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The 1980s saw a tremendous amount of change in the Japanese automotive industry. Cars from Japan were some of the highest-quality automobiles available and as a result, the Japanese manufacturers considered moving into the luxury market with vehicles that did not just compete with American luxury but with the European luxury segment.
The first company to market was Honda with its Acura brand, and the first car offered was the Acura Legend, a full-size luxury sedan aimed squarely at the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E Class.
The Pick of the Day is from the end of the first-generation Acura production run, a 1990 Acura Legend LS sedan.
Acura Legends were as well-built as other Hondas but larger in all dimensions while adding such niceties as leather interiors and climate control. The front-wheel-drive Legend was the first Honda car with a V6, a 2.5-liter engine with 151 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque that featured multiport fuel injection and four valves per cylinder. This might seem normal today but keep in mind that US manufacturers were still using carburetors and pushrod-actuated valves.
Also, at a time that suspensions in most cars were by MacPherson struts and beam rear axles for front-wheel-drive cars, the Legend took that up a notch with true four-wheel independent suspension featuring double wishbones up front and struts in the rear.
The Legend was very well-received, reviewers and buyers impressed with its fit and finish, and its well-thought-out ergonomics. The only major criticisms were for the Acura’s somewhat bland styling and less-than-engaging driving dynamics. Still, the Acura Legend was a very important car in the Japanese luxury segment as it paved the way for Lexus and Infiniti; it completely altered buyers’ expectations of Japanese cars.
According to the Kentwood, Michigan dealer offering this Acura on ClassicCars.com, it is a nice-driving Legend LS that has had only had two previous owners from new, and has accumulated just 89,000 miles. The sedan runs well with all features working as they should, the seller adds.
The previous owner had the timing belt replaced in 2018, the dealer notes, and the car is completely stock with the exception of a more-modern audio system.
Japanese cars from this era are rising in interest for collectors who attend such events as the Future Collectors Car Show and RadWood, as well as for those who want them just to drive and enjoy.
The asking price for this well-preserved Acura Legend is a modest $9,900, which represents a lot of classic Japanese luxury for the price.
To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
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