The Honda Concerto is quite a significant vehicle in the automotive world, as it was the brainchild of a landmark Honda & Austin Rover Group collaboration. Based on the EF Honda Civic, the Concerto was released in Japan in 1988, and the British-built version would follow in European markets one year later. 

The Concerto was designed to be the successor for the Honda Ballade, and would also serve as a replacement for the Integra of the time. Despite having surprisingly good performance, bombproof Honda reliability, fair fuel economy and great build quality, the Concerto never quite got its full time in the limelight here in the UK. 

Surprisingly, the British public instead opted to buy Rover 200/400s as they were considered slightly more upmarket at the time. The disappointing sales figures for the Concerto later contributed to Rover & Honda parting ways, and this iconic Japanese saloon would then become few and far between. 

Nowadays, the Concerto is regarded as an affordable classic and is quickly being considered by many an enthusiast and collector. Despite a few of these surviving to see the 2020’s, to find a Honda Concerto in this condition is a near-impossible task.

This Honda Concerto was originally purchased by a family, and had been transferred from wife to husband, and then back to wife. It was then purchased by a gentleman who was going to gift the car as a present to his Grandson upon passing his test, however, the grandson decided the Concerto wasn’t what he was looking for, and the car sat awaiting its next journey. 

That brings us to the current keeper, who fell in love with the car at first sight and decided to take it to a new home, where it was recommissioned and has been treasured ever since.

The car has only ventured out on dry days, continuing its well-cared-for and gentle lifestyle. Now, the car is ready to be passed to a new owner, be that an enthusiast or a collector looking for a perfect Honda Concerto to add to the collection.

Buyers will be pleased to know that this vehicle comes with an assortment of paperwork and history, including all of the original Honda booklets and resources. 

The paperwork also includes a letter from a previous owner, who contacted Honda to verify the car’s model and mileage. Along with this, the car will come with MOT until February 2023, the V5C, and a receipt for the vehicle’s recommission.

As the car had been so well preserved over the years, recommissioning the vehicle back in 2016 was a stress-free process, in which the car was treated to new fluids and an oil filter.

In addition to this, the car was serviced prior to 1997, as the Honda service booklet shows. The vehicle also received a new battery in June 2021, and will come with 2 keys.

The interior of this beautiful Honda is sublime and has been wonderfully preserved. The seats are in brilliant condition and show no obvious signs of wear and tear, which is almost miraculous for a vehicle of this age. 

The rear seats alone seem as though they have perhaps never been used, and could easily pass for new. Not only are the seats in such great condition, but they’re also exceptionally comfortable and make cruising in this retro saloon seem effortless.

The headliner is in excellent condition and pairs brilliantly with the electric sunroof to provide a bright and airy cabin. As expected, the dashboard follows suit with the rest of the car and shows no signs of wear, from the vent controls to the wooden accents. 

A sleek set of gauges presents the driver with all relevant information including speed, fuel, revs, mileage and gears. All dials and gauges are in excellent condition as if they’ve just come fresh out of the factory along with the rest of the car. 

Carpets and door cards are also as you would expect; practically spotless. As mentioned above, this car has only covered eight thousand miles and that is clearly reflected in the sheer lack of wear when it comes to the interior of the car.

Inside the boot, you can even find the original spare wheel and toolkit, which is still wrapped in plastic and has never been used.

To find a 1991 vehicle with such few miles and an exterior condition like this Honda Concerto would be a near-impossible challenge. The crisp white paintwork is in incredible condition and continues to shine from any angle, even after all these years. 

All exterior trim pieces and details are also in spectacular condition, from the crystal clear front headlights to the delicate black pinstriping down the side of the car. All window glass and mirrors are of course spotless, as are the inner door jams and kick plates. 

All 4 wheels are in brilliant condition and have worn their original trims with pride after all these years. When the vehicle was purchased by its current keeper, the car was still on the original tires which would have still miraculously been road legal due to the low mileage of the car had they not been out of date. Prospective buyers can however rest assured, that all 4 wheels are now wrapped in brand new tyres with lots of tread to enjoy. 

This is certainly a car to be admired, from its quirky little details such as the grilles on the rear headlights to its immaculate white paintwork. It cannot be stressed enough just how rare of an opportunity this would be, to purchase such a well-preserved original car.

With so few miles on the odometer and spotless MOT history, it should come as no surprise that the Concerto performs exactly as intended, without mechanical or electrical fault. The 1.6 4 cylinder pairs with the 4-speed auto gearbox to provide quite a smooth drive, and is still well suited to modern roads. 

The car certainly puts newer cars to shame, starting first time without issue, accelerating through each gear, handling bumps and turns, and braking brilliantly. All dials, gauges, and interior switches also work perfectly, as does the electric sunroof, which is a welcome touch on this retro car.

With popularity and prices for the Honda Concerto rising by the day, this is a fantastic opportunity to own a truly collectible Japanese automobile. This car is in spectacular condition both inside and out, drives perfectly, and needs nothing to be enjoyed by its next owner.

A perfect enthusiast’s or collector’s next purchase.


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