Wednesday, March 30, 2011

History of Project PRO.2 - 1990 Honda CR-X SiR EF8 (Japanese and Canadian)

Complete Timeline To Date

Main Japanese Information Sources:

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation & Tourism (MLIT) Registered Owner Search
via Japan Car History Check:

Important Context for the MLIT report:

Owner (所有者) is the legal registered owner of the vehicle.
User (使用者) is the person or entity actually keeping and using the vehicle.

Those can be the same person, but they can also be different. A common example is a financed or leased car, where the owner is the finance company, dealership, or leasing company, while the user is the individual actually driving and garaging the car. The paperwork for ownership transfer in Japan also reflects this split by separately referring to the new owner and the new user.


CarVX Report:


Other sources:
ChatGPT
Google Translate iPhone App
Plain Old-Fashioned Telephone
Snail Mail & E-Mail
Google Searches
GIS Maps and Aerial Photography

History of the second-generation CR-X in Japan:

  • September 9th, 1987: Honda Japan Press Release announcing the launch of the 2nd generation CR-X.
  • September 16th, 1987: Second-generation Honda CR-X begins domestic sales in Japan. Expected domestic sales were 1500 units per month.
  • September 21st, 1989: Honda Japan Press Release announcing the launch of the CR-X SiR models. Expected domestic sales were 1500 units per month.
  • September 22nd, 1989: The Honda CR-X SiR model begins domestic sales in Japan. 



My CR-X's Life in Japan:

  • September 6th, 1989: Date of Manufacture at the Suzuka factory.
    • Date of manufacture confirmed by Honda Japan in letter dated March 27, 2006
    • Based on the chassis number, my CR-X was one of the first 70 CR-X EF8 models off the assembly line in Suzuka, Japan


  • September 28th, 1989: Date of retail sale from Honda Verno Aomori – Hachinohe Store
    • Owner: Honda Lease Co. Ltd. 
    • User: Honda Verno Aomori Hachinohe Store Co. Ltd.
    • Address: Shiroshita 3-chome 15-25, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture
    • License plate issued (Hachinohe 55 ni 9940)
    • Approximate retail sale price, as equipped: 2,020,700Y
    • On Sept. 28th, 1989 that would be the equivalent of $16,893 Canadian ($14,314 USD)

Fukushima Price Matrix (400kms from Hachinohe)

  • All indications are that this CR-X's first owner was the Honda Verno Aomori dealership in Hachinohe, and not a retail customer. 
    • The Owner was listed as Honda Lease Co. Ltd.
    • According to ChatGPT, Honda Lease Co in the 1990s was a company used to hold title to vehicles while they were used in dealer demonstrations, promotions, or internal fleet use. 
    • It was a back-office financial services entity and not retail sales.
    • It was unlikely that a dealership would register an inventory vehicle with themselves as a User and pay road tax.
    • In Japan, at that time, a company was able to write off lease payments and depreciation for a vehicle used by the company, so it would not have been unusual to lease a vehicle for internal dealership use like fleet, test drive or promotional purposes.
  • Information about the Hachinohe Honda Verno store:
    • Honda Verno Aomori was likely a regional dealer association or dealership group.
    • As of an advertisement dated September of 1989, there were four stores.
    • The Hachinohe store was sold in June of 1995 and the new owner moved locations to a new building in 2009. 
    • The current occupant of the old Hachinohe store on Shiroshita is Gruppe Golf. 
Clip from newspaper ad showing the four Honda Verno Aomori locations

Honda Cars Michinoku shared a photo of the old Hachinohe store ca.2006

ChatGPT enhancement of the 2006 photo

  • September 30 & October 1, 1989: "NEW Vigor NEW CR-X Announcement Event”
    • According to an ad on the front page of the Tō-Ō Nippō newspaper on September 28, 1989 there was a new model announcement event for the new generation of Vigor and CR-X.
    • The advertisement was for all 4 locations of the Honda Verno Aomori dealership group.
    • No specific store mentioned for the launch event, so it’s assumed it was a group-wide event held at all locations.
    • It’s likely my CR-X played a role in the event held at the Hachinohe location.
Tō-Ō Nippō newspaper ad from September 28, 1989

