Honda Civic Si: The Ultimate 80s Experience?

This stunning 1986 Honda Civic Si, a true gem of the classic Honda community. Brought to you from the amazing people at the American Honda Collection Hall.

This JDM legend is a testament to the Civic culture that has been thriving for decades, and its sleek design is sure to transport you back to an era of big hair and big dreams.

Join me as I take a closer look at this beautiful piece of Honda history and experience the ultimate 80s experience. Whether you're a die-hard Honda enthusiast, a Civic lover, or just a fan of JDM classics, this video is a must-watch.

So, sit back, relax, and let the nostalgia wash over you as we celebrate the iconic 1986 Honda Civic Si.

Welcome to  Drive Culture!

A detailed car review YouTube channel hosted by the ultimate car enthusiast, Jonathon Rivers!

Who is Jonathon Rivers?

Well, he's a +15 year Auto Industry veteran, born and raised in the Motor City!

He lived several years in Japan, speaks & reads Japanese, and now works for American Honda Motor. (Although this channel is his own & not affiliated)

He's owned several fun cars including a Evo IV, multiple Civic Si, Focus RS, and most recently the Integra Type S (which he lead planning for Acura)!

He's also been lucky enough to drive just about every key new product in the market from compact cars, to SUVs, EVs and super cars!

If that isn't enough to prove his "car guy" status, Jonathon has also been featured in Motor Trend, Car and Driver, AutoBlog, Jay Leno's Garage, Raiti's Rides and the SavageGeese channels! He's on Instagram here and Facebook here.

Check back every Friday at 7am Pacific Time for new content and videos!

Here's a transcript, cleaned up via AI and edited by a staffer:

Clean Transcript: 1986 Honda Civic Si Review

Intro

It still feels fast. It still feels fun. It's just fun to rev it out, and it sounds good.

[Music]

Welcome to Drive Culture. I'm Jonathan Rivers, and today we have the 1986 Honda Civic Si. I'm going to tell you why this is one of the best generations of Si. We'll cover the exterior, interior, powertrain, and of course, take it for a drive. If you're into this kind of content or you're new to the channel, please subscribe and hit that notification bell.

Pricing

This is a pristine example of the 1986 Honda Civic Si. It’s an important vehicle and a key part of Honda’s history. This particular car came from the American Honda Collection Hall, a museum located at Honda and Acura’s headquarters in Southern California. We've featured other vehicles from the collection on our channel, so be sure to check those out as well.

For context, the third-generation Civic debuted in 1984, but it wasn’t until 1986 that the Si variant was introduced in the U.S. Before that, there was only a Sport or "S" trim. The Si—short for “Sport Injected”—brought F1-inspired engine tech, exclusive design elements, and a more performance-focused package. Back in 1986, MSRP was around $8,000. That’s quite a difference compared to the modern Civic Si, which starts above $30,000.

This example is finished in Victoria Red and is in incredible condition. The paint, trim, and overall appearance look like it just rolled off the dealer lot.

Exterior

On the outside, this Civic Si is true museum quality. The Victoria Red paint is in excellent shape, and even the headlights, plastic pieces, and trim are pristine. These aren’t the original tires, but overall, the car looks almost new.

This third-generation Civic had a distinct, boxy shape with strong character lines. Even the Honda badge is squared off to match the aesthetic. The front features a basic grille, rectangular headlights, orange signal indicators, and a simple bumper design. The styling is very angular and clean—typical of the '80s.

Moving to the side, the long door and extensive glass area make the cabin feel spacious. The 13-inch steel wheels feature the old-school Honda "H" logo. These wheels are wrapped in 175/70 R13 tires—small by today’s standards.

Other details include blacked-out mirrors and trim, a pop-out glass sunroof with a unique removable cover, and a retractable antenna. There’s also a lockable gas cap. At the rear, the taillights extend across the hatch, and the rear wiper sits below the iconic Si badge. There are drum brakes in the rear and disc brakes up front.

Interior

Inside, it’s just as immaculate as the exterior. Everything from the buttons to the materials looks brand new. The car has just under 114,000 miles, but you wouldn’t know it from the condition.

The steering wheel has a tri-spoke design and a small diameter—thin and simple, with just a horn icon and the classic Honda "H" badge. There are no extra buttons or controls like in modern vehicles.

The analog gauge cluster is clean and stylish, featuring black faces, orange fonts, and white needles. The redline is at 6,500 RPM, and the speedometer tops out at 120 mph. The dashboard is low, which, combined with the thin A-pillars and extensive glass, gives excellent visibility.

The center stack includes a digital clock, vents, a Panasonic tape deck, and climate controls using old-school slider bars. There’s a cigarette lighter and ashtray up front, plus a storage cubby designed to hold cassette tapes.

Controls are mostly manual: knob-adjusted side mirrors, roll-up windows, a manual parking brake, and a basic shifter. The front seats are surprisingly good, with solid side bolstering and supportive headrests.

The pop-out sunroof includes a removable shade that stores in the trunk.

Rear Seats

At 5'10", I have plenty of headroom and a bit of knee room in the back. It’s surprisingly spacious for a compact car. You could realistically fit four adults without too much trouble. The materials match the front, and there are small headrests and even a second ashtray.

Cargo Area

To open the hatch, you use a mechanical key. The rear glass lifts to reveal 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up. The seats fold 50/50 for additional room. Honda included a removable sunroof shade, which stows neatly in the rear.

Powertrain

This is where the Si came alive. In 1986, Honda added a 1.5-liter inline-four engine with PGM-FI fuel injection—first seen in the 1985 CRX Si. It produced 91 horsepower and 93 lb-ft of torque, paired to a 5-speed manual and front-wheel drive. This setup made the Civic Si a true sport compact.

Drive Review

Starting it up is straightforward: insert the manual key, clutch in, and twist. The engine fires right up. There are no drive modes or digital gadgets—just a raw, analog experience.

Even with 114,000 miles, the car feels solid. Over railroad tracks, the suspension handles bumps well, and the chassis feels tight. With a curb weight just over 2,000 pounds, the car is nimble and responsive.

Despite the modest power output, it still feels quick and fun. The engine loves to rev, and it sounds great doing it. There’s no VTEC or turbocharger, but the car’s light weight and engaging dynamics make it a joy to drive.

Cornering is sharp, turn-in is direct, and the visibility is excellent. It feels like a go-kart on public roads.

Outro

That wraps up our look at the 1986 Honda Civic Si—the first Si ever made. Let us know in the comments which generation Si is your favorite. Would you like to see more heritage models and old-school JDM cars featured on the channel?

Thanks again to the American Honda Collection Hall for the opportunity to film this pristine Civic Si. If you're new here, make sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more. See you in the next episode.

[Music]

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