Honda Prelude Cars

Honda Prelude Cars: Solid Sports Car with Traditional Styling

Honda Preludes are two-door, coupe-style sports cars that were much ahead of their time, both in design and performance. eBay has a wide range of Honda Preludes listed at a variety of price points.

Produced between 1978 and 2001, there are five generations of the Prelude:

• First-gen (1978–1982): The original Prelude borrowed the engine, brakes, and struts from the first-gen Accord, but had a new chassis. The profile was wide and low.
• Second-gen (1982–1987): The second-generation Prelude came with a brand-new platform, had pop-up headlights, large glass surfaces, and was amply equipped. This version was more popular in the UK than its predecessor.
• Third-gen (1987–1991): Powered by Honda B20A engine variants, this model car had more evolved styling and period-appropriate pioneering features, such as roof pillars and optional four-wheel steering setup.
• Fourth-gen (1991–1996): Introduced in 1991, the penultimate model came with power steering, an upgraded brake system, and the engine capacity bumped up to 2.2 litres from 2.1 litres. Pop-up headlights were no longer included.
• Fifth-gen (1997–2001): The final variant Preludes returned to the third generation’s squarish body style. All trim packages and models remained within the BB5-BB9 chassis code and had either an F-Series or H-series engine.

Picked by Formula One as its Safety Car during the 1994 Japanese Grand Prix, Prelude cars have the following characteristics:

• Engines are free-running and smooth, with ideal performance kicking in at higher revs (above 4000 RPM).
• All Prelude models, except for the VTi-R variant, came with either a four-speed automatic or manual five-speed transmission. Driving enthusiasts often chose the manual option.
• The car’s suspension was designed to deliver the right balance between handling and ride quality.
• Brakes are solid, particularly on the ABS models.

Honda Preludes do not appear outright sporty. They look like typical sedans, but once you get behind the wheel, the car oozes with sportiness. A sports coupe is more about the driving experience it offers than how it looks, and the Prelude conforms to that. Moreover, unlike traditional sports cars, Preludes focus a lot more on luggage space and rear-seat passengers. It explains why the car included a longer wheelbase and increased height.

The Honda Prelude typically has a rigid body, rear bulkhead, and well-designed side sills that increase the car’s safety quotient and contribute to reduced noise, harshness, and vibration. Passengers in the rear will appreciate how the reinforced wheel housings and rear suspension mounts help eliminate annoying external noise. The signature Honda build quality and reliability show in Prelude models of all years.