“No other automobile line has accomplished so much, so soon.”

The 1986 Acura Legend Touring Sedan was the top of the line vehicle available from the then brand new Acura brand and the first Honda product made with a six-cylinder engine.

I have always said that Honda is an engine company and the Legend’s C25A 151 bhp 2.5 liter/152 ci fuel-injected 24-valve SOHC V6 was an interesting one, with a 90 degree V-angle to the crankshaft. Mileage with the five-speed manual transmission was decent—20 city/25 highway by the standards of the day (18/23 by 2018 standards), giving the Legend a 330 to 365 mile range with a 10% fuel reserve. With that same five-speed manual, 0-60 mph came in a little under nine seconds in the 3,078-pound car.

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment in the $19,898 sedan (about $46,100 in 2018 dollars—just a little over what a loaded 2019 Acura TLX costs) included four-wheel disc brakes, a power tilt/slide sunroof, power folding mirrors, remote locking/keyless entry, and P205/60R15 tires (a size still readily available) on 15-inch wheels. Inside, an information system that could monitor maintenance intervals, fluid levels, and fuel economy, a driver’s side air bag, a power driver’s seat, and adjustable rear seats were also included. The only option available was a four-speed automatic transmission.

I don’t see a lot of Legends come up for sale in either the Hemmings Motor News classifieds or on eBay Motors. First generation Legends have a small but avid following (with decent online support), and I find that they stand out when I see them. Make mine Blade Silver Metallic, please.

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