Old Man Newbie

[Mblount]

I graduated in 1973 so I was around when Muscle Cars were very hot. I have an ignorant question that a young man I know has ask me to back him. I am in the Gun Business with a very bright young Man that is a Mechanical Engineer. My money his intelligence and drive. Anyhow before we got into the gun biz he was buying Import cars mainly Honda's. He has a guy here in Orlando that he gets Japan engines 220 HP. He buys very high mileage Honda's then buys a 60,000 mile engine for around $ 700 ( yes I know about Japan's tough pollution laws ). I am very Internet savvy so it didn't take long for me to figure out Importers are importing millions of low mile engines from Japan. He has a mechanic that will pull the engine and install the newly imported one. He usually has body work and gets all Cars re painted at a good price. I like helping young guys that are energetic and motivated to be in the Biz world. A couple of Old Man questions.
A. When did a Honda Prelude become a Muscle Car?
B. What market is buying these cars with 220 Hp.?
C. Buying used Honda's for me is pretty much a no brainier because I have attended my fair share of car auctions.
D. I honestly have not seen these souped up Honda's on the road. And yes I have seen them on You Tube.
E. By the way he is not just hung up on Honda's because he said you can do the same thing with Toyota, Nissan's etc.
F. I am one of those guys that love getting into new ventures and have usually done well but not on all of them.
G. Now I would love everybody's input and I have thick skin at my age so don't worry about my feelings

[deevergote]

A. I've never once heard the Prelude referred to as a muscle car. It's also been out of production for over a decade. I have a Prelude engine in my car, as well as a 6.0L LS2 in my CTS-V... the V is a muscle car. The Accord is sporty and efficient, and in its own way feels more "raw" than the V8.

B. The Japanese market bought the cars with 220hp, because that's the only place they were sold. The 220hp engines are actually very uncommon... and quite expensive. The 200hp versions are much more accessible.

C. That's not a question. But yes, Hondas do indeed hold their value to a point.

D. Also not a question. But these cars are on the road. If you want to see one that obviously has some power... look for an intercooler in the front bumper.

E. Again, not a question. But yes. In fact, you can do the same with anything... Chevy, Chrysler, Ford, VW, etc... Any compact car can be modified the same way as Hondas are modified. Hondas, especially in the early to mid 90s, were just made extremely well, with a good deal of performance potential. Plus, the aftermarket embraced even the cheapest of Hondas, more so than many other brands. You'll find far more for a Civic than you will for a Corolla or Sentra. Probably because enthusiasts of other brands had more traditional sports cars accessible to them. Honda enthusiasts in the 90s could soup up their Civics or Accords, spring for a Prelude... or take out a mortgage for an NSX.

F. and G. - not much to say there. Welcome to the site!

[LadyG]

I have a different answer for D.
You don't see them on the street because of the issues between the cost of the build and the ability to insure/ protect it.
It is very hard to buy insurance for a car who's blue book is 2400 but it has 6000 in parts and labor into it.
They are often stolen, and rarely recovered intact.
if they are "known" cars with thousands in parts, they are even more at risk. Usually, the guys with that kinda investment in their rides only bring them out for races/shows, and have a regular old beater as a daily.

E. My Boyfriend owns a import customization business, (linked in my sig) he does motor swaps, wire/brake tucks, roll cages..blah blah. Not just on hondas either. (He did some work on a Maverick about a month ago. There is a "Honda" comparable "scene" for Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota and the Euros. (VW, BMW, ect)

I doubt there is a chassis out there that doesn't have some kind of modification/customization/enthusiast scene behind it.

By the way... we have a few members over 40 here, and quite a few over 30, you may be in the "kiddie pool" forum-wise, but there are plenty of adults here.

What brought you to Cb7tuner? Did you buy one?

[PakaloloHonda]

I graduated in 1973

I got you beat! Class of "70" here ..
Played with 55 chevy's to 67 chevelle's then got into the "beetle" scene ..
built a nice vw scirocco and another jetta .. ever since then, it's been Honda's ..

Welcome to the site!
It's nice to see us "older" guys still playing gear-heads ..