Junkyard Find: 1982 Honda Prelude

Murilee Martin
by Murilee Martin

The Honda Prelude became bigger, faster, and sportier as the 1980s progressed, so we often forget that the first-generation version was such a little car.

330,201 miles. That’s 11,000 miles per year for 30 years. There’s no telling how many head gaskets it has been through, but an impressive achievement by any measure.

I’m sure that some 1979-82 Preludes came with interiors in colors other than French Cathouse Red, but I can’t remember seeing any.







Murilee Martin
Murilee Martin

Murilee Martin is the pen name of Phil Greden, a writer who has lived in Minnesota, California, Georgia and (now) Colorado. He has toiled at copywriting, technical writing, junkmail writing, fiction writing and now automotive writing. He has owned many terrible vehicles and some good ones. He spends a great deal of time in self-service junkyards. These days, he writes for publications including Autoweek, Autoblog, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars and Capital One.

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  • Laserwizard Laserwizard on Feb 18, 2016

    This is Honduh's mutant version that shows that Ford wasn't the only clueless company to sell ugly front drive coupes. FYI, EVERY Honduh sold now is a bloated version of its former self from the 1980's. Honduh has forgotten how to build great products - there used to be something about their low belt and hoodlines - now everything is chunky and flabby and UGLY.

    • Drzhivago138 Drzhivago138 on Feb 18, 2016

      Something tells me I shouldn't trust someone's opinion on Hondas if they can't spell Honda.

  • Paul Taka Paul Taka on Mar 24, 2023

    Hi, where can I find 1982 Honda prelude junkyards in 50 states

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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