The primary Honda Civics confirmed up in america as 1973 fashions, and that first technology of Soichiro Honda’s revolutionary subcompact continued to be offered right here via 1979. Gross sales have been robust, as no different small automotive appeared capable of match the Civic’s mixture of low value, glorious gas financial system, reliability and driving enjoyment, however rust ate most of them and practically all the remaining simply wore out and disappeared. I seldom run throughout first-gen Civics throughout my junkyard travels of the final decade or so, and subsequently this ’76 in a Denver knacker’s yard is a real historic gem.
I admit having a pro-Civic bias, not less than for the vehicles constructed whereas Soichiro was nonetheless alive, since I’ve daily-driven not less than one instance of each technology of Civic from the primary via the fifth and cherished all of them. Maybe the Toyota Corolla of the mid-to-late Seventies was a tiny bit extra dependable than the first-gen Civic, but it surely was no enjoyable in any respect to drive.
The CVCC engine first appeared as an non-obligatory Civic powerplant for the 1975 mannequin yr. As a result of its stratified-charge design made it run so clear in comparison with unusual engines, the early CVCC engine did not want a catalytic converter and subsequently did not require (dearer on the time) unleaded gasoline. This one was a 1.5-liter rated at 60 horsepower and 76 pound-feet, approach higher than the bottom non-CVCC 1.2 and its 50 horsepower. The ’76 hatchback scaled in at a flyweight 1,708 kilos (properly over a half-ton lower than the present Civic), so 60 horsepower made it pretty fast by the lax requirements of its period.
The CVCC design used secondary combustion chambers that received a wealthy gas combination that was straightforward to ignite, linked to bigger combustion chambers that received a lean combine. To make this work, the carburetor used a posh two-in-one design that labored very properly in the course of the CVCC’s early years however ultimately turned terrifyingly complicated as all the fuel-delivery system advanced to fulfill the emissions requirements of a decade later. We must always all be pleased about trendy digital gas injection.
This automotive was California-legal when new, although the non-CVCC vehicles weren’t offered within the Golden State in 1976.
The ’76 Civic hatchback might be had with the bottom four-speed handbook transmission, an extra-cost five-speed handbook, or the non-obligatory sorta-two-speed, sorta-automatic Hondamatic, which was derived from bike expertise. This automotive has a handbook.
This one appears to have been in first rate form when it arrived right here, with no severe rust and an inside that will need to have been good sufficient earlier than the junkyard vultures began plucking away elements.
The 2-tone paint job with pinstripes will need to have regarded sharp when this automotive was new.
The MSRP for a 1976 Civic CVCC hatchback was $3,189, or about $17,444 in 2023 {dollars}, whereas the bottom Civic two-door sedan was $2,729 ($14,927 now). The most affordable attainable new Toyota Corolla two-door sedan was $2,789 ($25,256 right now) in 1976, whereas a Datsun B210 two-door price $3,084 ($16,869 after inflation) and a Mitsubishi-built Dodge Colt two-door was $3,175 ($11,367). For the courageous import buyers, there was the Fiat 128 two-door at $2,998 ($16,399) and base Subaru two-door at $2,899 ($15,857).
So many inexpensive automotive decisions in the course of the Bicentennial yr! Detroit would promote you a Chevy Vega sport coupe for $2,984 ($16,322), a Chevette Scooter for $2,899 ($15,857) or a Ford Pinto MPG sedan for $3,025 ($16,546). Kenosha supplied its most cost-effective AMC Gremlin for $2,898 ($15,852), which was loads of automotive for that form of cash. A minimum of by way of decisions in new low cost wheels, the Malaise Period beats 2023.
43 freeway miles per gallon.
Go away the unleaded-only and diesel vehicles for non-CVCC-driving suckers!
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