Tribute.
This Honda CR-X was built as a faithful tribute to the rare Japan-market only 1985 Ballade Sports CR-X Si — a one-year only halo model featuring the potent 1.6L DOHC ZC PGM-FI engine and exclusive details never offered on North American cars. The project began in 2014 when a genuine JDM ZC “brown-top” engine was sourced from H-Motors in California. A clean, rust-free USDM 1985 CRX Si with short SCCA race history (stock and straight) was then selected as the foundation. Over multiple years, dozens of rare OEM JDM parts were sourced from around the world to create one of the most authentic LHD Ballade Sports CR-X Si tributes possible.
History of an icon.
The Japan-market exclusive 1985 Ballade Sports CR-X Si marks a significant milestone in Honda’s history as one of the brand’s first fuel-injected models. Featuring the advanced 1.6L DOHC ZC engine, the rare one-year-only halo car showcased Honda’s commitment to innovation, performance, and efficiency during the 1980s. Beyond its exclusive design details and performance enhancements, the Ballade Sports CR-X Si set the stage for Honda’s future plans in fuel injection technology and engineering excellence. Never exported, this unique model remains a collector’s gem and a standout example of Honda’s pioneering spirit and style in that era. The groundwork for future VTEC engines started here.
The design.
The exterior of the 1985 Ballade Sports CR-X Si is one of the most distinctive designs Honda produced in the 1980s. Its short, wide stance, sharply cut Kamm-tail rear, and low beltline give it a purposeful, almost European sports-car presence. Signature details unique to the JDM Si include the subtle power bulge in the hood required by the taller DOHC engine, the rare motorized “eyelid” headlights, and the exclusive badging — “CR-X” with the hyphen, “BALLADE SPORTS,” and the bold “DOHC” rocker-panel callouts.
Simple grace.
Combined with the uniquely designed rear deck spoiler and the carefully proportioned glasshouse, the overall design exudes a sense of being both compact and remarkably athletic. This thoughtful combination perfectly complements the lightweight performance character of the car, enhancing its dynamic and agile appearance.
The designers.
Shinya Iwakura (岩倉信弥), was one of the key designers of the first-generation Honda Ballade Sports CR-X (and earlier models such as the first Civic and Accord). Japanese sources specifically credit him with the exterior design of the Ballade Sports CR-X. The designers of the first-generation CR-X were Osamu Akimoto and Shinya Iwakura. The photo shows him later in life pointing proudly at the “CR-X” badge on a black Ballade Sports CR-X — a classic image that has appeared in Japanese classic-car coverage of the model.
Honda fuel injection.
The first car in Honda’s history to use fuel injection was the 1982 Honda City Turbo. It went on sale in Japan on September 21, 1982, and was the first production Honda automobile to receive the company’s own electronic programmed fuel-injection system (PGM-FI). The system was developed further for use in the ZC 1.6 DOHC PGM-FI 4-cylinder engine featured in the JDM 1985 Ballade Sports CR-X Si. The 1985 Accord SE-i (Special Edition – injected) was the first U.S.-market Honda to receive Honda’s (PGM-FI) followed mid-year by the USDM CRX Si 1.5.
The sports car for all.
The 1985 Honda CR-X was a sports car designed for everyone, combining sporty performance with everyday practicality. Its lightweight design and responsive handling made it fun to drive, while its compact size and fuel efficiency ensured it’s suitability for daily use. Affordable and reliable, the CR-X offered an accessible entry point into the world of sports cars without compromising on style or excitement.
It all started with an engine.
When I was fifteen the Honda CRX was my dream car. I was building scale models, creating drawings, had a t-shirt airbrushed of a 1G and a CRX keychain made at the county fair, and so on. Fast forward to 2014, Steve from H-Motors calls me … “hey Chad, I just got a new container from Japan and I have a real brown top JDM ZC 1.6 engine sitting here, probably the last one I will ever see – if you want it, it’s yours!” I drove down to the valley that night and brought the engine back to my shop. It sat there on the pallet for a while. Then I started thinking … “maybe I could build a left hand drive JDM ’85 CR-X Si Ballade Sports” This was a one year only car and Honda didn’t even export them in 1985. In hindsight, I had no idea the challenge ahead of me. I have loved Honda CRX’s a long time (owned a dozen 1G & 2G’s) and I had to give it my best shot.
Research. Learn. Repeat.
