My '82 Prelude, restore or replace?

Hi, Folks,

I'm the only owner of a 1982 silver Prelude (automatic [sorry], with
AC and the four-spoke mag wheels, dead "moon roof"). The car has only
118,000 miles on it, spent all its life spent in Virginia, and I have
every receipt the little bugger ever generated for service, etc.

I've had two paint jobs, same color, with body work chasing the usual
rust sites in the wheel wells and leading/trailing edges of the cab. I
crumpled the passenger door recently, which has hurried forward the
third rust-chase/repaint (last done in '99). Now, with factory, Maaco,
and '99's base coat/clear coat, I have three layers and a piece of
work ahead.

I have about $5K to put into a car, and that's what a local,
lacquer-only Richmond, VA gentleman wants for a
bumpers/windshields/light housings dis-assembly, rust-plug (with
metal), and then a sand-to-metal, four-plus coats silver lacquer,
three coats clear coat. He seems to do very good work, and it will
take a month. (Second old car available.)

I could go for it, or buy a $5K "pre-wrecked" ten year-old something
or other.

My best guess is to do the restore and hope to recoup a few pennies in
the antiques market down the line. Will there be one? Should I finally
say goodbye to the old girl?

Many thanks,

Travis

 

Do this thing only if you are comfortable with the idea that is an act of
nostalgia.

Under no circumstances is it economically feasible to sink $5k into this
relic. It is also unlikely that any Japanese quasi-sports car like this
will ever have more than token antique value. The only Japanese old car
that will likely have a significant following is the old Z's from
Datsun/Nissan, imho.

Otherwise, get your mind in a place where you can part with this car so that
it can rejoin the circle of life. Sheet metal never goes away forever; it
just gets freed up for some other purpose, just like our atoms after we
exceed our .

regards,
KL

 

IMHO, an 82 Prelude won't ever be worth very much (sorry!). I would
replace the door with one from a junkyard and get another macco paint
job if I was going to go the repair route. IF you decide to sink another
5k into your car, you probably will never get recoup that on the market.

I'd get something else, and keep it around as a project.

Just my .02, it's worth what you paid for it.

Carl

 

id just drive it as-is. maybe replace/fix the door and get another maaco
special. save the $5k for something else, ya know?

why spend $5k on a car thats only worth $2k in mint condition?

 

I'm the only owner of a 1982 silver Prelude (automatic [sorry], with
AC and the four-spoke mag wheels, dead "moon roof"). The car has only
118,000 miles on it, spent all its life spent in Virginia, and I have
every receipt the little bugger ever generated for service, etc.<<

I understand your dilemma. I just parted with my beloved 1982 Prelude (blue,
also auto) in June. It broke my heart, as it was my first car. I had no choice,
as it was rusting and the seats were literally disintegrating. I have a great
mechanic, so it ran fine, but it was still underpowered for today's highways
(and forget about accelerating with the a/c on!).
I got a Civic EX sedan with all the bells and whistles, so that made my
decision a little easier. Good luck in whatever you decide. I agree with the
poster who said you have to get your head in the place where you're ready to
give it up.