V.I.S.I.T. 1989 Acura Legend Turns Back Time

In 1989, Cher’s If I Could Turn Back Time was a chart topper.  Sure, you remember the video.  An already over-the-hill Cher did her best impression of Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show aboard the U.S.S. Missouri.  Well, the owner of this Acura Legend was able to turn back time because this car looks brand-friggin’-new.

In 1986, Honda’s new Acura division introduced the larger Legend and the smaller Integra.  The Legend was the result of a joint venture with the Austin Rover Group.  In a head scratching move, the Rover/Sterling 800 series competed in the U.S. market with the Legend.  We all know who won that battle.

Every part of this Legend appears fresh, even the plastic and rubber bits.  A search on California’s smog check history database shows that it passed emissions testing biannually without any drama, not even a small hiccup.

And to remind you that this car is painfully rooted in the 1980s, its Technics cassette player offered four(!) user programmable equalizer settings.  Just don’t forget to hit rewind.

Postscript: Up to around 2004, Acura dealers still serviced Sterlings.  A call to Oakland Acura yesterday revealed that this practice had long ago stopped.  The service advisor informed me of this with equal parts relief and disappointment.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPBZ5pBkLNY[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C44i6mnBaY[/youtube]

Images: Copyright 2012 Hooniverse/Jim Yu

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