Honda Prelude

The Honda Prelude is a car produced by Japanese car manufacturer Honda from 1978 until 2001. The two-door coupe was loosely derived from the Honda Accord, and spanned five generations. The Prelude name fitted with the series of music-themed vehicle names which Honda used at the time, along with the Accord, Quintet, Concerto, Jazz, and Ballade. The Corgi Toy is based on the first generation Honda Prelude produced from 1978 to 1982.

Corgi Toys brought out the car (345) in January 1981. The Great Book of Corgi Pocket Book only mentions the car being made in blue, however it is also found in yellow and I assume the yellow car was released at the same time. There are two distinct shades of blue. The car was deleted from the Corgi catalogue in 1982. The Corgi is slightly unusual in having a clear sunroof, the doors open on this one.

In July 1981 it was recoloured in cream with green detailing and paired with a glider trailer in gift set GS12, this set remained in the Corgi Toys catalogue up to the time of the Mettoy closure in 1983. There are no recorded variations, it is always cream with red and green trim. It makes a handsome set, I never had the courage to throw the glider to see if it flew, the plastic was brittle with age, but the way it is balanced with a heavy weight at the front makes me think it was meant to fly.