SP Rides: Prelude to a Dream
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Jonathan Mapanao
Age: 23
Occupation: Advisor, Tony Honda Car Wash
Hobbies: Cars, girlfriend, friends
Year/Make/Model: 1990 Honda Prelude Si
Color: Phoenix Red
Engine: B20a5, cold air intake, KN intake filter, Aftermarket Exhaust, CC delete
Exterior: 1FunRyd Style 1 front lip, Fog delete, Philips 194 led light (parking light), OEM hood bra, 2.1 Si side mirror, OEM window visor, Cf 1FunRyd rear visor, 1994 4-door Accord ex side skirts, OEM wing, Custom rear lip, Aftermarket Fender flares
Interior: NRG 3-spoke steering wheel with hub, NRG quick release
Sound: Alpine deck, 2 12-inch Kicker subs, Boss 1,500-watt amp
Suspension: K sport adjustable coil-over, Cusco front strut bar, JNC031 Wheels 17×9 et30, Lexani LX-Seven 205/40ZR17s
The Honda Prelude is one of those memorable import cars that have stood out for as long as it’s been around. And even though the ever-affordable and super-accessible Civic has been a popular choice for many, the Prelude has certainly won over its share of fans.
Count Jonathan Mapanao among the car’s most ardent followers.
At first glance, it’s difficult to believe that his ride — a 1990 Honda Prelude Si — is over a quarter-century old and still sporting the original OEM paint. The Phoenix Red exterior absolutely glows thanks to the luscious paintjob that has been well preserved through the years. With its sleek, early ’90s lines, it’s no wonder many in the industry have nicknamed it the “baby NSX.”
The exterior has been modified further with extra styling cues thanks to a 1FunRyd Style 1 front lip and rear visor, 2.1 Si side mirrors, and a custom rear lip. Side-skirts pulled from a ’94 4-door Accord have been modified to fit and fender flares have been added for a little extra width.
Mapanao appreciates the Honda lineup and is essentially starting over with this 2.0Si model. Before, he was quick to buy just about every fancy doodad he came across. But with this Prelude, he is doing a slow burn on its build by choosing to be extremely selective with his purchases. You could call this a beginning for him.
This model comes with a B20A5, which is a less popular but highly unique member of the Honda lineup. Unlike other engines such as the B16, the parts for this engine aren’t readily interchangeable. Currently, the only power added is through a cold air intake with K&N Filter and an aftermarket cat-back exhaust. The catalytic converter has been removed for better flow while the bay has been stiffened with a Cusco front strut bar.
As for the interior, it’s in phenomenal shape. The dash and surrounding cockpit components are extremely well maintained. A beautiful NRG 3-spoke steering wheel hub has been mated to a quick release system as a safety and preventive measure. The indicator console has been color-matched to add spice to the relatively stock interior. As part of the package, two Alpine 12-inch kicker subs and a Boss 1,500-watt amp to power the subs provide some intense bass and boom.
Dropping this already slim ride on K-Sport Racing Coil-overs essentially turns it into a low-slung FWD sports car. JNC wheels sized in 17×9 all around really stand out against the sumptuous paint thanks to the Matte Black centers with Machined Bronze Lip. The wheels match perfectly with the style of the vehicle as a nice modern yet retro throwback to the 1990s. Lexani LX-Seven performance tires sized in 205/40ZR17s clad the gorgeous wheels for some nice grip.
This car is what you would consider OG import style. “I just show want to show that we’re still in the game,” said Mapanao.