2016 – Uncovering the JDM vs. USDM vs. EDM Differences
Building an accurate tribute meant going far deeper than simply swapping in a ZC engine and calling it done. I had to dig into every small difference that separated a true 1985 Ballade Sports CR-X Si from a regular USDM CRX Si. That meant studying Japanese-language sources, period brochures, factory parts catalogs, and obscure forum posts; comparing countless photos of original cars; learning the correct part numbers for everything from the eyelid headlight motors and center fascia to the specific rear seat pan, gas tank, door panels with Japanese labels, Ballade seats with the orange gradient inserts, steering wheel, wheels, emblems, taillights, and corner markers; and understanding subtle details like the power-bulge hood shape, the exact placement and style of the “CR-X” (with hyphen), “BALLADE SPORTS,” and “DOHC” badges, the unique gauge cluster, and even the correct screws, clips, and connectors. A lot of this information simply wasn’t readily available in English, so it took years of cross-referencing, reaching out to people around the world, and slowly piecing together what was authentic versus what was just “close enough.”
The same but different.
JDM 1985 Ballade Sports CR-X Si unique features vs. USDM 1985 CRX Si
Mechanical
- ZC 1.6 DOHC PGM-FI engine
- Power steering (option)
- Larger front brakes
- Unique gas tank
- DOHC rocker panel / side badges
- Shorter final drive ratio
- Re-tuned suspension (DOHC ZC)
- Unique washer fluid reservoir
- Sway bar
- Front knuckles
Exterior
- Headlights (header panel eyelids)
- Power bulge / hump on the hood
- Black belt-line trim
- CR-X (with the hyphen/dash)
- BALLADE SPORTS badge
- DOHC rocker panel / side decals
- Specific JDM rear deck spoiler
- Taillights – full amber corners
- Front corner markers (bulge)
- JDM Ballade wheels (brushed + gray)
- Labels in Japanese
- Unique red “Si” badge
Interior
- JDM-specific gauge cluster (7,000 redline)
- Occasional “one-mile” rear seat
- Ballade seats (orange inserts)
- CR-X (with the hyphen/dash)
- BALLADE SPORTS badges
- Door panels with Japanese labels
- JDM DOHC steering wheel
- Center console
- HVAC controls (icons only – no text)
- JDM sun visors
We need a CRX.
2016 – finding the right foundation
This was not my first car project and certainly not my first CRX. So I wanted to make sure that I found a straight, accident-free and most importantly rust-free car. With the engine secured, the search began for a 1985 USDM CRX Si. The car I eventually bought had a short SCCA race history but remained stock and straight, with a clean CarFax, Washington and Arizona roots, and zero structural rust. It carried an Arizona title. The seller was a great guy and very helpful. He actually had a brand new set of OEM CRX fenders on the car! I loved that it saw some track time. Although it had some well loved miles (~200k) this car was the perfect core for this undertaking.
We need parts. Lots of parts.
2016-2020
While the chassis was being stripped and prepared, the real marathon began — a global 24/7 search for the rarest JDM-only parts needed to turn this car into an authentic Ballade Sports CR-X Si tribute. I hunted across New Zealand, Australia, England, and especially Japan, spending countless hours on Yahoo Auctions Japan, specialized forums, and social-media groups. I am deeply grateful to everyone who helped not only source parts but also took the time to search their own networks, put the word out in local groups, and patiently school me on the smallest details that separate a real JDM CR-X from a close approximation. In particular, Takahiro Ito in Japan was (is) a brother at heart. His genuine passion for the 1985 Ballade Sports CR-X Si was inspiring; he sent books, emblems, and critical parts, and I will always be grateful for his generosity. Special thanks also go to Mitchell Prince in Australia and Alex at 3GSpares in New Zealand — their help was invaluable in locating pieces that simply do not exist on the open market.
after all fees, duties and shipping they were quite expensive and worth every penny
The work begins.
2016 – Tear-Down Begins – Engine Out & Chassis Prep
The car first went to my friends Andy and Gabe at AG AutoWerks so they could pull the original USDM engine. At the same time we acquired “donor car #1,” a 1986 Acura Integra, specifically to harvest the front-end components we would need for the proper JDM ZC engine swap. The transmission was sent to Independent Transmission in Ventura for a complete rebuild using all brand-new OEM Honda/Acura gears and synchros, and we bought new OEM Honda engine mounts for the swap. Once the engine was out, I brought the rolling chassis back to my shop and began removing the rear sections of the interior. From there the chassis went to my cousin Matthew’s shop, where he installed the genuine JDM rear seat pan and carefully restored the complete eyelid headlight system that I had sourced from a friend in New Zealand. After Matthew finished the rear seat work I picked the chassis back up, returned it to my shop, and continued stripping the rest of the interior until the car was ready for paint.
