Honda Sent Us a BRAND NEW 1984 Honda Civic That Hasn't Run In Years! Can I Start It?

Great content, guys! Who can see a brand new Honda 40 years later? Wow!

As someone who deals with old vehicles with low miles. Drain and refill all fluids. Gas goes bad. Condensation builds up. Both oil and coolant can become acidic. Additive packages in oil, trans fluid, gear oil et can come out of suspension and oil quality is garbage at that point. If it's rubber, replace it. All vacuum lines, radiator hoses, belts, etc. If it's got a filter, replace it. Air filter, fuel filter, coolant filter, trans fluid filter,etc. If it's electrical,clean it. Disconnect and clean any electrical contacts you can get to. This will give you a baseline, and guarantee there's no failures on easily repairable stuff, and all that stuff should have been done decades ago anyway. Remember, it's not just mileage, but time.

This clearly shows how a vehicle can easily age even when you don't drive it at all and keep it in storage. It makes you wonder how many cars in museums are likely going through the exact same aging process at this time.

How to make a spotless 40 year old vehicle look like a 40 year old vehicle in less than one mile.

My OCD is kicking in as you guys test drive this pristine car WITH YOUR GREASY HANDS ALL OVER THE INTERIOR! 😡😡😡

Am I the only one who was shocked to see them drive this absolute time capsule on a gravelly dirt road?? YIKES!!! Notice the engine compartment after that drive....filthy dirty....surprised Honda didnt ask them to stick to asphalt....

So you just cranked it? No borescoping the cylinders first? No piston lubricant? Don’t even care if the varnished fuel gets fed into the fuel lines? Sounds very bush league fellas! Honda Execs are cringing.

driving that perfectly clean car down that gravel road really hurt lol

why would they hand a brand new Classic honda over to guys who have no idea how to work on them. Cranking engine without taking a couple plugs and inspecting with a borescope pre lubing cylinders, changing all fluids and filters before you run it, taking carb apart and cleaning with solvents(when it has that much varnish that is all that works), running engine with a clear big vacuum leak you can hear, driving it quite fast down a gravel driveway could chip paint, and running it that long when the temp was climbing could do damage. I understand it is just a Honda but its a Honda owned museum piece.

That car needs plastic on the seats and clean hands on the wheel/interior guys.

Let's just cut a bunch of corners and do a half-assed job in preparation of starting a 40 year old engine. Oh it broke, wonder what happened?

I bet that honda rep wasn't too psyched the first drive was on dirt, AND you overheated it. NIce work. How on earth did they decide on you guys to recommission that car?!

I can't believe you didn't change that old oil! Just because it looks gold doesn't mean it hasn't degraded.

Shouldn't have driven it for as long when you noticed the temp gauge climbing. Might have warped the block or head and blown the head gasket. Might not notice the head gasket until later.

I love TFL and have been watching for a decade... but this was really amateur hour. The tank should have been removed and the lines replaced before any attempt to start was made. The carb could have come off ONCE and been rebuilt - or simply replaced.

My OCD is driving me crazy watching you drive a museum piece with dirty grimy hands.

Car is overheating and the dude is still driving it cuz he doesn't want to let it rest and possibly wait to get another ride back. He'd rather risk this PRISTINE Honda getting toast. Talk about being a disrespectful guy.

Good video but dang, I expected a little more "white glove" handling of a pristine vehicle. Dirty mechanic hands inside the car, driving down dirt roads, pouring coolant all inside the engine bay without a funnel, having to pull it with a winch. Sheesh. Was more of a sh*t show than expected.

This was my first car in 1996 with just under 300k miles. Same color, same options. My dad bought it brand new in 1984 and gave it to me when I turned 16. What a great little car. I drove it to 350k miles then sold it and saw it still running around town almost 10 years later. It was a bit rusty by then but still kicking. So much room in it and it was a lot of fun to drive.

Omg after 40 years AND YOU DIDNT PRELUBE THE CYLINDERS?! I’m shocked at this…..