This 1981 Honda Prelude Convertible May Only Have 72 HP But It’s Quite Special

The Honda Prelude Convertible is a car that you may not even know exists and if you’re in the market for a unique Honda, there’s one rare example that is currently up for sale.

Honda itself did not build the Prelude Convertible and then sell it to consumers. Instead, each car started out as a regular Prelude before The Solaire Corporation converted them into convertibles. While it is unclear precisely how many examples were produced, some claim that as few as 37 came into existence. All of them came with Honda warranties and were sold through Honda dealerships.

The Prelude Convertible in question is a 1981 model and up for sale via Whitmore Motors in Ashland, Ohio. Despite its age, it has apparently been driven just 16,200 miles (26,071 km) and looks pretty much exactly the same as it would have when it first left Honda’s factory.

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A sleek shade of red bathes the exterior and the car continues to sit on the original star-shaped silver wheels. A pair of black front and rear bumperettes also catch the eye.

In converting the Prelude into a convertible, The Solaire Corporation removed the roof and replaced it with a removable soft top. It is understood that the rear shock towers and sub-frame of the car were strengthened to make up for the lack of a fixed roof, although we suspect it isn’t as rigid as an coupe.

Found in the cabin of the special Prelude are grey cloth seats with a red dashboard and red transmission tunnel. The interior appears to be in good condition and includes an AM/FM radio.

The Solaire Corporation doesn’t appear to have made any engine modifications to the Prelude. As such, it continues to be powered by a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder that pumped out 72 hp in U.S.-specification back in the day.

The dealership selling the car has listed it for $14,200.