Dusty Memories: Panda CRX
8 Jun
My 1991 Honda CRX Si was the first meaningful project car I ever owned. In many ways, it was my initiation into automotive culture and my first wobbling steps into engineering. I learned a lot, and did as many things wrong as I did right.
When I finally sold it to a very excited girl named Natalie (or was it Natasha?), I had replaced most of the major systems in it: Engine, transmission, wheels/tires, brakes, exhaust (headers all the way back), and repaired most of the rust (there was more that I wasn’t aware of lurking in the rocker panels).
Dig it. I have owned 3 CRXs, my first was a 1989 Barbados Yellow Si, it got a DOHC ZC swap at around 130k and was driven for awhile after that. I had a first-gen, a silver 1987 Si, for awhile, and most recently I had a black ’90 DX with a SOHC VTEC swap. I’ve put in a lot of miles behind the wheel of those cars, and a lot of hours under the hood…great cars, reliable, fun, good looking, and since it’s a 2-seater, you never have to drive when you’re going somewhere with more than one other person
Haha, it’s funny that not having to drive was one of the main selling points for me too (and continues to be with my new projects too!). This particular CRX ended up with a b18a1, and CRX2.0 got a DOHC ZC. It’s always interesting meeting other CRX owners, and finding out where they went after they had a CRX. Thanks for dropping by, man!