Ok, I have a friend that needs a car, and I found an add in the paper (under the car parts section), that reads:
"87 CRX, Drives/Runs great, body in good shape, no title 500$ OBO."

The guy said that the car is not legaly his, and the guy who owns it is no where to be found. So the car has no title.

Now, if the guy cant get the title, and my friend does not buy the car, I am thinking of buying it for a project car (rally car). Does this sound like a good deal for 500$?

Let me know what you think and what to look for when I go test drive it.
I know nothing of CRX's so if somone could give me the specs on the different models, (what engine in what modle and how much HP) and maybe some tell tale signs of where to look for rust, so on and so on.. Im lookin at the car at 5 PM PST so let me know soon!

 

It's a good deal, but without a title it's worthless. It's legally limited to being a parts car, even at that it won't officially be yours.

That car came with a weak carburated 1.5l. It doesn't have much in common with "modern" 88+ D-series engines.

 

But if it is an Si then its EFI right?

Would this be a good car to play with? Even if it is carb? I want somthing cheap, easy to fix/build, thatn I can turn into a rally car.

I have a 94 Civic EX that is my daily driver so the CRX would be my project. What do you think?

 

Yes, but you said it's a DX. The Si's are fairly uncommon.Oh, yeah, drop in a dual carb'ed ZC and rock'n'roll.Without a title, it's worthless. The current title holder can list it stolen at any time and you're out of a car... it could be listed as stolen all ready. Since you can't register it, you'll have to trailer it to any events.

Your only chance would be to have the current owner apply for an abandoned vehicle title for it.

 

Ok, so in other words, this would be a sweet rally car. Since the current owner is no where to be found, do I have any other options as to geting the title for the car?

Also, if I just use this car to rally, can I grind off the VIN# and call it done?

 

Check the VIN with the police, then an abandoned vehicle title would be your only option... that least that would be the only option in VA. Go to your local DMV and ask.

 

But what if the legal owner of the car is no where to be found? The guy selling the car for parts said that he cant get ahold of the guy and the car has been siting in his drive way for 3 years, and has not seen/talked to the guy.

Do I just need to get the VIN, take it (where?), and have them run it through there computer and then I find out if it was reported stolen, and if it is, then I dont want anyting to do with it, and if it has not been reported stolen, what can I do it the legal owner is no where to be found?

Technicaly the guy selling the car for parts, is not legaly aloud to do that is he?

 

If it's been sitting in his driveway, have him fill out the paperwork for an abandoned car title. This is how you get the title when the actual owner is MIA.

 

The 1.5 used in the 1st gen CRXs was a 1.5 EW1 (I have a 1.5 EM1 in my 81 wagon) though they are essentially the same engine. Very easy to work on, very durable, very reliable and very cheap to fix...BUT, they do like to blow headgaskets (check your fluids and for smoke) and the carburetors are a mess. A good Weber carburetor makes for a good replacement when the factory carb starts acting up (or if it already is) Replace the timing belt, tensioner and water-pump ASAP if you buy the car. Thats about it.

As for generations,
The CRX was first introduced in 1984 when the Civic was redesigned into it's 4th generation. Base models had a 1.3 (EN1, I believe) with about 70-ish hp.
The 1.5 EW1 was optional with 76 hp.

The Si came out in 1985, and had a fuel injected 1.5 with 91 hp. The 'HF' replaced the 1300 CRX and came with a 1.5 (carb) EW1 standard.

CRX was redesigned in 1988 for its second generation. HF models were powered by either a new fuel injected 1.3 or 1.5, and the Si got a completely new, fuel injected D16 engine.

1991 was the last model year for the CRX.

 

Could I put a complete swap a 92 D16Z6 (motor, tranny, ecu and all the junk) in the 85 with little or no modification?