tell me about 1st generation preludes...

Got a end-of-year bonus so once again considering buying something pre-1985 to use as a general beat-up car (rallycross, autocross, general stupidity). Key being something solid and reliable (harder to find in 25+ year old cars) and dirt cheap!

Anyhow, there's an '82 Prelude (5MT) on craigslist locally that I'm thinking about. Good description of it and sounds to be in decent mechanical shape (he makes a big deal about how well it runs and shifts), and in "fair" cosmetic shape (though he notes that the suspension towers are NOT rusty, making me think he knows a bit about these cars).

I know the 1st gen prelude has an odd strut front suspension with the sway bar as a kind of radius arm, but from what I remember they are good little handlers, and under 2000lbs! So what else should I know about this car?

I had a 79 that had rusted to nothingness by 1988. That's nine years.

That was a long time ago. Check everywhere for rust.

They are really hard to get parts for anymore, and since virtually nothing swaps in there, its kinda pointless for modifying. They are fun cars to just drive though.

Andrew

that's what I've been finding upon cursory search for aftermarket parts...hmm.

hmm..LeMons car...

Since you're trying to stay pre-'85, I'd look for an early Escort. They're cheap and cool! I think so anyway. Craigslist isn't crowded with them but when they do show up they're runners in the $200-$500 range.

Why pre-'85? Antique registration? Just curious.

The first Gen Preludes were really nothing more than Civic Coupes, but the Civic chassis did not really become a great car until the introduction of the 1984 Civics along with the intro of the CRX.

In short, this Prelude could be a fun car to drive but expect nearly zero aftermarket or mods.

I think one of the car mags of the time referred to them as Quaaludes.

80s Japanese dual carbs with eleventybillion vacuum lines make baby Jesus cry. When I worked at a Honda dealer in the early 90s there was ONE guy who could fix them, and even he admitted it was more black art than science. If it runs good, carefully replace all the vacuum lines to keep it that way. As noted watch for rust. My 82 Civic was a great little car once I replaced all the metal from the fenders down.

Didn't 1G preludes have a coaxial speedotachometer?

M2Pilot wrote: I think one of the car mags of the time referred to them as Quaaludes.

thats all my dad has ever called them.

They do have the best gauge cluster ever, and the radio is interesting. (spent about an hour at the wrecking yard "driving" one - made honda noises and everything )

xci_ed6 wrote: Didn't 1G preludes have a coaxial speedotachometer?

They certainly did. I liked the quirky interior in mine, always had a soft spot for them. Fortunately I managed to scratch that particular itch 12-13 years ago.

As mentioned, vacuum line problems on these are a pain in the posterior (guess how I know) but once that was sorted out it was a fun little car.

i personally prefer the 2nd gen cars, the aftermarket support is still lacking, but they had an engine increase, and fixed some bugs in the car in general, including the suspension...

Basically, its the worst car you could have picked to do anything to. What is the reason you need a pre 1985 car? Are you trying to get under a rule or something?

Andrew

I owned one. It was the best beater investment I ever made. I bought it to tide me over until I could fix the avalanche of problems i was having w/ my 'vette. Picked it up from the classifieds on here for $400. Drove it for a year. Sold it for $200. I put a whopping $35 into it and even that wasn't necessary (i thought the M/C had gone, turns out it was a rusted-through brake line).

It was a complete rust bucket. It was also pretty fun to drive. Tin-can-light. Tossable on hard, skinny 13's. There's decent online forum support, but yeah, nearly zero aftermarket.

If its rust free and less than $600, i say go for it...

xci_ed6 wrote: Didn't 1G preludes have a coaxial speedotachometer?

They did for the first year or two. Later first gen Preludes had separate gauges.

http://www.preluderestoration.org/brochures.php

A friend of mine drove one for years back in high school. I don't really know much about them, but it was a fun car that hardly ever had any problems.

I very nearly bought one in the mid 80s, and later did have a 2nd gen. The 2nd gen is a MUCH better car, but the first gen has it's quirky appeal. Love the IP for it's early Japanese "Weird for the sake of weird" kitch factor.

I haven't seen one on the road in Michigan for at least 15 years. They've all returned to the Earth.

Carson wrote: Since you're trying to stay pre-'85, I'd look for an early Escort. They're cheap and cool! I think so anyway. Craigslist isn't crowded with them but when they do show up they're runners in the $200-$500 range. Why pre-'85? Antique registration? Just curious.

yup...antique registration = no emissions, no safety inspection. Since whatever I'd get would be pretty much exclusively for 1. getting to autocross/rallycross events 2. participating in said events.

when I want to cruise or go fast (or look good) on public streets, I have the GT6 or WRX for that...

Escort interesting idea. I haven't seen one on cl in this area in a long time though...Since I'm just looking for something to fool around with, I keep my eyes open for things that "you never see anymore" - hence why the ugly 1g prelude got my attention. I could go buy an old Civic hatch....but you always see those at events :)

irish44jSince whatever I'd get would be pretty much exclusively for 1. getting to autocross/rallycross events 2. participating in said events.

If you plan to autocross and rallycross a 1st gen Prelude, when it breaks you'll likely be stranded and/or reliant on the generosity of others. There isn't much parts support for the car other than a dealer, and dealers probably don't have much in stock anyway.

This insight comes from a 2nd gen Si owner who won't autocross the car because after-market support is marginally better, but still spotty. It is a fun car, though!

In reply to irish44j:

Where are you located? For some reason I feel like you're in Virginia. That may be way off though. I found a lot recently searching cl in states including and surrounding NC. Most of them where in Virginia, specifically on the Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach ones.