NEW Vigor NEW CR-X Announcement Event 9/30 and 10/1

  • November 2nd, 1991 - Newspaper Ad (HISCO Aomori, "Smile Fair" sale)
    • Saturday ad, Tō-Ō Nippō newspaper.
    • 25 cars listed, 1 of them is a CR-X
    • 5000kms listed in ad
    • Asking price 1,480,000¥
    • On November 2nd, 1989 this was equal to $12,095 Canadian, or $10,314 US, dollars.
    • "1,480,000 yen, 1989 CR-X Si-R, 5,000 km mileage, inspection valid until September 1992, 5-speed manual, black, AC, PS, CS, PW."

  • November 8th, 1991 - Registration Transfer (2nd Owner)
    • First retail owner of my CR-X.
    • Owner: Honda International Sales Co. Ltd. 
    • User: Hideto [redacted by me]
    • Location: Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
    • License Plate Issued (Aomori 55 ri 1620)

  • September, 1992
    • First Shaken inspection should have been done. 
    • I reached out to the MLIT but they replied that they do not have any Shaken inspection records prior to 2004, including odometer readings.
  • May 24th, 1994 - Igniter Recall Completed at 38,158km
    • Source: CarVX Report
    • Honda Japan confirmed that this recall was performed on May 24, 1994 at 38,158km. 
    • A separate dealer record from Honda Cars Michinoku (successor company to Honda Verno Aomori - Hachinohe) lists the repair date as June 1, 1994.
    • While Honda Japan was unable to clarify the discrepancy due to the age of the records, it is most likely that May 24 represents the actual date of repair, with June 1 reflecting administrative processing or reporting by the dealership.

  • September, 1994
    • Second Shaken inspection should have been done. 
    • I reached out to the MLIT but they replied that they do not have any Shaken inspection records prior to 2004, including odometer readings.
  • July 31st, 1995 - Registration Transfer (3rd Owner)
    • Owner: Masayoshi [redacted by me]
    • User: Shohei [redacted by me]
    • Location: Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
    • No new license plate issued according to MLIT.
  • September, 1996
    • Third Shaken inspection should have been done. 
    • I reached out to the MLIT but they replied that they do not have any Shaken inspection records prior to 2004, including odometer readings.
  • November 22nd, 1996 - Registration Transfer (4th Owner)
    • Owner: Onari [redacted by me]
    • User: Redacted for Privacy by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation.
    • No new license plate issued according to MLIT
  • April 15th, 1998 - Registration altered.
    • Address change for the owner.
    • Address change for the user.
    • License plate issued (Aomori 56 fu 1385)

  • September, 1998
    • Fourth Shaken inspection should have been done. 
    • I reached out to the MLIT but they replied that they do not have any Shaken inspection records prior to 2004, including odometer readings.
  • September, 2000
    • Fifth Shaken inspection should have been done. 
    • I reached out to the MLIT but they replied that they do not have any Shaken inspection records prior to 2004, including odometer readings.
    • I believe it may have been possible that this owner allowed Shaken to expire and the CR-X sat unused/off-road. 
  • August 23, 2001 - MLIT Inspection
    • Source: CarVX report.
    • No odometer reading reported.
    • This Shaken inspection reset the Shaken dates.
    • As stated above, I believe it may have been possible that this owner allowed Shaken to expire in Sept 2000, the car sat unused/off-road, then it was inspected August 23rd, 2001 prior to the sale to the new owners, thus resetting the Shaken time frames.
  • August 30, 2001 - Registration Transfer (5th Owner)
    • Owner: Toshio [redacted by me]
    • User: Redacted for Privacy by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation.
    • Location: Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture.
    • License Plate Issued (Akita 500 te 2832)


  • April 24, 2002 - Registration Transfer (6th Owner)
    • Owner: Hiroshi [redacted by me]
    • User: Redacted for Privacy by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation.
    • Location: Machida City, Tokyo 
    • License Plate Issued (Tama 500 mo 5201)

