When the Acura brand pioneered the Japanese luxury import segment in 1986, the model lineup consisted of only two models: the flagship Legend sedan and the compact Integra. Five years later, the mid-engine NSX sportscar came on the scene, and one year later Acura bridged the gap between the Legend and Integra with the Vigor.
Vigor slotted exactly midway between the Legend and Integra in size, pricing and the number of cylinders – powered by an all-new inline-5 powerplant.
The Pick of the Day is an apparently well-kept 1992 Acura Vigor GS listed on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Buckingham Blue sedan from the first US model year is described as being a well-kept example.
“This Vigor carries a comprehensive maintenance history showing service to the timing belt, tires, alignment, braking system, cooling system, and axles all within the last few years,” the seller states.
Though it didn’t come stateside until 1992, the Vigor name dates back to the early 1980s in Japan, where it was positioned as an Accord-based premium sedan. The car boasted a double-wishbone suspension, front and rear sway bars, and four-wheel disc brakes which were advanced chassis features for the era.
When the Vigor moved into its third generation in 1989, the chassis was stretched, and a variant was engineered for the U.S. market that launched at Acura dealers in 1992.
With exterior styling in some ways derived from its larger Legend sibling, the Vigor featured unique amber fog lamps, frameless door glass, and more squared-off lines. Most of the Vigor’s magic happens under its hood, where a longitudinally mounted 2.5-liter “G25” inline-5 pumps out 176 horsepower.
Engineers touted this motor as being the right combination of size, weight, and balance for the chassis. After a three-year run, the Vigor was replaced by the first-generation TL.
This Vigor comes in top-trim GS form, with gray-leather seating, faux woodgrain trim, automatic climate control, automatic transmission and 112,000 miles on its odometer. The listing states that the car spent time in California and New Mexico before being relocated to Florida in 2011, and the photos illustrate rust-free and clean cosmetics inside and out.
Now more than 30 years old, the already-rare Vigor has become an even more uncommon sighting. The seller is asking $8,995 or best offer.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
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