Paint jail.
2016
Once the chassis was fully stripped and prepped, it went to our friend Luis at Low-Cost Auto-body & Restoration for a complete glass-out paint. This included the engine bay and every surface so the finished car would look as clean and correct as possible. Luis and his dad took time to straighten panels, prepare the metal properly, and lay down a high-quality finish that would stand up to the level of the rest of the build. After the paint cured, the car was ready for the next major mechanical stage.
Engine & drivetrain installation.
2017
I trailered the freshly painted chassis back to AG AutoWerks so Andy and Gabe could install the genuine JDM ZC 1.6 DOHC engine along with the complete front-end package. This included the Integra-derived suspension components, knuckles, rack, brakes, new axles, and the rebuilt transmission. Their careful work getting the core engine and drivetrain properly mounted and aligned was a critical step that turned the painted shell back into a running car and set the foundation for everything that followed.
Moving forward.
2017 – Engine & Electrical Details – to BAR or not to BAR?
With the major mechanical pieces in place, the car returned to my shop where my friend and Honda master technician Walther and I spent many hours refining the engine bay and electrical systems. Walther focused on the finer details of the ZC installation, wiring, and ensuring everything was correctly routed and finished to a factory standard. This stage was slower and more meticulous, but it was essential to making the engine bay look and function the way a proper Ballade Sports CR-X Si should. Since the original plan was to BAR this CR-X in California we used the intake manifold from the Integra D16A. So Walther had to match things up. We still have the JDM ZC intake and all parts to go the full JDM route.
More things to figure out.
2017 – Systems and components assembly
The car then went to Ace’d Autoworx so my buddy Aron Cranford could work through the remaining systems and assembly steps. Aron sorted out the last exterior mechanical and interior electrical details that needed attention, helping bring the car closer to a complete and drivable state. His focused work during this phase kept the project moving forward and prepared the CR-X for the final home stretch of assembly.
Final assembly
2017-2020 – the home stretch
Finally the car came to my house, where over the following months Aron, Walther, Orly, and I worked our butts off assembling every part of the CR-X. This was the long, hands-on final stretch — installing the interior, exterior trim, remaining JDM parts, and countless small details until the car was essentially complete. It was the most personal and time-consuming phase of the entire project, and the one that finally turned years of work into a finished car.
Project cost.
This list shows the actual costs of the multi-year build. Every major part, professional service, and significant expense is listed so there is full transparency about what went into creating this 1G JDM Ballade Sport CR-X Si tribute. The total investment came to approximately $37,000 USD. While most of the labor was done myself at no charge (duh), the figures below reflect the real money spent on the car from 2014-2026, the rare JDM components sourced from around the world, and the skilled work of the people who helped bring it together.
| USDM 1985 Honda CRX Si, Rust free, Clean CarFax, short SCCA race history + lots of OEM parts | $5,500.00 |
| OEM JDM ZC 1.6 DOHC “brown-top” engine from H-Motors (approx. 50k KM) | $1,200.00 |
| 86/87 5 speed CG trans completely rebuilt with all new OEM gears and synchros | $1,700.00 |
| Full Honda OEM Integra swap including, rack, knuckles, linkage, mounts, etc. | $1,140.00 |
| Glass/trim/panels out complete paint, engine bay, OEM PPG colors | $3,400.00 |
| Brand new windshield, OEM spec. | $300.00 |
| Honda OEM JDM CR-X Si Ballade seats with orange gradient inserts | $1,825.00 |
| OEM Honda JDM CR-X Si Ballade steering wheel | $350.00 |
| OEM JDM OEM Honda Ballade wheels (not USDM made to look like JDM) | $575.00 |
| All new OEM Honda CR-X Si engine mounts and trans mount | $370.00 |
| OEM Honda JDM Rear Deck Spoiler | $1,100.00 |
| JDM Complete Flip up headlight system is complete (painted but not installed) | $1,435.00 |
| OEM JDM emblems – all | $385.00 |
| New OEM CR-X Si brake lines | $250.00 |
| OEM Honda JDM CR-X Si Rear Seat Pan welded in, JDM gas tank, rear seat parts | $2,375.00 |
