1991 Honda CRX CRX

Description

Thank you for viewing my listing. I am selling my personal Honda CRX DX, 5 speed stick shift, with black interior. I have owned this amazing car for 12 years and it is technically a 2 owner car. The first owner was family owned, mother to son transfer. It has been a California car all its life with no rust or corrosion, accident free, and a guaranteed clean, free and clear title with no liens or encumbrances. The registration was just renewed and is good through August 2022.
Honda only offered this exterior color on this year and model so it is rare. It is Honda color B53P Celestial Blue Pearl. This color is often confused with another rare Honda color Tahitian Green Pearl which is more green. It has been a wonderful and reliable car over the years and will continue to be so for the next owner. You will rarely see another CRX like this one that has been so meticulously maintained, especially after reading my SUPER LONG and detailed description below. This car is 100% stock original except for the correct OEM sized 13 inch rims. Those rims were on the car when I purchased it 12 years ago, and I think they look great. This amazing car also has some of the desirable stock Honda CRX Si upgrades as you will see once you read on! Impeccably maintained with Honda OEM parts over the years.
Before I get to the car details, it is fun to talk about CRX a little.  I learned so much about CRXs over the years being an early 90s Honda fanatic.  In my opinion, 90-91 are the best model years of CRX, and 91 specifically. The reason is, it went from a kind of 80s car to a more modern era 90s car. The 90-91 saw the end of the unsightly rectangular instrument cluster in favor of a rounded curved one, which transforms the interior leaps and bounds into the modern era. Many do not realize that the interior of 90-91 is also darker.  It is Graphite Black, Honda color code NH167L.  The 89-90 is a either one of two Honda colors I don't know which; off-black, or sleek grey.
90-91 also has a facelift on the front and rear bumpers, with a lip at the bottom. It really makes a huge difference in style. And most importantly, 1991 is the only year the CRX had side impact door beams. There are other reasons 90-91 is the only way to go, but the last year, 1991, is the best year of the CRX in my opinion, and that is why I purchased a 1991 so many years ago.
If you know early 90s Hondas, the mileage of this car at 365K is rather insignificant. This actual car is still one of the most reliable cars on the road today. If well maintained, the car will simply run forever. The body and frame is rust and corrosion free just like new. I knew a guy that had over 600,000 on his CRX.
I have repair and maintenance receipts covering around 12 years. Any repairs and maintenance were done at my main Certified mechanic shop specializing in Japanese cars only. They only use Honda OEM parts, the same parts you would get from service repair at a Honda dealer. You are welcome to call them to confirm. Now if the part was no longer available, like the distributor for example, they would use Honda certified parts, meaning the same part contracted to the Honda dealer, which was a Honda certified aftermarket part. Now let's get to what you have been waiting for!  The details of this stunning classic and it's meticulous maintenance and care.
Mechanical:
- the original engine (no rebuilds or swaps here) starts right up and idles perfectly even and stable at approximately 650RPM once it warms up to operating temperature. The engine sounds great, no funny noises, no knocks, no weird noises. It revs up and sounds just like you would expect from a classic well maintained Honda engine, same as new
- all oil changes were done on schedule or even sooner than recommended, and during my ownership done with OEM Honda oil filters, which is the original Filtech spec Honda blue filter (not the cheaper Honeywell made replacement Honda one). I always use conventional oil, Castrol or other good brand, 10W30. Being in a warmer climate, there is no need for the 5W30. The owners manual says either one. However, if you live in a colder climate, where temps can get below freezing, the owners manual has a chart which recommends 5W30.
- the acceleration is swift and responsive with no hesitation whatsoever
- no burning oil or smoke, runs clean and passes smog with flying colors
- exhaust system is all original and working perfectly, no modifications
- the clutch works perfectly and the 5 speed gear box works flawlessly
- the steering is solid and firm and working perfectly, no play, no shaking
- the suspension works perfectly. No clunking noises, no shaking, no modifications
- the brakes work great, no squeaks
- the car has never overheated. Coolant was changed at 30,000 mile intervals, and with distilled water mixed with coolant.  Never use damaging hard calcium and high mineral tap water, which is not good for cooling systems!
- there are no fluid leaks whatsoever due to upkeep and maintenance.  Engine compartment upper and lower is completely dry
- tires are only 3 years old, with less than 2,000 miles on them
As far as smog, this car runs so clean due to upkeep that I have saved every smog check report over the years. The number of pollutants it emits is so low it is astonishing. The one time it did fail smog awhile back, it was simply the catalytic converter which needed to be replaced.
I have all the receipts over at least 12 years or so which you are welcome to review and will be included with the car. Here are some of the main highlights:
- timing belt, tensioner, water pump and all camshaft and crankshaft seals (all Honda OEM parts) done at 333,593 miles
- alternator, genuine OEM Denso brand (remanufactured) done at 327,658 miles. Including new Honda OEM belt. The mechanic confirmed the alternator taken out of the car was the original one. So it lasted 327,658 miles.  Incredible!
- new clutch (Honda OEM) done at 333,593 miles, along with all new manual transmission fluid.  Also new rear main seal was done (Honda OEM part)
since it was all apart anyway.  Great preventative maintenance.
