Hemmings Find Of The Day: The Prudent And Sporting 1982 Honda Prelude

What constitutes a desirable car? For many, it’s a vehicle’s mark of superiority over others: the most powerful, the most luxurious, the largest, the most capable. For others, it is a matter of the detail. That explains why a Ferrari 250 GTO or a Duesenberg Model J can still hold captive audiences of the largest spenders every time they appear at an auction. But who celebrates the competent, the reliable, the frugal, or the loyal? Those qualities are often the most desired in an automobile,  yet they are usually left in the dust of the dream machines. But for those who value the day-to-day reliable, there isn’t a price you could put down for the peace of mind that comes with such a boast. Which is why a 1982 Honda Prelude, like this blue example currently for sale on Hemmings.com, is such an attractive possibility. 

If you are only focused on the numbers, the Prelude isn’t for you. When Honda decided that they needed a third model to supplant the Civic and Accord, they weren’t worried about building a hotter engine, or about how fast their new car would lap a racetrack. Instead, they used parts already produced on an all-new chassis that was designed to be spirited from the ground up and kept things light and fun. The engine was the Accord’s 1751cc CVCC four-cylinder, which had enough power for the 55 MPH era and enough to be considered in the company of the Volkswagen Scirocco and Toyota Celica. Styling was up to the individual. Most weren’t too upset (though Road & Track viewed it as a committee car that lost appeal from B-pillar rearward). In fact, the only real reason to be upset at a first-gen Prelude involves the rear seats, a cruel joke for anyone under the age of five.

The performance figures aren’t going to light the first of performance enthusiasts, either. Quarter-mile times are in the deep 18-second range at 70-75 MPH. In a corner, the car could pull 0.74 g before the front end washed out, though if you knew what you were doing you could get the tail to come around. A 60-0 MPH stop took 152 feet, and the top end was just over 101 miles per hour. But again, this was the dark days of emissions controls and the double-nickel speed limit. Economy was the name of the game and while the Prelude would be outshone by the competition, it wasn’t by points that would prove too far to overcome.

What the Prelude did have was reliability. Honda had been making a name for themselves during the 1970s with cars like the Civic and Accord. Buying a Honda was a practical decision. The Prelude would go on to a three-decade career in the role as the company’s masterful blend of fun and economy. While finding original, cared-for examples is tough due to the ability to rust at will, this Georgia-based example has made it through the years mostly intact. Sure, there are scrapes, stains and signs of use, but aside from the questionable installation of the aftermarket sound system, nothing is off-putting. 

Sure, we’d all like to have our dream machine in the garage. Pick your poison: the Cord 812, the 1958 DeSoto convertible, the Oldsmobile 4-4-2, the five-liter Mustang, the handsome C10, or whatever else thrills you. But think back to those cars that truly supported you, day in and day out. Remember how it carried you, no matter the season. Think to each unfussed mile you put on the odometer. Reliability and frugality aren’t sexy, but they are very desirable traits, and ones that are truly welcomed and appreciated.

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