| OEM Honda JDM CR-X Si taillights (amber corners) | $325.00 |
| OEM JDM CR-X Si front corner markers | $180.00 |
| New Honda OEM CR-X Si antenna | $90.00 |
| OEM JDM CR-X Si door panels with Japanese labels | $490.00 |
| New OEM spec Toyo radiator made in Japan | $400.00 |
| Brand new Interga CA compliant catalytic converter (CA BAR route) | $310.00 |
| Acura Integra brakes that match 1985 CR-X Si Ballade – new OEM spec Brembo rotors, pads, etc. | $425.00 |
| Brand new torsion bars from Upgrade Motoring to match OEM spec | $500.00 |
| New OEM spec Japan 555 control arms, ball joints, bushings | $250.00 |
| New OEM KYB shocks front and rear | $200.00 |
| New OEM wiring harness hybrid for 86 Integra / 85 CRX | $450.00 |
| New OEM spec axles | $300.00 |
| Re-manned AC compressor KEIHIN Japan | $250.00 |
| New OEM Honda side view mirror | $330.00 |
| New OEM spec AC condenser | $180.00 |
| New FP7000 tires – OEM spec | $400.00 |
| Honda OEM ZC brown top valve cover in mint condition | $500.00 |
| Brand new Honda OEM CR-X Si front fenders | $700.00 |
| Actual real factory front vanity plate from the 1985 JDM CR-X Si show car press photos | $520.00 |
| Brand new Honda OEM factory carpet (with sound insulation backing) | $510.00 |
| New OEM Honda battery | $110.00 |
| OEM JDM ZC CR-X Si tach gauge cluster | $350.00 |
| OEM Honda “OK” interior window decal | $50.00 |
| All Honda OEM screws, bolts, clips, connectors, plugs, etc. | $250.00 |
| Labor hours paid out of pocket to Walther, Aaron, Orly, Gabe, Andy and others | $7,210.00 |
| My hours (enjoyed them all) | $0.00 |
| Total (as of 2026) | $37,185.00 |
Current status & FAQ.
Why are you selling this CR-X?
To be totally honest, I am afraid it will get scratched. This has been the pinnacle (so far) of my passion for Honda cars. As much as I would love to turn some hot laps in it – I’d be too stressed out at track days. And that is what I want to get back into. As we all know, “things happen” at track days. The journey with this CR-X has been a blast. A real journey through the history and legacy of a car that will always be dear to me. I am ready for the next chapter (again). Not sure what I will do next – but after decades behind the wheel, many tracks days, restorations, custom builds and a total of 73 cars (20+ of them Honda’s) I am excited to get back to the track. There’s probably gonna be another CRX at some point.
Is this CRX good to go?
The car is complete, registered as an antique auto in Tennessee with a clean title and clean CarFax. It is currently stored in a climate-controlled garage. It is insured with Hagerty for $35K. This is a well-documented, highly authentic LHD tribute to the rare 1985 Ballade Sports Honda CR-X Si. It is ready for a new owner who will appreciate the work that went into it and really enjoy it. The paint has been cut and buffed to a deep gloss. The sunroof works perfectly. Mechanically the car is sorted and runs well. Many extras and OEM parts will be included.
The crossroads – full JDM spec of CA BAR?
As it sits, the CR-X could stay just the way it is. But I would love to find someone that can take it to the next level. All the parts needed to finish it as a full spec left hand drive JDM Ballade Sports CR-X Si are here (importantly the ZC intake and headlight system). I believe the car can still be BAR’d in CA if you want to go that direction (I have done it with CRX’s in the past – it is doable). Currently it has the D16A (Integra) intake manifold system installed for that purpose. But the real JDM ZC intake manifold comes with the car to take it the JDM spec direction.
A few items remain:
• The complete JDM eyelid headlight system is finished and painted but not yet installed (it will be included with the sale).
• There is a slight muffler gasket leak that should be tightened.
• The air conditioning system has a remanufactured Japan made KEIHIN compressor installed but still needs to be charged.
• The stereo needs some love. Only wants to do AM these days.
Included with the car:
• The complete JDM eyelid headlight system (not assembled or tested)
• The original OEM ZC intake manifold (USDM 1G Integra D16A1 manifold currently installed)
• A rare OEM Honda car cover and a custom California Car Covers cover
• Many OEM Honda parts and extras which I will list and provide photos of
The photos.
Resources and credits.
Links, sources and info that helped make this happen.