- right axle seal replaced at 333,305 miles (Honda OEM part)
- oil pan gasket replaced at 333,378 miles (Honda OEM part)
- distributor (Honda certified) done at 333,638 miles
- main relay switch done at 339,143 miles
- outer tie rod ends, front lower ball joint, rack and pinion boots and alignment done at 331,619 miles
- valve adjustment, spark plugs, spark plug wires and valve cover gasket  (Honda OEM part) done at 329,354 miles
- A/C recharge at 361,937 miles
- front brake caliper, front brake pads, and resurface rotors done at 331,582
- new battery January 2020
- last year I personally replaced the speedometer cable, after the original one finally broke. Original Honda OEM cable (still available from Honda)
- while I had the instrument cluster removed, I replaced every one of the light bulbs with Honda OEM bulbs. It is amazing how bright all of the illumination is now, just like new, for many years of future enjoyment
Many other maintenance items were performed; I recall the spark plug tube gaskets.  There is a gasket down in the spark plug tube chamber about half way down as I learned. Brake fluid has always been kept clean which I did myself. The key is to keep the fluid clean in the first place. I use a plastic turkey baster to remove all the brake fluid from the reservoir every so often, about once a year.  Replace the reservoir with fresh brake fluid.  If you do this simple maintenance tactic every year, the fluid always remains crystal clear throughout the entire system and there is never any need to drain, flush and bleed. The fluid has been crystal clear for 12 years straight.
Honda, in my view, made one mistake with the CRX model lineup. They only offered the Si models with a power sliding metal sunroof.  And even worse, you could not purchase an Si without that sunroof. Everyone knows that over time all sunroofs rattle, break, leak, rust, squeak, etc. But most importantly it creates a degradation in the rigidity of any roof. This is one of the reasons I prefer the DX with its solid rigid roof is more ideal on a small car.
I owned a stock Si back in the late 90s. The slight reduction in horsepower from the 5 speed 1.6L Si to the 5 speed 1.5L DX is not a showstopper in my view.  You have to remember that while the horsepower is 17% less on the DX 5 speed, the DX is also slightly lighter.  The DX is as agile on corners as can be, and actually has a slightly better ride, and a bit less road noise than the Si. However, some of the cosmetic CRX Si upgrades really do transform this car into something even more special. So, way back decades ago this car became the perfect model for me with no sunroof. Because it also has some nice Honda OEM CRX Si upgrades, which I am sure you already noticed some in the pictures!
This CRX DX has the following CRX Si upgrades:
- much improved matching year 91 CRX Si seats with the red stripes. Many don't realize the 90-91 CRX seats are interchangeable between all models, 4 bolts in and out, no modifications. Passengers seat is mint like new. Drivers has some flattening of the cushion in the bolster area but still looks decent. No tears or rips in the fabric. There is also one little hole in the side of the driver seat. The seat has been kept nice for all the usage because of extra care getting in and out, not rubbing the seat.
- has the much improved matching year 91 CRX Si door panels with the CRX lettering. There are NO seat belt tears or rips due to being super careful over the years (truly amazing)!!!  There are seat belt buckle scuffs on the interior where the VIN sticker is though, which have been touched up.  A few times the buckle scuffed the VIN sticker too.  Speaking of the seat belts, the seat belts have been steam cleaned a few years ago, and now retract like new. Over time dirt and dust collects and reduces the flexibility of the fabric, but all good now.  So no more seat belt scuffs can occur.
- has the CRX Si upgraded illumination around the charging port (formerly known as the cigarette lighter)
- has the CRX Si upgraded glove box with the felt interior
- has the CRX Si upgraded sun visors with the suede on the upper side
Other notable factory original options
:
- rear windshield wiper (works great)
- air conditioning (works great, converted to R134a, blows ice cold)
- original Honda CRX 1000 stereo which works great
- rear OEM speaker harness wires for the rear speaker hookups. There are no rear speakers installed at this time. The front speakers were replaced many years ago, same size as the OEM, I think they are Pioneer
Exterior:
All original body panels and accident free. This car has been garage stored during the days for over 12 years, and mostly only driven at night. Being out of the damaging sun, heat and UV rays has kept the finish and interior nice, plus I wax the exterior once or twice a year. We don't get much rain here, and I can only recall a handful of times driving in the rain.  The windshield wipers work great, I replaced the blades recently.
The front hood, front fenders and doors are all factory original paint, super glossy factory finish. However, due to the mileage, you will see a significant amount of tiny pin hole sized paint nicks on the front of the hood by the Honda emblem. Hundreds of them over the years from airborne particles, tiny rocks, etc. There are a few nicks on the very front of the front fenders as well, and some minor scratches here and there, but nothing major.  There are no nicks on the top of the plastic bumper cover below the headlights, so it makes me think that was repainted at some point in the past.  If it was repainted, it was before I bought it.  Whoever did that bumper cover did an exceptional job.
