A rare first-generation Prelude reaches the end of the road in Denver.
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The 1979-1982 Prelude was much smaller and less powerful than later generations, but still looked sporty by the standards of its era.
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Howling red interiors became more fashionable later in the 1980s. Honda was a trendsetter in this department.
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That little round plug next to the fan-speed control is where the A/C button would have lived, had this car been equipped with the costly refrigerated air option.
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Let’s just admire these red-on-red seats some more.
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You had to have a sunroof to be cool in the early 1980s, and this car has one.
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There’s a bit of rust, but not much when you consider that most of these cars dissolved like sugar cubes in hot water during their first decade in America.
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Sadly, first-gen Preludes don’t seem to have much of an enthusiast following in the United States.
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Honda went to to six-digit odometers late in the 1981 model year, but that was too late for this car. Did it drive 21,919 miles (unlikely but possible), 121,191 miles, or 721,919 miles? We’ll never know.
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These back seats look very uncomfortable, despite the beautiful colors.
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It appears that the final owner smoked Dutch Masters Royal Haze cigarillos… or dumped out the tobacco and replaced it with something stronger.
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It was cheaper than the VW Scirocco and more expensive than the Datsun 310GX. Its interior was redder than both.
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Keyword: This 1981 Honda Prelude Will Bring Its Bordello Red Interior to the Crusher