  • October 30, 2002 - Power steering fluid service at 73,840km
    • Source: Service information decal on strut tower



  • August 30, 2002 - Registration Transfer (7th Owner)
    • Owner: Takumi [redacted by me]
    • User: Redacted for Privacy by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation.
    • Location: Akita City, Akita prefecture.
    • License Plate Issued (Akita 500 ni 3372)


  • August 6th, 2003 - MLIT Inspection
    • Source: Car VX Report. 
  • August 13th, 2003 - Oil Change at Autobacs Akita at ~83,500km
    • Source: Service information decal on air cleaner box.
    • Autobacs did not provide a specific historical interval for the 2003 service, but their service guidance recommends oil changes every 5,000 km for naturally aspirated vehicles using non-synthetic oil. Applying this to the recorded next service mileage of 88,500 km suggests the oil change was most likely performed at approximately 83,500 km.
Autobacs Akita Service Decal

Photo from Japan with service decal visible

  • February 16th, 2005 - Registration Transfer (for de-registration)
    • Owner: U-Park Co., Ltd.
    • User: Redacted for Privacy by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation.
    • Iwatsuki City, Saitama prefecture.
    • License Plate Issued (Omiya 599 te 8666)
    • De-registered the same day.
    • I don't view this as the 8th owner. U-Park are only an owner on paper so that the vehicle could be de-registered for export.


U-Park Co., Ltd

 

Importation / Purchase:

  • February 16th, 2005 - 
    • Received first pictures of car from Custom Auto based in Calgary, Alberta
    • Possible date of sale from U-Park Co., Ltd. to World Car Link
    • Date of de-registration in Japan. 


  • February 21st, 2005 - Date on delivery slip from Zero Group, a vehicle transport company in Japan. 
    • Likely the car being shipped from Saitama to Nagoya since the export shipping to Canada wasn't finalized until April, so it wouldn't be the fee to ship from Nagoya to Yokohama where it left port.
  • February 25th, 2005
    • Invoice from WCL to Custom Auto, who I purchased the car from.
  • March 2nd, 2005 - Additional photos arrive
    • Odometer in photos shows 97,290km







  • March 10th, 2005
    • Paid deposit on CR-X through Custom Auto. 
  • March 11th, 2005
    • Custom Auto wire transferred payment in full to World Car Link.
  • April 3rd, 2005
    • WCL - Invoice to Custom Auto for duty/tax purposes.
  • April 4th, 2005 - Paperwork from K-Line shipping prepared.
    • Car scheduled to leave on ship Pacific Explorer on Voyage v.10 
    • Port of export: Yokohama
    • Shipping Method: Ro/Ro (Roll on / Roll off)
    • Ship built in 1978 in Marugame, Japan.
    • Capacity was approximately 4700 vehicles.
    • Was sailing under the flag of Liberia (North Trade Shipping) in 2005, but shows sailing under the Marshall Islands in 2022.
    • Ship was decommissioned or lost, possible last voyage in September 2022.

Pacific Explorer RO/RO Cargo Ship


  • April 12th, 2005
    • Bill of lading surrendered.
  • August 6th, 2005
    • Shaken inspection would have expired if the car hadn't been exported to Canada.
    • Source: De-registration certificate from MLIT. 
  • August 22nd, 2005
    • Japanese registration would have expired if the car hadn't been exported to Canada. 


  • Days spent in Japan (from Date of Manufacture to approx. date the ship left port): 5698 
  • Days at sea: 11
  • Approximately 97,314 KMs in Japan, averaging approximately 6081/yr 


  • April 15th, 2005
    • Date of Arrival to Fraser Wharves in New Westminster, BC (Vancouver suburb)
    • Days at sea: 11
  • April 18th, 2005
    • Agriculture Canada and/or Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspection in process of being booked through A&A Customs Brokerage.
  • April 20th, 2005
    • Canadian Food Inspection Agency release
  • April 21st, 2005
    • Transport Canada / Canada Revenue Agency cleared
    • Release Date (per A&A paperwork)
  • April 25th, 2005
    • Picked up by 28 Towing, Ltd. (I assume to take to L. Hansen's Forwarding)
  • April 27th, 2005
    • Date of A&A Customs Brokerage invoice to Custom Auto.
    • Paid remainder of balance owing to Custom Auto
  • April 30th, 2005
    • L. Hansen's Forwarding paperwork for shipping to Calgary from Vancouver
  • May 2nd, 2005
    • Car loaded onto rail car for shipping.
  • May 4th, 2005
    • Car arrived at the Alyth Rail Yard in Calgary. 
  • May 5th, 2005
    • Unloaded from Rail Car.
    • Spotted it in the parking lot at L. Hansen's Forwarding




