The 1981 Honda Prelude
Manufactured by Honda, the Prelude was a front wheel drive I4-engined coupe that was introduced in 1978. The third main model in Honda’s modern lineup, the styling of the vehicle was a mixture between the Accord and Civic. Developed as a better-equipped and more stylish step up from the Accord, the first-generation Prelude featured a wealth of standard equipment that included a power glass ‘moon-roof’ that eventually became a Prelude standard. The Honda Prelude used the floor-plan and the 1.8-liter CVCC with the upcoming second-generation Civic, and the SOHC engine from the first-generation Accord sedan. It also borrowed the strut suspension and brakes from the Civic, the only difference being in the location of the front anti-roll bar that was mounted behind the axles rather than in the front, where it doubled as a trailing arm. A rear sway bar was also fitted into this first generation Prelude.
Spanning five generations of cars, it was eventually discontinued upon the release of the fourth-generation Honda Integra in 2001. In 1987 Wheels magazine featured the Honda Prelude as Car of the Year.
Equipped with a 1751 cc SOHC CVCC I4 engine, the Prelude was capable of producing 72 hp and had 94 lbf-ft of torque. It came with a 2-speed automatic called the HondaMatic, and was equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and 68 hp. In 1982, The second generation Prelude came available with a 12-valve carburated engine, and in 1985, fuel injection was introduced. The first to have pop-up headlights, allowing for a more aerodynamic front, the second generation Prelude was available with a DOHC 16-valve PGM-FI engine in Japan and Asia. This engine was released in Europe until 1986.
In 1983, the Prelude model was lower and wider than the earlier models. The 1.8 liter CVCC, SOHC engine was fed through two side-draft carburetors, the end result being a additional 25 more horsepower than the old Accord. The MacPherson strut front end with a double A-arm front suspension was replaced by Honda to accommodate the low hood line and improve camber control.
The 1984 Prelude model was declared the best sports coupe for under $12,000. Car and Driver rated the Prelude’s handling second only to the Porsche 944.
The 1988 Prelude received recognition in the 1987 Road & Track for beating every car of that year including Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Porsches. Phenomenol for those days, the Prelude reached 65.5 mph compared to the 1988 Corvette that did the same in 64.9 mph. Receiving a facelight in 1990, the Prelude now featured slightly larger tail lights with clear indicators rather than the previous yellow from before. Other updates included the front bumper changed to feature clear indicators along with park lamps, and different styling.
The fourth generation Prelude was released in 1991, (outside of Japan in 1992) and featured a major overhaul. The adaption of a electronic version of the four wheel steering system, and increase in engine size went from 2.1L to 2.2L for the base ‘S’ model. This new model mainted a close to perfect 58% front and 42% rear weight distribution. These fourth generation models marked the end of the era of pop-up headlights as well as other features that had earned the ‘Prelude standard’. The glass sunroof no longer retracted intro the car but extended out and over it, the front fascia of the car became wider with fixed headlights. The rear end became wide, rounded and fairly high in comparison to the flat and wide design of earlier models.
