Rare Manual Coupe: 1995 Acura Legend – SOLD!

November 4, 2021 Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

Honda and Acura products of the late 80s and early 90s are well regarded as reliable commuters that also satisfy the needs of owners who seek more than a driver/appliance relationship. The Acura Legend may have been a proper luxury car, but for a time, Acura saw a market wherein buyers could have their cake and eat it, too. The Legend Coupe originally listed in October 2021 on Craigslist in the Washington, D.C. suburbs is an exceedingly rare six-speed manual gearbox for $5,000. Comparing this price against the NADA Price Guide shows us that some of the pricing models haven’t caught up with the scarcity factor, as it values an example in top-flight shape at $3,225 for the “High” retail rating.

The Acura Legend began life as a mildly warmed-over Honda Accord, retrofitted with leather seating surfaces and special cosmetic touches, like unique wheels and obviously revised front and rear sections. The driving experience wasn’t significantly different – svelte, and buttoned-down – so those first-generation Legends didn’t become performance icons. It would take a few years before Acura began making a name for itself in the sporting cars category, first with the hot hatch Integra GS-R and then soon followed by a hotted-up version of the two-door Legend. Step one was the big one, which was always offering a manual gearbox to customers; Step two, jam a 230 horsepower “Type II” engine under the hood and give it upgraded brakes and suspension without deleting a single luxury feature. It’s no surprise the Legend was a perennial bestseller.

The MotorWeek Retro Review Channel features this vintage road test of a sedan version of the Acura Legend when it launched in 1991:

Despite this, Acura still went in a different direction, eventually axing the Integra and the Legend, and moving in a direction that to this very day seems confusing. Even the new-generation NSX feels like it lost something in translation, which has helped ensure the values of the original NSX remain high. This Legend has all of the critical features enthusiasts want, from the manual gearbox to the two-door body. Unfortunately, that body has seen some things and there are several large dents that need to be worked on. I’m guessing the paint is fairly rough, too, and the seller admits as much in the listing. Miles are high but these cars are built for it; use the odometer reading to your advantage when negotiating a sale. This is peak rad-era goodness, and with the interior recently reupholstered, you can focus on hiring a dent doctor and buffing out the paint to bring some of that shine back. Good luck with the purchase if you pull the trigger on this two-door Legend.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“This is a very rare Acura legend coupe with a manual transmission. The front seats have been reupholstered and the car has passed safety inspection recently. The car needs cosmetic work with the paint.“

Do you have an Acura Legend story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!