Hatch Heaven

With servo-assisted, ventilated front discs brakes the 1983 Honda Civic S 1.3 could stop you in your tracks when you needed to. From the sharply angled bonnet to the spoiler on the hatchback, this car attracted the most serious of motorists. They noticed the smoked glass sun-roof, the air dam skirt under the grille or the very handsome interior. It was superbly appointed with 3 stage adjustable headrests and fully reclining and two-tone bucket seats. The engine was a 1335cc 4 cylinder OHC transverse with Twin Keihins carbonation producing a maximum horsepower of 70ps at 5,750 RPM. It had a 5-speed transmission, with front hydraulic servo assisted ventilated discs and rear leading/trailing drum. Both front and rear suspension were heavy duty, independent with MacPherson strut and stabilizer.

A 1974 Honda Civic is a rare bird these days, but to see one with what Honda called “Vinyl Roof Decor” is almost unheard of. This vehicle has and assortment of exclusive accessories only available thru a dealership. Two different styles of the Vinyl Roof Decor where available. A full vinyl roof with decorative moving (shown below) or a vinyl halo for a simple rooftop accent. Both were constructed of heavy duty cloth-backed vinyl. It also includes a rear window defroster controlled from the dashboard, Special decal stripping available in black or white, for that racy look, body side moulding made of vinyl mounted on extruded aluminum, a chrome plated luggage rack permanently affixed to the roof and Mag-Style wheels constructed of heat treated aluminum for extra strength. (image source: John Lloyd)

1986 Honda Accord AeroDeck was sold as a three-door hatchback with a flat roof over the rear seats. It was offered only in Japan and Europe where it was known as a shooting-brake. You can even take a peek at the AeroDeck TV spot from Japan. (images: Tamerlane’s)

$5,399 got you into the 1985 Honda Civic, complete with front-wheel drive, rack and pinion steering, full carpeting, door glass defrosters, steel-belted radial tires, overtaking headlight flasher, power assisted self-adjusting front disc brakes, trip odometer, torsion bar front suspension, trailing link rear suspension with nitrogen gas filled shock absorbers, front air dam, remote-control outside mirror, a coin box, day/night rearview mirror, reclining front bucket seats with adjustable headrests and opening rear quarter windows, all pushed by a a 1342cc engine.

1982 saw the introduction of the new and improved Honda Accord, which was roomier inside and longer outside. It rode smoother and handled better. With the 5-speed, a gallon of gas got you 30 miles in the city or 41 on the highway. It still had its proven front-wheel drive and transverse-mounted engine.

Honda has been making automobiles since 1962 and designed the Civic in response to the pollution and fast rising costs of operating a car. The 1978 Honda Civic’s CVCC engine cuts exhaust emission levels at the source – in the cylinder and more efficiently burns fuels to boost economy. It was the first car to pass strict 1975 U.S. exhaust emission standards by a wide margin.

The 1986 Honda Civic Si hatchback had a 12-valve, 1.5 liter engine with fuel injection and had 91 hp. It also had sport suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars plus a removable Moonroof.

The Honda Civic GL was a fun little ride, with it’s 1488cc engine. It had front disc brakes and rear drum breaks. It was front wheel drive and a 5-speed transmission. Even back in 1985, it got 35mpg (46 highway).

The all-new 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupe, made its U.S. production debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and introduces sleek styling and sporty handling to the hybrid segment.

“The CR-Z is a personal sport hybrid coupe for people with a spirit of adventure and an elevated sense of responsibility toward the environment,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda. “It’s the first hybrid designed to maximize style and fun, in addition to efficiency and economy.”

Set to go on sale late summer in the U.S., the CR-Z is powered by a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine with Honda’s compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system. The two-passenger CR-Z introduces a new three-mode drive system that allows the driver to select between Sport, Econ (Economy) and Normal driving modes. Read the rest of this story on Cartype.