Prelude Model Guide

1st Gen

This is where the Prelude all began, with the 1st gen prelude being made from 1978 to 1982. The exterior looks dated now and power output are well below modern standards, but the original Prelude’s are surprisingly good cars. Reviews at the time of its release stated that it handled just as well as its German competitors in BMW and Mercedes. This generation of Prelude came with either a five speed manual or a two speed semi automatic . The engine was a EL SOHC 8V 1602cc engine. A catalytic converter was added to the Prelude in the ‘80s.

2nd Gen

The second gen prelude was sold from 1982 to 1987. From the outside the Prelude’s design looks almost the same as the older generation with one key difference. Cars of this time period used pop-up headlights, and while this feature produced less drag on the car when the lights were down, using them produced significantly more drag.

Most of the changes came with the powertrain. Early 2nd gen models used a 1.8 litre 12-valve twin carb engine with 105 hp. ‘85 saw the introduction of the 2 litre DOHC 16-valve engine upping the power output to 110 hp. The Honda Prelude SI featured a fuel injection engine that was not found on other models, which made it the more expensive option. Even now a Prelude SI from this generation sell for more than the other models. However because they had such little horsepower, they are not worth as much as cars from a similar time period.

3rd Gen

This generation of prelude, made from 1987 to 1991 was the car that solidified the Prelude’s status as a serious sports car. The 1987 Prelude actually won Car of the Year from Wheels magazine. The first thing most buyers notice about this generation is its angular design when compared to the boxy design of previous models. The bonnet is is far sharper, which gave it better aerodynamic properties. Most of the changes, as with the previous model, came under the bonnet.

The 3rd gen Prelude was the first car ever to feature full mechanical 4 wheel steering to help with the handling, this was why it received such rave reviews at the time.. This improved the vehicle’s handling, and the Prelude was able to punch well above its weight. This generation was also backed up by a stronger Honda BOA2 engine that provided up to 140 hp on certain models like the SI.

4th Gen

The fourth generation from 1991 to 1996 was the Prelude that had VTEC engines introduced to it, these were very popular with Honda fans. Regarding the overall design, the front was extended and the back was raised to give the car a sloped appearance. The sharp angles found in the third generation were replaced by curves, but nobody could mistake this version for a sedan. In fact, this body type is preferred by many owners over the last generation.

Going with the theme of previous generations, there were many changes under the bonnet. Normal Preludes received the F22A1 engine with 123 hp. The SI’s power was upped with the introduction of the VTEC engine that gave the car up to 185 hp. Early models still used the SI name, but as the VTEC engine became so popular the name was changed from the Prelude SI to the Prelude VTEC.

5th Gen

The last generation of Prelude was available between 1996 and 2001. Prelude was effectively replaced after this, by the Integra DC5. Most noticeable visual changes on this car was a more boxy design compared to the sloping shape of the previous generation. These models look similar to the third generation with the exception of the longer bonnet.

Standard Preludes came with an F-series engine, Honda’s big block engine that won a spot on Ward’s 10 Best Engine list for 1996. VTEC models were marketed as Prelude VT and used the more powerful H-series engine for stronger performance. It was a racing engine, and provided plenty of power for sports car enthusiasts.