A €750 Gamble: My 1998 Honda Civic Project

A Joke That Went Too Far

For months, I’d been joking with my friend Leon about buying a Civic. He’s a die-hard Honda guy, while I’m usually knee-deep in Volvo projects. Every time we worked on my Volvos, he’d complain about how much he disliked them. So, naturally, I teased him that one day I’d show up with a Civic just to annoy him.

Turns out, the joke’s on me.

While I was in Austria for work, this car popped up online. It was cheap enough that I figured someone else would snatch it right away. Without even looking at it in person, I messaged the seller and said I’d take it. A total blind buy.

Was that smart? Definitely not. But was it going to make a fun YouTube project no matter what? Absolutely.

First Impressions: Rust, Dents, and Missing Pieces

Let’s start with the obvious: Hondas rust. A lot. And while I’ve dealt with my fair share of rusty Volvos, this Civic might take the cake. The wheel arches are pretty much gone, the sides are bubbling, and I don’t even want to know what’s hiding under the skirts. Welding is definitely in my future.

And it’s not just the rust. Every panel has some kind of dent, scratch, or crack. The front bumper looks like it survived a demolition derby. Calling the exterior “rough” would be polite.

Then there’s the interior… or rather, the lack of it. The seller had bought the car just for its interior and then sold me what was left.

Pop the hood, though, and things start to look a little brighter. It’s a humble 1.4L non-VTEC engine, but the important part is this: it runs. I even drove it (briefly) before trailering it to my garage.

Plans… Kind Of

Here’s where things get interesting. I don’t have a concrete plan yet.

On one hand, I could try to restore it to stock form — find an interior, fix the rust, respray it, and make it look like it just rolled off the assembly line. On the other hand, Civics practically beg to be modified. A stripped-out track build with a bold livery would be pretty tempting.

What I do know is this: first, it needs to be mechanically solid. That means a full round of maintenance — oil change, timing belt, brakes, the usual. Then maybe a few performance upgrades, a drop on some fresh wheels, and we’ll see where it goes from there.

And don’t worry, Volvo fans — I’m not abandoning the Swedes. This Honda is more of a side quest. But hey, I did start my channel years ago with a Honda CRX project, so in a way, this feels like coming full circle.

The First Wash (and Many Dents Revealed)

Before hauling it into the garage, I gave the Civic its first wash. And let me tell you — cleaning a car like this is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, it’s satisfying to finally see what you’re working with. On the other hand… every wash reveals even more dents and scratches you somehow missed before.

This thing is ugly. And I kind of love it for that.

What’s Next?

Now that the Civic is safely inside my garage, the project can really begin. The very first step will be digging into the rust and mechanicals. After that, the direction is still up in the air. Restore it? Track it? Something in between?

That’s where you guys come in. Let me know what you’d like to see with this Civic — full restoration, crazy livery, or budget-friendly track toy. I’m honestly open to anything right now.

One thing’s for sure: this €750 gamble is going to keep me busy for a while. And probably teach me a few new things along the way.

Stay tuned. This Civic adventure has only just begun.

Check out the video on YouTube!