HONDA

CRX

The Honda CRX -- originally launched as the Honda Ballade Sports CR-X in Japan -- debuted in 1983 as a compact two-seat sports derivative of the Civic platform. Designed at Honda R&D with an aesthetic partially inspired by the Alfa Romeo GT Junior Zagato, the Honda CRX combined fuel efficiency with genuine driving pleasure at an accessible price. The first-generation Honda CRX (1983-1987), sold in North America from the 1984 model year, weighed just 1,700 lb (771 kg) in base form, and production in the United States alone reached 57,286 units for 1985 and 66,629 for 1986. In late 1987 Honda completely redesigned the Honda CRX for the second generation ED-chassis (1988-1991), offering three trim levels: the entry DX, the ultra-frugal HF achieving over 50 mpg on the highway, and the sporty Si powered by a 1.6-litre DOHC engine making 105 hp in North America. Outside North America, the Honda CRX received Honda's landmark B16A VTEC engine from September 1989, producing 158 hp and inaugurating the VTEC era in a road car. Total Honda CRX production across both generations reached close to 400,000 units worldwide before the model was replaced by the Del Sol in 1992. Today the Honda CRX is a rapidly appreciating youngtimer: a clean 1988 CRX Si worth around $9,000 in mid-2024 has since surpassed $22,000 according to Hagerty, a 145% rise. Unmodified original examples are increasingly scarce as many were modified for street racing or have succumbed to rust, making well-preserved Honda CRX specimens the most sought-after 1980s Japanese sports cars on the market.