Some cars just seem to fade from memory and, through no fault of their own, just don't get the instant recognition that they deserve. Whether they are underappreciated American muscle cars or unloved European classics, some cars slip between the cracks and only get attention from those enthusiasts in the know.
The Honda Prelude is one such vehicle, a car that ran from the late seventies right through to the millennium and, despite being a fantastic car, never garnered as much love as it should have. Often overlooked by buyers and constantly left off lists of awesome sub-5k Japanese sports cars, the Prelude is a capable coupe happy to lurk in the shadows awaiting discovery.
From its boxy beginnings to its midlife smooth over, the Prelude remains a well-built sporting coupe that will entertain and deliver thrills way beyond what is expected from it. Quite possibly tipped as the next rising classic star, here are 10 things everyone forgot about the Honda Prelude.
10 An Expensive Debut
With a build quality and finish that matched world leader Mercedes-Benz, the Prelude was hailed by the motoring press upon its release. Its blend of exotic looks, high specification, and rapid performance won many a fan.
Held back by what was considered to be a very high asking price, those who chose to pinch the pennies missed out on a smooth 1.8-liter engine that was capable of sprinting through the quarter-mile in 18 seconds.
9 Eighties Pop-Up Headlights
Due to strict modern pedestrian impact safety regulations, the likelihood of ever seeing a pop-up headlight on a modern car is pretty much zero. The second-generation Prelude, though, got in on the pop-up headlight action in 1982 and retained them for nearly a decade.
Known to cause significant drag when deployed at higher speeds, the lights on generation two and three cars may have looked cool, but they were the one chink in the car's now highly aerodynamic armor.
8 Sporting Credentials
With its aerodynamic shape, sophisticated steering system, and agile chassis, fourth-generation Preludes became a popular weapon of choice for those looking to set fast track times, with one even racing an F1 car as a publicity stunt.
Spritely in basic street specification, racing teams have taken varying approaches to boost the performance to more competitive levels, with engine swaps from Accord race cars and forced induction being employed to provide 500 hp.
7 Four-Wheel Steering
An expensive option to develop and install the entirely mechanical four-wheel steering system added $1500 to the car's asking price way back in the 80s, the result being better low-speed maneuvering and high-speed stability.
As the rear wheels turned against the direction of the front wheels at lower speeds tighter turns could be executed making parking a doddle, while at higher speeds all wheels turned in unison to enhance handling.
6 A Much-Needed Revamp
With the end of the 80s drawing close, the Prelude started to look dated when compared to its competition, with them being far sleeker and in some cases boasting a lot more firepower.
To revive buyers' interest, a revamp was needed, and in 1991, the far more modern-looking generation car was released. Better looking than the outgoing model, the redesign dumped the pop-up lights to retain better aerodynamics.
5 Motegi & Type-S
Named after the motor-racing circuit, the special edition Motegi set itself apart from lesser models with a body kit, 17" alloy wheels, lowered sports suspension, and distinct rear badging to indicate its designation.
Known for keeping the best for themselves, the Japan-only Type-S came with a high-revving 2.2-liter VTEC motor that punched out 220 hp, would hit 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, and possessed truly fantastic handling.
4 An Overlooked JDM Gem
Due to the Prelude's performance falling strictly within the warm category, several beasts from the east would offer up more powerful, more focused, and much faster thrills for those seeking an exotic Japanese ride.
This lack of firepower though means that the Prelude is often overlooked by those simply wanting as many ponies as possible for their buck, a huge mistake when the car's entire package is weighed up as a whole.
3 Topless Beauties
Never officially offered as a factory-built model, the Prelude convertible was adapted into a roofless beauty by several German and US-based companies, some rare examples even being offered with Honda warranties.
Highly collectible thanks to their rarity and initial conversion costs, all convertible models, from every generation, sell way over their far easier-to-find hardtop siblings and hardly ever come on the market.
2 Better Than You May think
Those who decide to take the plunge and invest in one of Japan's best-kept secrets will be rewarded with a car that delights on many levels, is awesome to look at, is keen to please, and offers up decent practicality.
Capable in basic form, the Prelude can be further enhanced and improved through some simple modification or tuning to deliver a punchier driving experience or act as a now rare-on-the-road styling statement.
1 A Rewarding Drive
Dishing up fistfuls of grip, the fifth generation Prelude presents a fantastically agile companion, its razor-sharp handling allowing for rapid and easy changes of directions across a favorite snaking section of blacktop.
With a design that still looks fresher than most coupes on sale today, the 5th generation Prelude may not have all the interior bells and whistles expected from a modern car, but it is reliable, interesting, and something fabulously different.