When it comes to legendary JDM models, Honda is up there with Toyota, Subaru, and Nissan in turning out some of the most iconic iterations. Toyota gives us the Supra; Subaru, the Impreza, Nissan, the Skyline GT-R, and Honda offers us models like the Honda NSX, but there are plenty made by the sometimes unfairly overlooked JDM maker, from sedan to classic coupe, that are gaining traction again on the collectors market.
From everyday commuter models to purpose-built performance models, these forgotten Honda legends are once again becoming popular for collectors and are worth looking at if you are in the market for driving something a little different and with a lot of character.
2000 Honda Civic Si
Five-Speed Manual And Sports Coupe Fun
Boasting a relatively affordable $27,318 average auction price and a steadily rising Classic.com benchmark price of $20,238, the 2000 Honda Civic Si is once again becoming a sought-after JDM model. It offers an engaging ride, a lack of distracting junk in the cabin, and sleeper-esque looks. Up front, you get a mesh grille; the front bumper is relatively muscular compared to the standard 2000 Honda Civic, and a relatively powerful 160-horsepower/111-pound-foot 1.6-liter DOHC VTEC B16A2 inline-four sits under the hood. The engine can redline at 8,000 rpm and is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, and while rest-to-60 times are relatively pedestrian at 7.1 seconds, things are made up for by engaging feedback, a very reliable engine, and a huge amount of aftermarket parts available to juice it up.
1992–1997 Honda Del Sol
Polarizing But Collector Potential
Today, you can pick up the cutesy and fun Honda Del Sol for the average auction price of just over $10,000. Yes, it is underpowered, and multiple owners have complained about the lack of real feedback on the road, but the targa top, SOHC and DOHC engine options, nippy driving availability, the small dimensions, and its unique roadster style make it a forgotten Honda legend in our books. Plus, with only approximately 75,000 units sold over its lifespan in the U.S.A., and only circa 6,000 VTEC models sold, they are certainly not the most common classic Honda you’ll find on the road. There were three trims originally available: the Del Sol S, the Del Sol Si, and the Del Sol VTEC. The Del Sol S is equipped with a 1.5-liter SOHC inline-four good for a maximum of 106 horsepower; the Del Sol Si is equipped with a 1.6-liter SOHC inline-four good for 127 horsepower, and the rarest Del Sol VTEC models get a 1.6-liter DOHC inline-four that can shift out 160 horsepower and get you to 60 mph in the six to seven-second ballpark.
1988–1991 Honda Prelude
Distinctive Style, Engaging Feedback, And A Reliable Engine
Honda is reviving the iconic Prelude nameplate in 2026, and we can’t wait to see the real results. However, if you don’t have $43,000 for a new one, the third-gen 1988 to 1991 Prelude is available at an average auction price of $16,811. For this relatively small amount of money, you get an iconic 80s style in abundance, with pop-up headlights, a boxy build, a sharp nose, a low hoodline, and a lot of glass that offers a near 360-degree view. Power comes in the form of three different engine choices: a SOHC carbureted 2.0-liter B20A3 inline-four that trickles out 104 horsepower in Prelude S models, a fuel-injected 2.0-liter B20A5 DOHC inline-four that can kick out 135 horsepower under the hood of the Si models, and a DOHC fuel-injected 2.1-liter B21A1 inline-four under the hood of the 1991 Prelude Si that can shift out 140 horsepower. What makes the third-gen Prelude stand out is that it comes equipped with Honda’s first use of four-wheel steering, so not only do you get some NA engine fun, but also a very engaging ride for its price.
1997–2001 Honda Prelude SH
It Looks Like A Prelude, But It Has Got More Performance Features Than You’d Expect
As possibly one of the best Prelude models ever created, the fifth-generation Honda Prelude SH is an icon for many reasons. It looks the business with flared wheel arches and a slightly muscular yet still sleek style; it comes equipped with the Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS), which actively pushes torque to the outside wheel to tighten up steering (hence the SH in the name: Super Handling); it boasts a stiff chassis and 60:40 weight distribution, and it takes the Prelude nameplate and adds some guts. Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter H22A4 DOHC VTEC inline-four good for 200 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque, mated to a five-speed manual; this translates to 0–60 mph times of around seven seconds. For all this iconic style and quiet performance grit, prices can be steep, with the highest-priced model (a 2001 highly original and mint condition model) recently fetching $60,000 at auction.
2008 Honda Civic Mugen Si
A Very Hard Honda To Find, But Worth It If You Can
It may look similar to the 2008 Honda Civic Si, but the Civic Mugen Si is an exceptionally rare beast that got the full-works treatment from Honda’s performance partner, Mugen. There were only 1,000 of these rare Civics ever built, and in the last five years (according to Classic.com), there has only been one sold via online auction; for its rarity alone, it is collector-worthy. It comes painted in unique Fiji Blue Pearl, and it rides on 18-inch forged wheels and stiff springs. A sports exhaust lets rip a raspy tone from the rear, and a unique five-piece body kit provides a front spoiler, side skirts, a rear diffuser, and an adjustable rear wing for track-worthy looks and feel. Under the hood sits a powerful 197-horsepower 2.0-liter naturally aspirated K20Z3 inline-four mated to a six-speed manual and a limited-slip diff, which, when working together, can get you to 60 mph in around 6.5 seconds. It isn’t one of the fastest Hondas ever created, but it is one of the rarest and funnest.
