10 years stored and covered when it was not being driven occasionally. The body exhibits some paint checking, orange peel, and panel inconsistencies. The hood shows a paint crack and some waviness. Customization under prior ownership included the installation of dual chrome mirror housings and tinted exterior lighting. The seller classifies this as a driver-grade project overall that is ready for either a complete restoration or enjoyment as-is. A set of uninstalled non-tinted taillights is included with the sale.

Black aluminum 15-inch ICW Racing mesh wheels with polished lips are wrapped in new Hankook Ventus 195/50-series tires installed in May of 2022.

The interior is fitted with aftermarket black cloth bucket seats along with gray carpeting, door panels, and dash. The door panels were sourced from another Prelude and painted previously. Features include working factory air conditioning, tinted windows, a power-operated moonroof, a Pioneer DEH-2000MP AM/FM/CD head unit, and manual roll-up windows. The starter has been converted to a push-button setup with a toggle switch ignition. The steering wheel is aftermarket with no horn, the center of the dash has a crack, and there is a black carpeted cargo area in place of a back seat.

Instrumentation includes an 85-mph speedometer, a 7K-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges for the fuel level and coolant temperature. The seller notes that the fuel gauge is erratic, which means the remaining fuel level is tracked by the trip meter. The six-digit mechanical odometer reads 98,150 miles, which is supported by the CARFAX report and other documentation.

The forward-hinged hood opens up to a carbureted 1,751cc CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) OHC inline-4 that was rated at 75 horsepower and 95 lb-ft of torque when new. The motor is fed via a Weber carburetor and reportedly received a timing belt and water pump replacement within the last 2,000 miles approximately a decade ago. Power is directed to the front wheels via a console-shifted 5-speed manual transaxle. The motor burns and leaks oil, the clutch slips under heavy throttle input, and the vehicle failed an Arizona emissions test in 2012, but later passed after a gas cap repair. Given these considerations, the vehicle is sold as-is as a project car although it runs and drives.

The suspension uses four-wheel independent MacPherson struts with coil springs. Braking is provided by power-assisted discs up front and drums at the rear. Manual steering operation is rack-and-pinion based. Additional photos showing the underside are available in the carousel.

The CARFAX report is accident-free with the first record appearing in 1996 when the vehicle was first registered in Arizona. The sale includes extra exterior marker lights, an uninstalled extra hood, a car cover, a factory service manual, documentation, copies of period magazine articles, a brochure, and an owner’s manual. The seller has provided a walk-around and driving video.