HONDA CRX Del Sol Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Honda made a bold move and attacked the affordable roadster market with a car based on a hatchback’s platform and offered a unique open-top mechanism for those who didn’t want to sit next to the vehicle and remove the roof’s midsection.

The second car ever developed by Honda was a roadster, the S500, and the Japanese automaker continued producing open-top vehicles throughout its history. But the Civic CRX del Sol was different than anything else on the market. It was a front-wheel drive open-top targa vehicle that could carry two and provide fun for all while still being able to be used as a daily driver thanks to its low running costs and the notorious Honda reliability proven not just by the del Sol but also by its sibling, the fifth-generation Civic.

With a front fascia that resembled its hatchback sibling, the del Sol featured a second pair of round lamps integrated into the upper side of the bumper. On the apron, Honda placed the broad air intake needed to cool the engine. The corner-mounted turn signals marked the car’s width.

From its profile, the CRX del Sol showed a rounded shape with a short cabin and roof, followed in the back by upright fat B-posts and a flat horizontal deck that ended the vehicle. The car’s low profile made the Japanese vehicle look tiny compared to other cars. Still, nevertheless, it was slightly larger than the CRX coupe. The light aluminum roof panel was easy to remove and store in the trunk on a designated cradle. As an option, the automaker offered a power-operated one named TransTop that could automatically raise the trunk’s lid, grab the top, and store it in the luggage compartment. It was a unique feature. The CRX del Sol was not a 100% convertible since its B-posts remained in place, serving as reinforcement elements and rollbars, but the rear window could slide down at the touch of a button, creating a true roadster experience.

Inside, the tiny cabin offered room for two people and had a shelf behind the seats. The rounded-designed dashboard featured a del Sol-specific instrument cluster, not shared with any other Civic. It even featured a warning lamp that indicated if the roof was securely latched in place. On the center stack, Honda placed the controls for the available AC unit and the stereo cassette player. Between the slim bucket seats, the center console housed the gear stick, the handbrake, and a small storage area.

Under its skin, the CRX del Sol hid a four-wheel independent suspension with disc brakes in all corners. Honda installed different engines depending on the market. The U.S.-spec version base model offered 102 HP (103 PS), while other markets received the 125 PS (123 hp) as the entry-level model. Top of the range was also a country-specific affair, and the most potent engine was offered in Japan for the del Sol SiR with its 170 PS (168 hp) inline-four VTEC powerplant.