I wonder if Honda knew...

[bubbaleenc]

...what an amazing journey they created in 1973.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/1973-honda-civic-test-review

Sponsored

 

[Shankmeyster]

Would like to find one of those old Civic's and do a K20 with all the goodies and digital dash. If I had the money anyway. Sleeper city.

 

[Priceless_Civic]

I wouldn't mind finding a 1973 civic badge and swap it out on the back of my hatch. Just a hint of retro to complement the car.

 

[jks]

That was my second car. It was a hand me down that I bought from my dad while in college. In those days all the fasteners were butter soft and over-torqued so you couldn't get them off without destroying them. I was in college and commuted home 50 miles away on weekends. In the winter it was so cold that the gasoline kept freezing in the carburetor and I had to stop every few miles and let the gasoline thaw so I could continue. On one trip the timing belt broke which stranded me on the freeway. The early civics had non-interference valves so you could get away from a broken belt with no valve damage. Just $50 for the new belt + the tow. And dealing with those damned butter-soft ridiculously over-torqued bolts.

 

[bembol]

It took 43 years for Honda to get my attention.

Better late than never. LOL

 

[LoveToDrive]

That was my second car. It was a hand me down that I bought from my dad while in college. In those days all the fasteners were butter soft and over-torqued so you couldn't get them off without destroying them. I was in college and commuted home 50 miles away on weekends. In the winter it was so cold that the gasoline kept freezing in the carburetor and I had to stop every few miles and let the gasoline thaw so I could continue. On one trip the timing belt broke which stranded me on the freeway. The early civics had non-interference valves so you could get away from a broken belt with no valve damage. Just $50 for the new belt + the tow. And dealing with those damned butter-soft ridiculously over-torqued bolts.

Great story! It's amazing to see how much it has evolved in that time.

 

[bubbaleenc]

It's interesting to consider the history of the article's noted "competitors":

Austin: The America ended its run in 1972 in North America due to tightened Federal Regulations, before Civic was born.

Chevrolet: The Vega changed to the Cavalier, which changed to the Cobalt and now is the Cruze.

Datsun: The 1200 changed to the B210, which changed to simply the 210. Then the company changed names to Nissan and the car was changed to and remains the Sentra.

Fiat: The 128 changed to the Strada. 1982 was the end of Fiat's North America Run due to poor sales. The Fiats that are marketed in North America now compete in a different class.

Ford: The Pinto changed to the Escort which changed into and remains the Focus.

Mini: This also ended its run in 1967 in North America due to tightened Federal Regulations, long before Civic was born. The car currently named Mini came back to North America at the turn of the 21st Century, but compete in a different class.

Simca: The 1204 also ended its run in 1972 due to tightened Federal Regulations and mediocre sales in North America, before Civic was born.

Aside from the Toyota Corolla, the Civic is the only model name from the article that has lasted since 1973. Even premium brands like BMW and Mercedes haven't carried their names forward this long. Manufacturers change names for numerous reasons. Most often, a costly name change and associated marketing effort is done to put a stale model (or a model with a soiled reputation) out to pasture and reinvigorate consumer engagement to the automaker's new generation of the same class of car.

Also interesting is how each surviving model has more or less stayed in its historic ranking from 1973 to now. Corolla and Civic vie for top slot, Ford and Chevrolet vie for top slot of American brands, Nissan competes with tertiary brands (Back then, Simca, Austin, Plymouth and others. Now Hyundai, Kia, Dodge and others) for top slot of "other options".

 

[bubbaleenc]

I wouldn't mind finding a 1973 civic badge and swap it out on the back of my hatch. Just a hint of retro to complement the car.

Thanks a lot. Now there's another item I have to hunt down! I'm always doing stuff like this to my cars.

I love this idea!!

 

[Priceless_Civic]

Thanks a lot. Now there's another item I have to hunt down! I'm always doing stuff like this to my cars.

I love this idea!!

Let me know if you find the badge! I'd seriously considering doing that if the price is right lol

 

[bubbaleenc]

Let me know if you find the badge! I'd seriously considering doing that if the price is right lol

Found this on ebay... (Salivating)

Sponsored