Beschreibung
A rare opportunity to purchase a piece of motoring history. Rarely offered for sale in this condition, is our dark metallic green 1994, Honda Civic CRX. A genuine UK ESi edition it’s an early coupe / convertible featuring Honda’s mesmerising electric hard top roof. Fully equipped with the legendary 1. 6 injection VTEC engine, 5 speed manual sports gearbox and just 82000 miles from new, make it a must see for the sports car enthusiast.
Following on from Honda’s much admired Civic CRX MK2, Honda s next generation CRX was intended to be a radical update, designed to appeal to the emerging roadster buyers, so successfully exploited by Mazda & Toyota. The CRX MK3 cleverly delivered something for those MX5 & MR2 buyers whilst also retaining its appeal to existing Honda customers. Back in 1992 the arrival of the Civic CRX MK3 or Del Sol (meaning of the sun) took the motoring world by storm.
At first glance it presented as a distinctive exotic 2-seater roadster coupe. But a deeper dig revealed it was capable of also becoming a wind in the hair convertible. Here was something very special indeed. Innovative and exciting, the roof panel could be removed by hand and stowed in the boot. One of the things the motoring press at the time and no doubt Honda sales advisers contended with was, as fabulous as the car looked and drove, some customers needed an extra pair of hands to remove the roof. However this was already being addressed, Honda already had another ace to still play, as coming round the corner was a solution to not only solve this issue, but add something that would catapult it into history. The little CRX seater would become a sensation with the introduction of a roof that could be re moved electronically! Yes, it cost a lot more, but it was a much easier operation whereby the roof could be removed at the push of a button! By one person only, no need for anyone else. In only a few seconds the jaw dropping operation, sees the boot lid rise, grabs the roof and return the roof neatly back into the boot. Predating the much-acclaimed Mercedes SLK by years! Even today operating the roof attracts attention, there still is simply nothing like it. The buyer of our CRX will be happy to know its electric roof is fully operational and in fine working order. Another clever little feature of the CRX MK3 is its electric rear window. It's a 3rd window which can be independently lowered allowing for even more wind in the hair thrills.
Service History & Paperwork
Apart from looking and driving fantastic, further appeal and of extreme importance is that it has an incredible service history. There are 19 recorded service stamps in the Honda schedule along with a cambelt change, many receipts and invoices too. The last service was undertaken in 2020 at 82000 miles. The Honda document holder, all original supplied manuals and spare keys are also present. The car has had 4 previous owners & is fully HPI clear. A remarkable provenance and hard to find for a car that’s 27 years old. It has a full MOT(flew through as usual) for added reassurance to prospective buyers.
Engine gearbox and mechanics
Being the ESi CRX it’s fitted with the 1. 6i 125BHP VTEC overhead cam engine. Famed for legendary performance and economy. The CRX ESi whilst being a great car can lack a little of its sibling (the VTi’s 160BHP Zoom). Previous to our ownership the car was owned by a sports car enthusiast, who clearly decided trying to find a VTi edition in equal condition, would be almost impossible, so undertook a series of subtle but effective enhancements that greatly improved it’s driving performance.
The upgrades were carried out by Honda specialists at much cost and includes the following:
Pro sport coil overs,
Skunk 2 Rear LCA's,
K&N Panel filter,
New Red 8mm leads,
Silicone hose set,
Upper strut brace and lower Integra Type R brace,
Full stainless-steel exhaust and manifold (sounds
superb).
Engine carbon clean.
Torque was greatly improved throughout the rev range, demonstrated with the car pulling from 25mph in 5th gear. The VTEC engine screams into action at around 5500 revs, further catapulting the car along the road when required.
The engine starts and idles as it should with the gearbox and clutch super smooth and precise. Road holding and handling are superb. Economy easily hits the 40 + MPG. As you would expect with such a well-maintained Honda Its reliability is impeccable. It’s also worth a mention that the car recently had new tyres all round and a new battery.
Equipment
Electric convertible roof, electric windows, electric (heated) glass rear window, electric wing mirrors, stunning 5 spoke 15” Honda alloy wheels (with locking wheel nut), factory fitted rear spoiler, high level brake light, power assisted steering, ABS. 4 speaker CD stereo with operating electric aerial, central locking, quality alarm and immobiliser for added security. A sizeable boot and a host of lockable storage spaces make it surprisingly practical for away days and road trips.
Condition
Truly cherished & spending most of its life undercover or in a garage, has helped keep the paintwork free of rust and dents. The low mileage has further helped maintain a rip and damage free interior.
Overall, this is a fabulous CRX MK3 that goes as well as it looks and should provide years of typical Honda trouble free motoring. The best of both worlds awaits the new buyer, a sports coupe when the weather is not so good and a full-blown wind in the hair convertible when it is!
Genuine enquiries and test drives welcome (COVID conditions).
