What's up guys. I have a rare 1980 right hand drive Prelude that was imported back in the united states in 1983 or 84 and I'm trying to find a few things. First off the car never had it's legalization paperwork passed down nor does anyone know where it's at. Reason I'm trying to find it is so I can figure out exactly what port it came through, who originally owned it and what exact year. So far I've traced it back to one guy, a David J Balbaugh, last seen with the car in Bluffton Ohio. I've called the Ohio DMV only be to laughed at as to why I need someones name or address, even with my situation. The EPA was demanding my car isn't legal if I don't have the paperwork for it, hence why I'm trying to call you douchebags. They were no help, no anything else.

Can anyone help me or know of a way to find the original owner or records for the car? Any sites for importing cars in the US, like a database of such?

 

Nope ther is no websites for imported car information and tracking somebody down from 1983 is gonna be very tough. And if the car was properly registered (hence why the EPA is harrassing you) from the begaining you wouldnt be in this situation.


Getting a real rhd imported Honda USA street legal is alot tougher and more expensive than you think and Id say at least 80% of jdm Hondas on US soil arnt even registered legal or correctly. Im guessing the origional owner/importer didnt go thru the correct steps back in the day or the EPA wouldnt be harrassing you. Otherwise you would have the propper documents to show them. Not much you can do at this point in my opinion so good luck.

 

Just read some of your build thread, that is a very cool car. But judging by the story of how you got the car the paper trail seems somewhat fishy. I really hope you can fix the registration issue you are having but in my eyes it doesnt look good.

 

the thing is guys, the car IS registered.... and has been from multiple owners before, correct?

you may have to get a lawyer involved...

 

Yes and your right, if I would have the original documents, there would be no questioning about it. Only reason I called the EPA was to just for ***** and giggles see if they had ANYTHING documented with the legalization of the car. Apparently not and to be truthful, I'm starting to just take it as it is and continue on. But even like you said, the paper trial seems a little fishy so I'm not sure how it was brought over or correctly legalized. The car did have a cat, us bumpers with lights, rear side markers, mph decals and more done to it so I'm guessing it was properly brought over but with no papers, who the hell knows.

So far I've got a name of the guy but can't seem to find him, he has multiple addresses and has moved numerous times. Hopefully he's not dead but I'm thinking of just sending postcards out to each address and seeing if anything comes back. Odd chance you think?

 

lol, yep and the funny thing is that the car was re-registered again in Michigan after the owner bought it and the previous owner was a jackass for not giving him the title (or so I'm told). He had to take multiple pictures of the vin and other things to prove to them that the car was real. I think it took him like 4 or so months to finally get a title rolling in the mail.

But thanks dude, I appreciate you chiming in. No lawyer....if I can't find anything, than so be it but I figured I'd at least try.

 

Oh nice, I didnt know it was converted to US safty standards. I wish you the best of luck.