No Reserve: 1982 Honda Prelude Project
No Reserve: 1982 Honda Prelude Project
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No Reserve: 1982 Honda Prelude Project
High Bidder: yrrucdivad
No Reserve
Winning Bid: $2,200 (USD)
End Date:
Location:
Phoenix, Arizona 85014
Seller:
Engine:
1,751cc I4
Transmission:
Manual
Odometer:
98,150 (Mi)
Chassis/VIN:
JHMSN5224CC032196
Carfax:
Lot Number:
23209603
Location:
Phoenix, Arizona 85014
Seller:
Engine:
1,751cc I4
Transmission:
Manual
Odometer:
98,150 (Mi)
Chassis/VIN:
JHMSN5224CC032196
Carfax:
Lot Number:
23209603
If a bid is placed within the last minute of an auction, an additional minute is added to ensure all bidders have a fair chance to bid. Bid carefully. Please complete your vehicle due-diligence prior to bidding. Bids are binding and by placing your bid you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy.
If a bid is placed within the last minute of an auction, an additional minute is added to ensure all bidders have a fair chance to bid. Bid carefully. Please complete your vehicle due-diligence prior to bidding. Bids are binding and by placing your bid you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy.
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.
BID: $2,200
BID: $2,100
BID: $2,000
@RadioGuyNaples – The problem with these older Honda's is even if you want to make it nicer and fix it up, the parts are non-existent. I've tried. ...
Thanks for your interest. The same comment could be said about many, many collector cars this age. If nobody had a sense of innovation and determination, many vehicles wouldn't be on the road today. Part of the pride of ownership in having any older car is overcoming those challenges. My 1992 Integra has coolant hoses from a Honda CR-V, and I just completed a top to bottom engine overhaul on a 1995 Legend for which almost every part is discontinued or aftermarket. Where there's a will, there's a way. There is a first generation Prelude enthusiast group with over 300 helpful people in it. So resources are out there.
The problem with these older Honda's is even if you want to make it nicer and fix it up, the parts are non-existent. I've tried.
BID: $1,900
@yrrucdivad – For those shipping the car, the extra hood may be a challenge. Would you work with buyer to ship separately at buyer cost? ...
Happy to help however I can. The extra hood is a logistical challenge. I imagine freight on something like that is expensive and I'm not sure how best that would be transported. If someone is eager enough to use it, maybe they can swap hoods before taking the car home. Send me a message through the Contact Seller form - we can connect over the phone you want to discuss. Thanks to everyone for the bids and traffic. I will be around and responding to any other questions through the close of the auction on Thursday. As a heads up, I have some travels Fri-Sun in northern Arizona so the car is available for pick-up next Monday 27th at the earliest unless you're local to Phoenix and want to come over Thursday evening or Friday morning. If anyone out of state is seeking transport quotes, I've used a broker called Montway a few times. You can plug in a start & end ZIP code and get an instant online quote. This car is in ZIP 85014. From the time you book transport to when it actually gets picked up can vary, but in most cases it happens within about 5-7 business days.
BID: $1,800
For those shipping the car, the extra hood may be a challenge. Would you work with buyer to ship separately at buyer cost?
@Gav99 – Beautiful car, is it rear wheel drive or front wheel drive? ...
It's front wheel drive.
Beautiful car, is it rear wheel drive or front wheel drive?
@epegoblue – Rebuild the engine to stop the oil burn and daily it - 35 mpg wouldn't be difficult on the highway. Paint match or carbon fiber wrap the replacement hood if you're feeling fancy and enjoy. $3K would be a smokin' hot deal on this thing. ...
Thanks - agreed, with some TLC this could be a fun and fuel-efficient daily driver. I think it would also be a neat car to show at the Japanese Classic Car Show (JCCS) in Long Beach this September if anyone in Southern California ends up with it. This is my 7th Prelude, and I've now owned first, second, and third generations. Each one has been so different. Here's a classic G1 Prelude commercial for a little Monday afternoon entertainment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Mpyhzl42A
Rebuild the engine to stop the oil burn and daily it - 35 mpg wouldn't be difficult on the highway. Paint match or carbon fiber wrap the replacement hood if you're feeling fancy and enjoy. $3K would be a smokin' hot deal on this thing.
BID: $1,700
@tysonhugie – Great question, thanks for bringing that up. If you skip to 6:16 in the 14-minute video above, you can see where I discuss some of the waviness in the existing hood as well as evident repair work on the underside. The replacement hood is a used, straight, rust-free (minus some "surface" rust) hood from a 1981 model. I'll go take and upload a photo of that so you can see it. By the way, thanks everyone for your bids and please feel free to keep any questions coming. ...
Thank you!
Here are two photos of the uninstalled extra hood if the winning bidder wishes to have it. Again, probably not critical unless you really want to restore this car to showroom spec. Any other questions, just let me know. Hope everyone has a nice weekend.
@yrrucdivad – Extra hood? Is the other rusted or somehow in need of replacement? And is it a new OEM hood or a junkyard find? ...
Great question, thanks for bringing that up. If you skip to 6:16 in the 14-minute video above, you can see where I discuss some of the waviness in the existing hood as well as evident repair work on the underside. The replacement hood is a used, straight, rust-free (minus some "surface" rust) hood from a 1981 model. I'll go take and upload a photo of that so you can see it. By the way, thanks everyone for your bids and please feel free to keep any questions coming.
Extra hood? Is the other rusted or somehow in need of replacement? And is it a new OEM hood or a junkyard find?
BID: $1,250
BID: $1,000