1999 Honda Civic EK4 VTi Jordan No.110 of 500
April 16, 2025
Back in the late ‘90s when Formula 1 was arguably at its most exciting, the sport’s last great privateer team owner, Eddie Jordan, was on a winning streak. 1999 was Jordan’s most successful season in F1, winning two races with driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen and finishing third in the Constructors’ Championship. The switch to Mugen-Honda engines had been instrumental in these victories, and so Honda commemorated this momentous achievement with the launch of the Civic VTi Jordan – a limited edition EK4 Civic of which just 500 were built.
Now that Eddie Jordan has gone to the great pit garage in the sky, we thought it fitting to pay our tributes to the limited edition hot hatch that bore his name. And as luck would have it, there’s one up for auction with Car & Classic.
The EK4 was Honda’s sixth-generation Civic, and those with the ‘VTi’ badge had Honda’s groundbreaking VTEC DOHC engines. In 1.6-litre form, the VTi had 160 bhp, could hit 60 mph in a whisker over eight seconds and was capable of a 140 mph top speed. There was also a 1.8-litre version, but acceleration and handling suffered due to the increased weight. The 1.6 is the one to have, and it’s this engine that would power the three-door Jordans.
Following in the footsteps of the Renault Clio Williams, Honda used an F1 team’s colours and name to sell more cars. There weren’t any specific mechanical alterations; frankly, it didn’t need them. But the visual differences were striking and propelled the Civic VTI Jordan to cult hot hatch status, becoming an icon of the late 1990s. Jordan-specific features included a plaque signed by Eddie Jordan, with the car’s specific number out of 500 stamped on the centre console. All came in Sunlight Yellow, an homage to the Jordan F1 livery. Jordans had a striking yellow and black leather interior, punctuated with Jordan decals down the sides and Jordan script stitched into the seats and carpets. It was the fastest Civic available in the UK at the time and the precursor to the first Type R, a model that would soon go on to become a legend in its own right.
This 1999 Civic VTi Jordan is number 110/500 and has covered just 60,795 miles from new. It’s a highly original, beautifully preserved example, especially considering this car is fast approaching its 30th birthday! The seller has spent a great deal of time and money bringing the car up to this high standard, with copious cosmetic and mechanical improvements detailed in the listing here.
So far as the classic and collectable car market goes, you’ll have probably noticed that ‘90s hot hatches have never been, well, hotter. Those who remember these cars in their heyday are reliving their youth through this increasingly sought-after modern classic. Even if the Civic VTi passed you by at the time, there’s a lot to love about a lightweight front-wheel-drive hatch with a rev-happy naturally-aspirated twin-cam. The Jordan Grand Prix connection and the immense rarity of this special edition are, if nothing more, certainly an added bonus.
The auction starts on 23rd April. Come on; we know you’re tempted.
