1987 Honda Prelude

You are looking at a Honda Prelude 1.8 EX from 1987, making it one of the last of the second generation. Fitted with an automatic gearbox, it is being offered for auction with only 52,000 miles on the odometer and just two registered keepers from new.

Finished in pale blue metallic with matching velour interior trim, the car was purchased from new by a friend of the seller, who was a professional motor engineer and examiner for the Institute of Advanced Motorists. As you might expect of such a man, the Prelude was meticulously maintained at the main Honda dealer, with every receipt being kept and carefully logged.

He purchased a new car in 1998 but retained the Prelude for sentimental reasons, keeping it in a warm, dry garage. Sadly, in 2006 he passed away and the current owner purchased it from his widow in 2007.

As a consequence, it is a genuine time-warp car with an impeccable history and an unrivalled provenance. We also think it is probably the best car of its type for sale in the United Kingdom today.

The car has been Dinitrol rust-proofed from new and so has never been near a welder, something the online MOT history testifies to. This ongoing rustproofing, along with what has obviously been a careful regimen of garaging, washing and polishing, has left the car in remarkable condition with only a few age-related marks (not corrosion). It looks, in fact, more like a three-year-old car than something that will never see 30 again.

The four alloy wheels were refurbished three years ago due to peeling lacquer. As you can see, they are now in stunning condition and are shod with matching MVX tyres. (Do we need to remind you that matching, high-quality tyres says only good things about the seller?)

Overall, the owner describes the car as being “in exceptional condition. It is not concours but would require very little work to take it that level. There is the odd age-related mark but that is to be expected and is as a result of everyday life rather than misuse or abuse.”

We’d echo his remarks and can only suggest that prospective bidders go and see just how good it is for themselves. It is in staggeringly good condition and will be worth every penny of its (extremely reasonable) reserve price…

The interior looks almost new and is a testament to both Honda and its two owners, both of whom deserve credit for the way it presents today. It is unmarked and everything works exactly as it should: Japanese reliability and durability is a cliché for a reason.

The Prelude’s equipment includes an electric sunroof, electric windows, power-assisted steering (complete with commemorative badge on the steering wheel!), the Hondamatic 4-speed automatic gearbox, a folding rear seat, rear wash wipe, Sony CD/Tuner head unit (fitted in 1991), an electric aerial, and a set of OE Honda rubber mats that have been fitted since new.

The car will also be supplied with the original Hitachi radio cassette, which was removed in 1991 when the Sony unit was fitted.

The vendor recommissioned the car at the time of purchase in 2007. The work comprised a full service using genuine Honda parts, a new windscreen and chrome surround, new brake pads front and rear, a new exhaust, new NGK spark plugs, new genuine Honda battery, and a replacement digital clock, which was the only non-working item in the vehicle.

The car passed its MOT and was then placed in a Carcoon storage chamber inside a warm dry garage, but was regularly started and driven on the owner’s private driveway.

In 2017, he decided to start to use the Honda on a regular basis, which triggered more recommissioning. This comprised:

• New air, fuel and oil filters, plus fresh engine and gearbox oil, brake fluid, and a coolant flush and change.

• The cambelt was replaced, along with new wiper blades, an exhaust downpipe, and new shock absorbers.

• A new alternator and voltage regulator were fitted.

• The front brake callipers were reconditioned and four new Michelin MXV tyres were fitted to the standard, OE wheels.

• In addition, the factory stereo speakers had degraded with age and were replaced with JVC speakers. These upgraded units are hidden and all appears to be factory specification – until you turn the stereo on, when the sound “no longer sounds like a swarm of wasps in the car”.

• Rear anti roll bar bushes and new drive shaft clips were fitted after advisories on the MOT in March of this year.

The owner tells us that the Honda “is lively and economical along with being easy and fun to drive. It is supremely reliable and has been used daily for local runs during the last 15 months.”

The car comes with a full history file, including its all-main-dealer service history right up to 48,000 miles. Find that again! It also comes with all of its original bill of sale, instruction booklets, the owner’s pack, plus a huge assortment of receipts, invoices and old bills in addition to a workshop manual. Remarkable! One of the most comprehensive service histories we have ever seen.

It also comes with a complete tool kit, jack and an unused Michelin MXV spare wheel. Yes, that’s right; even the spare is an unused Michelin. Need we say more?

Only being sold because the owner’s workload has suddenly increased and he’s having to rationalize his classic car collection in favour of a modern Lexus hybrid in order to cover the sort of mileage he’s now accruing. (Please see our auction for his stunning Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo.)

We expect this time-warp example to sell for between £2,200 and £4,000 but the reserve is, as ever, set at a lower point.

However, even at the upper estimate, we think the Prelude offers outstanding value for the modern classic car enthusiast that wants to drive something a little bit different but isn’t prepared to sacrifice reliability to do so. The car’s provenance and history are impeccable, and we can only hope that it finds a new home with someone who appreciates that the value of a car like this cannot be measured in monetary terms alone. And running it should prove very cheap; parts prices aren’t high, but more importantly, it’ll probably never need any!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Swansea; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.