The Honda Prelude, produced from 1988 to 2001, came in a wide range of exterior colors that evolved with each generation. This article surveys how color options varied across the Prelude’s three generations and notes that exact names depended on year and market.
Across its three generations, the Prelude was offered in a broad palette that included solid whites and blacks, a spectrum of metallic finishes (silver, gray, blue), and red hues, with occasional pearl or iridescent treatments. Exact color names and availability varied by model year and region.
Generational color palettes
First generation (1988–1991)
The initial Prelude offered a mix of solid, metallic, and pearl-like finishes common to late-1980s cars, with color choices designed to appeal to a broad market. Availability varied by region and trim level, but the palette typically covered the core hues seen in many Japanese cars of the era.
- White
- Black
- Red
- Blue
- Silver
- Gray
- Gold/Champagne
- Green (less common, depending on market)
Overall, first-generation color options tended toward the classic, understated tones of the period, with metallic and pearlescent finishes appearing in some markets.
Second generation (1992–1996)
In the early to mid-1990s, color palettes for the Prelude broadened as automotive styling shifted toward more vibrant and metallic finishes. Honda offered a stable set of core colors while expanding availability of additional metallic options in many regions.
- White
- Black
- Red
- Blue
- Silver
- Gray
- Gold/Champagne
- Green/Teal (regionally variable)
The second generation benefited from more pronounced metallics, with some markets seeing richer blues and deeper reds than the earlier model years.
Third generation (1997–2001)
The final Prelude generation maintained a robust color lineup, including solid, metallic, and pearl-like finishes. As design trends shifted toward bolder metallics and more varied finishes, buyers could choose from a broader set of hues, though exact color names still depended on year and market.
- White
- Black
- Red
- Blue
- Silver
- Gray
- Gold/Champagne
- Pearl/Iridized finishes (where offered)
By the late 1990s, the Prelude’s color options aligned with contemporary trends, offering a mix of solid, metallic, and pearl tones in various markets.
Summary
Across its 13-year run, the Honda Prelude offered a broad and progressively richer color palette, combining solid, metallic, and pearl-like finishes. While white, black, red, blue, silver, gray, and gold/champagne were consistently available, the precise color names and availability varied by generation, year, and regional market. For a precise list of colors on a specific model year or trim, consult the original brochure or a dealer-era color chart.