1986–1991 Honda CRX Si
Lightweight, Manual Transmission, And Old-School Looks
There is no denying that the 1986–1991 Honda CRX Si has a bit of a cult following, and today it is a collectible little number. However, finding an example that hasn’t been tampered with and is in its original condition is a little harder. Average auction prices for the second-gen CRX are currently sitting at just over $18,000, while you can expect to pay up to $71,500 for a totally original and mint-condition CRX Si. They are like hen’s teeth to get; a lot have been modified. The ’86–’91 CRX Si comes equipped with four-wheel double-wishbone suspension, a lightweight build of around 2,200 pounds, and a reliable fuel-injected 1.6-liter SOHC D16A6 inline-four good for 104 horsepower. While the horsepower of the original U.S.-market models is low, the lightweight build and nimble handling rig help give it a go-kart feel, which has yet to be directly replaced by Honda. For real JDM models, the early CRX Si models come equipped with a DOHC ZC engine good for 128 horsepower, so if you can find one and import it, you get some extra juice.
1985–1989 Honda Today
Useful, Fun, And Versatile Little Kei Car
As part of the first generation of the Honda Today, these iconic little Honda Kei cars may make us wish that Trump’s plans for producing small cars in America would actually come to fruition. The ’85–’89 Honda Today wasn’t originally available in the U.S.A., but today, it is one of the cool JDM models we can now legally import. Only a handful have been sold in the last few years, with prices ranging from $3,000 to $6,000, and having one would certainly make you stand out in the least showy-off fashion possible. Under the hood is a tiny 545-cc OHC two-cylinder that can muster a maximum of 41 horsepower, but if you are looking for something that is seldom seen, cutesy, and a real Japanese-market-only model, then there isn’t much more unique than the Honda Today; this is why we think it should be seen as a proper JDM legend.
1983–1986 Honda City Turbo II
Tiny Hatchback Turbo Guts
Another JDM model that we originally didn’t get in the U.S.A. is the Honda City Turbo II, one of the coolest Honda models created. This turbocharged little pocket rocket boasts a 1.2-liter turbocharged inline-four that can push out 108 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. The City Turbo II only tips the scales at around 1,600 pounds, so combined with the perky mill, independent rear suspension, stabilizer bars, hefty ventilated front discs, and small dimensions of 134.6 inches (L) x 64 inches (W), you’ve got yourself a very fun little hatchback to dash about in. Originally, the Turbo II was sold with a fold-away 49-cc Honda Motocompo scooter, which neatly tucks into the trunk, but finding an example with both the original car and bike together is becoming very difficult. To put it into perspective, the highest auction price of a City Turbo II without the Motocompo recently went under the hammer for just over $25,000; the most expensive City Turbo II and Motocompo pairing recently sold for $47,000. They are a real JDM collector’s prize.
1966–1970 Honda S800
A Forgotten Forerunner Of The JDM World
The Honda S800 is sorely overlooked, but it is arguably the forgotten Japanese coupe that changed everything for Honda. Today, the Classic.com ballpark price is $37,000, but it looks to be rising, while the average auction price currently sits at $57,400; like all classic cars, condition matters. Only just over 11,500 Honda S800 models were made, so in the grand scheme of things, they are very rare (especially considering that they were first built 60 years ago and there won’t be nearly that many still left today). We can see why collectors love them already, but it is also the way the S800 is set up that makes them so desirable. Firstly, it comes equipped with a NA 791-cc inline-four that kicks out 70 horsepower and redlines at over 8,500 rpm, so you get very exhilarating and honest feedback underfoot. Then you have a choice between early models that boast chain-driven rear wheels or later models that benefit from a live rear axle, and a vivid, direct, and agile feel behind the wheel, courtesy of stiff springs and manual rack-and-pinion steering. It is old-school JDM engineering at its absolute finest and most classy, and while the S800 is largely forgotten, it would make for a heck of a model in a collection if you can find one.
1964–1966 Honda S600
Rare, Relatively High-Priced, And Made To Be Driven
Currently boasting an average auction price of just south of $50,000, the Honda S600 is a largely forgotten legend in the JDM world up against the likes of the Impreza, Supra, Miata, and NX. However, it really shouldn’t be. It boasts an alluring style with real 1960s charm, and a high-revving (reportedly 8,500 to 9,500 rpm) 606-cc DOHC inline-four sits under the hood and gives it an almost motorbike feel, especially because it lets rip a high-pitched, race-esque scream when you floor the gas. It was the forerunner to what we love about Honda engines throughout the 20th century: high-revving and characterful. However, it is not all just about its looks and sounds; the Honda S600 was built to be driven, and it was one of Honda’s first mass-marketed models that helped to set the stage for everything else awesome that was to follow. It boasts a lightweight build of 1,576 pounds; a four-speed manual sends power from the engine to a differential and then to chain-driven rear wheels for a unique handling feel, and a fully-independent suspension with torsion spring bars helps to shore up handling and traction. Only around 13,000 of these beauties were made, so they are relatively rare, but the real collector’s prize is one of the 1,800 coupe models created.
Sources: Classic.com, Bring A Trailer, and Kelley Blue Book.