11 years ago I had the roof repainted because the clear coat failed there and it started to peel off. The narrow rear deck behind the rear window was also repainted at that time due to clear coat failure. The rest of the paint is original paint as far as I can tell, shiny and glossy. There is some fading blemishes right at the top of the doors right by the top trim, but its nothing major. The original OEM pin striping still exists today, although it has been slowly fading away.
The car has no major dents. Just a few minor door dings here and there typical with age. Nothing that detracts from the overall beauty of this car. All of the glass windows are original, and I suspect the windshield is original as well.
There is a minor scratch on one of the rear tail lights just a few inches long, not that noticeable.
All exterior lighting is working perfectly; tail lights, turn signals, hazard lights, headlights, brake lights, marker lights, backup lights. I also replace all of the bulbs with Honda OEM bulbs, made in Japan. I never use Sylvania or other aftermarket bulbs. I get all of my bulbs from Honda, because they are better fit into the OEM sockets.  I replace the light bulbs every few years because the do lose brightness over time.  I am very particular about safety. All bulbs were replaced a few months ago and I can supply receipts showing purchase from Honda.  All original Honda OEM lenses on the car, no aftermarket lenses.
The often missing front license plate frame bracket is perfect condition.  I bought it from Honda a few years back when it was still available so I could have the front plate properly secured like new. California used to be relaxed about having front license plates installed on cars, but had started cracking down on missing front license plates a few years back so I installed it back on.
Interior:
Excellent condition. All of the buttons and functionality of the climate control and vents work perfectly, both heater and AC. The adjustable steering column works great.  The dimmer switch works great. Seat adjustments working great. Storage compartment behind the seat works and latches. All other storage compartments working fine.
The original rear cargo cover is not split, it is solid and in one piece (rare)!
No cracks in the dashboard or plastics due to being out of the sun for so many years. No major scratches or scuffs in the seating areas, very well taken care of interior.
There are many scuffs in the back rear cargo area side panels from transporting items over the years.  But of course that is covered by the cargo cover! No power windows to fail, the hand cranks always work! All interior lighting and illumination is working perfectly, dome light and rear cargo light. The gas cover latch and the rear trunk latch work perfectly. Even the often ignored seat belt indicator lights on the roof headliner are working.  The clock works perfectly.
The climate control has a small crack or two around the climate control knob, and small missing piece of plastic which is typical on these cars.  But when I took it apart years ago to repair it, I also replaced all of the illumination bulbs from Honda.  So it is now all nice and bright for years of future enjoyment.  I did not install any of those aftermarket faceplates over the climate control that you can buy, but the crack is repaired.  I believe in keeping everything original.  Also, I replaced many of the grommets and clips from Honda, when putting things back together like the center console units and door panels.  Many of those grommets and clips are no longer available at Honda.  New grommets and clips property secures things back to like new.
The car has the original donut spare tire, original jack, original tools and original Honda tool bag!
You will also receive:
- original OEM Honda 1991 CRX owners manual
- original OEM Honda 1000 AM/FM/Tape deck owners manual (super rare)
- two original Honda keys - no aftermarket keys here!
- a stack of maintenance, repair, and emissions test receipts going back over a decade
The listing only allows for 24 pictures.  This car deserves more photos to fully showcase!  If there are any specific photos you would like to see, such as below the cargo area where the spare tire is, or under the car, just message me and I will take some pics and send them to you, no problem!
The car was just washed and waxed yesterday 8/7/2021 with Meguiar's carnauba premium liquid wax, the only wax I use.  This is the real wax apply and wipe and shine, not the spray. I do not use any harsh chemicals ever.  For the engine compartment I just periodically wipe down each component with a damp microfiber towel every few years.
The pictures were all taken today, 8/8/2021.
Please note that the front and rear metal vintage license plate frames are not included in this sale and will be removed.  If you are a California buyer and transferring registration to your name in California, the license plates go with the car, unless you want new or customized plates.  If you are an out of state buyer, the license plates are not included and the plates stay in California.
This is a NO RESERVE listing. The highest bidder will win this remarkable classic unique car. Deposit of 0 due at listing close, or within the day of. The remainder of the funds due within 7 days via cashier's check, bank wire, or cash. If you need the vehicle shipped, you will have to arrange your own shipping, but I will certainly help you with coordination.
In summary, this is an amazing phenomenal car, fun to drive, and great gas mileage. This could be used as a commute car, or a secondary weekend fun car. No car has ever done with that CRX has done, and there will never be another car like it. CRX had revolutionized the 2 seater sporty car industry.
Additionally, these are very difficult to find in original, decent and complete package condition.  They have made it to classic status at 30 years old, and are becoming extremely rare. And just the rare sought after parts themselves, such as the Si seats, Si door panels and the cargo cover, if sold separately, would easily bring in ,500 in their current exceptional condition.
I have described everything to the best of my knowledge in the most detail.  Even with all of the detail, it is possible you may have questions, so feel free to message anytime.  Keep in mind that with any used vehicle, there is no warranty expressed, or implied. You are buying this car AS IS, WHERE IS. If you are in San Diego or Southern California, you are more than welcome to schedule an appointment with me to view and see the car in action. Just message me if you would like to see in person. Any questions just let me know thank you!