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The Honda Prelude:

The Honda Prelude was first introduced in 1979. The Prelude was the most powerful car that Honda offered in 1979. The engine was the 4 cylinder, SOHC, 1751 cc CVCC that offered 72 horsepower at 4,500 rpm. The first generation of Preludes was offered in either a two-speed automatic or a five-speed manual. It made use of an engine oil cooler and transistor- controlled ignition system and the MT pushed out 90ps. 4-wheel independent struts were used. Leather seats were offered as an option and the infamous electronic sunroof was (surprisingly) included as a standard option in some models. The AT started out with only 2 gears, but by October 1979, Honda added a 3-speed AT with the final gear as the OD.

1983 -1987

The second generation Prelude was totally redesigned. It was made to have a lower profile and smother lines to look more like a true sports car. The new Prelude was a much stronger car that its predecessor. It had totally redesigned suspension as well as a new four-cylinder engine that put out 100 Horsepower at 5,500 RPM. 

Then in 1985 Honda offered the Prelude Si which was had a fuel injected engine that had 110 Horsepower. Another new feature that was added on to the second generation was the addition of disk brakes in the rear.

1988 - 1991 Honda Prelude

The third generation of Prelude was actually very little changed form the second generation. Most of the lines were the same, however there were a few design changes. The biggest change was the very front of the hood. On the second generation, where the hood slopes down to meet the bumper it is a grille. However on the third generations that slope is just a continuation of the hood. A few other cosmetic changes were made. On the back taillights where in the second generation it had “Prelude” written in large black letters was changed to a smaller version in silver.

However, the big changes for the third generation were under the hood. The standard engine in the S model was a 2.0 litre, 12 valve SOHC rated at 104 hp. The Si received a 2.0 litre, 16 valve DOHC engine that put out 135 hp. This was the largest engine that Honda had ever put into a street car a that time. Another big addition was on the Si was four wheel steering. Another nice feature that a buyer could have gotten was a factory CD player. This is something that was not yet standard on any cars in 1988.

1992 - 1995

A completely re-designed fourth generation Prelude was introduced in 1992 with three variations: the standard S model, the Si, and the Si with 4WS. The S's engine had 135 horsepower, both Si versions produced 160 HP.

The new Prelude had all new sheet metal that was made slightly shorter, but a little bit wider, with new headlights and taillights, new wheels, and new seating fabrics. The car was given even more rounded lines than the second and third was. The roof sloped down to the trunk and the headlights went from the roll up to ones that sloped up the hood.

In 1993, the Prelude received the VTEC engine, variable timing and lift electronic control,  that sent the horsepower of the car to an incredible 190!

1996 - 2001

After the total redesign in 1996, the fifth generation went back to the lines of the third generation. The designers kept the width of the forth, but went back to the length of the third generation. Another new feature that was added to all of the fifth generations is that the VTEC engine comes standard. With the added room that was given to the fifth generation Prelude, it is considered by some to be the most luxurious Prelude from the line. However, with dropping sales and the introduction of the all new S-2000 convertible, Honda pulled the plug on Prelude.