  • May 6th, 2005
    • L. Hansen's Forwarding Paperwork was signed for final release
    • L. Hansen's Forwarding delivered CR-X to Custom Auto. 
    • Picked her up and brought car home.




  • Time elapsed from first photos received until final delivery: 79 days
  • Time elapsed from arrival in Canada until final delivery: 21 days


Life In Canada:

  • June 3rd, 2005 - Out of Province Inspection (Alberta)
    • 97, 377 km
  • August 1st, 2005
    • Milestone: 100,000km

  • August 6th, 2005 - Shaken inspection would have expired if the car hadn't been exported to Canada. 
  • August 22nd, 2005 - Japanese registration would have expired if the car hadn't been exported to Canada. 
  • October 30th, 2005 - End of Season
    • Odometer 101,641km
    • 4,277km Driven
  • June 7th, 2006 - End of Season
    • Odometer: 101,995km
    • 354km Driven
  • July 27th, 2007
    • Odometer: 102,514km
    • 519km Driven
  • 2008 - Not Driven
  • 2009 - Not Driven
  • September 2nd, 2010
    • Oil Change
    • 102,534km (approximate)
  • September 3rd, 2010 - End of Season
    • Odometer: 102,547km
    • 33km Driven 
  • April 28th, 2011
    • Timing Belt 
    • 102,554km
    • Timing Belt
    • Water Pump and tensioner
    • Crank seal and Cam seals
  • September 5th, 2011 - End of Season
    • Odometer: 102,983km
    • 436km Driven
  • 2012 - Not Driven
  • 2013 - Not Driven
  • October 6th, 2014 - End of Season
    • Odometer: 103,304km
    • 321km Driven
  • October 7th, 2015 - End of Season
    • Odometer: 103,584 km
    • 1,037km Driven
  • October 2nd, 2016 - End of Season
    • Odometer: 103,808 km
    • 224km Driven
  • May 30th, 2017 - Fluid Flushes Performed 
    • 103,917 km
    • Engine Oil and Filter
    • Coolant Drain and Fill
    • Drain and Fill Transmission
    • Power Steering Fluid Drain and Fill
    • Brake Fluid flush
  • October 22nd, 2017 - End of Season
    • Odometer: 104,099 km
    • 291km Driven
  • 2018 - Not Driven
  • 2019 - Not Driven
  • 2020 - Not Driven
  • November 15th, 2020
    • My CR-X has spent as many days in Canada as it did in Japan, not counting days at sea.
  • October 9th, 2021 - End of Season
    • Odometer: 104,422 km
    • 323km Driven
  • June 11th, 2022 - Oil and Filter Change
    • Odometer: 104,710 km
  • October 19th, 2022 - End of Season
    • Odometer: 106,099 km
    • 1,677km Driven
  • October 19th, 2023 - End of Season
    • Odometer: 107,114 km
    • 1,015km Driven
  • June 25th, 2024 - Oil and Filter Change
    • Odometer: 107,115 km
  • November 16th, 2024 - End of Season
    • Odometer: 107,953 km
    • 838km Driven
  • October 19th, 2025 - End of Season
    • 108,011 km
    • 58km Driven


  • Average KMs per year (2005 - 2026): 507
  • KMs in Canada (as of 2026): 10,647
  • Never winter driven in Canada and garage stored since delivery. 

 

 As more things are uncovered I will come back and update this. 

 

 


 

Remember, this blog was written in chronological order so, you will need to click OLDER POSTS to move forward in time, and click NEWER POSTS to go backwards.

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