Had a 300$ one in 87, had a/c got insane gas mileage, took Mad punishment and got me off the trail to sweet fishing spots...Most versatile car and best deal of my life.
Actually, this is a '78 Civic CVCC 5-Speed(that's the model name). And, 1978-79 are the primo model years to have, I think. I'd love to own one of these, even with the aftermarket sunroof and aftermarket side protector mouldings. Road&Track tested a '75 version of this model, and got 28 mpg City and 42 mpg highway, with a range of 365 miles on one tank of gas(with a one gallon reserve). This new owner is a very lucky guy to have found this(in 2014).
Also, these Civics were go-kart nimble! But the biggest reason besides the strong build and reliability is the extreme, conspicuous case for fuel economy. A Hondamatic with 1.2-liter OHC 2-valve/cylinder in-line 4 engine would deliver nearly 75 mpg on the highway!
I gave my son a 1978 Civic when he was going to Michigan State university in the early 90's. He drove it back and forth between Lansing and Detroit whenever he came home. It was a great car.
I have a few Honda factory manuals and a book called "How To Keep Your Honda Alive" which is a priceless gem. I think the universe is telling me to buy one of these cars.
My mother had one in light blue, it drove like a tractor in the Ohio Blizzard of 78. Low and behold Honda came to Marysville Ohio and built the flagship plant for the Honda Accord. Low and behold my 75 year old mother is a security guard where the NSX Acura is made. Honda... The power of dreams. 👍🏻
It really was, because of the situation with fuel availability in the U.S. In '78, unleaded gas was absolutely necessary if your car was equipped with a catalytic converter and it was hard to find in that first year of mandated use. But the CVCC, not needing a converter because of the "stratified charge" CVCC carb, could run on leaded OR unleaded, so you didn't have a worry about gas availability on long trips. That was the big reason I bought mine. I was in the Navy at the time and was driving between Norfolk, Virginia and D.C. several times a month... plus coming home to Florida monthly. Finding unleaded gas could be a real problem.
As I love that car, the best car that Honda manufactured , with which made a great leap for the automotive industry . I wish I had one like it , you're lucky to have this relic , take care !
My first car crush. It was a 2 door in I belive was yellow. My dad bought it from our neighbour for my mom. She drove it for a few years then the car was used by my grandfather until he passed away. I got to see the car once a year before he passed and the car got worse each year due to not taking care of it properly. The car was mint before it was sent to my grandfather. When my grandfather died, I begged my dad (technically the car is his) not to crush it and that I would do almost anything for it. I cried when it was crushed.
Wiseguy7 I have a similar story. Our 1997 accord got totaled and we realized it had no insurance. I aked my dad if we could keep it so that I could fix it, but he said there was nothing he could do about it. Then one friday, He said if we win the lottery, we can bring it back home and fix it. I hope I can do so.
The first gen Civics (76-83) were all remarkably similar; Safety and comfort refinements mostly. 82-83 were the exceptions, where the wheel base increased. In addition to the 78, I had an 82 Wagon, and an 83 S. The 83 was MUCH roomier inside compared to the 78. They are GREAT cars, but man am I spoiled with fuel injection. The carb on this 78 is sooooo sensitive to tuning.
09-03-2022 regular grade fuel @$4.17usd. Little cars make sense just like 1973 all over again. Cindy is so retro cool. If this car still functions after eight years.
It has a 10 gal tank... my original CVCC Civic got close to 30 mpg driving 55 mph on the highway. City driving dropped to 25 mpg because I was young, stupid, and speed shifting ;-)
She is a great car, and as much fun as remember. There is a oil leak, which I'm concerned might be coming from the oil pump. That will be a bitch, because the engine has to be hoisted off the crossmember to access the pump. Getting the plumbing for the motor to be 78 spec is proving to be quite a challenge. The carb is basically universal through the CVCC series, but the engine in the car is an 81, so there's a huge difference in vacuum hoses, etc between the two models. The carb has to be completely readjusted now that the pre-heater and intake hoses have been added. Getting the fuel/air mixture right, with the proper amount of choke is HARD. ;-) I am actually considering reconnecting the manual choke. Oh, and the hatch locking latch is broken. One other little glitch we noticed while detailing the exterior.... the bumpers were on the wrong ends of the car; front on the back, back on the front. So, we got those switch back where they belong and now have a nice vintage plate on the front. We also have to find a proper washer fluid bottle or bag, and a pump.
I was almost chose this car between a 2004 VW Golf/Jetta. Two years ago I went to a cousin's party and his neighbor had this same civic parked outside his garage, for sale. I fell in love with the way it looked and if I had this car I knew that I would be in my high school yearbook's "car page" for sure. There were two things that were keeping me from buying this classic. 1) I didn't have the $$$ he was asking for. I think he was asking for like $1800-$2500 for it 2) My step dad said it was a great car, but his friend had the same car model, which had carb problems, so it basically turned me off from the car.
I love the mid '70s Honda Civic. It was my first new car. It was yellow. From there Honda just went downhill. I have no interest in a modern Honda. I have been unable to locate another one that is not rusted to pieces. I wish Honda could build this car again, but sadly it would not be considered safe by today's standards. I currently drive a 1972 Ford Pinto and a 1968 VW Bug. I would certainly not be afraid to drive a mid '70s Honda.
I certainly appreciate how you feel. However, may I suggest you check out the Honda Fit series? These cars have assumed the fuel savings, flexibility, and driving fun of the classic Civics. Their wheel base, weight, stance, and drive train really give a decent approximation of the first and second generation Civics; with modern safety and convenience features. I have one and it's a faithful feel to the original...on street and track. No, Honda didn't pay for this message ;-) I just really like my Fit. (I have a '16 Pilot too).
Unfortunately the Fit simply does not work for me. First it is a four door, and that alone takes it off my list. Also, it has no character. The original Civic was noisy compared to today's cars, and it had some vibration. And it was surprisingly roomy. It had a mechanical feel and sound that today's cars lack. It was so simple, with no electronics. It actually had bumpers. The mirrors were attached to the door, rather than the A pillar. Even the little side indicator lights had a plastic lens with a metal frame and rubber seal, and were attached with screws, unlike today's cheap flimsy snap in one piece lights. The '70s Civic was mostly assembled with nuts and bolts, and had a lot more attention paid to detail than modern cars. While I have been unable (so far) to find a decent '70s Civic, I did find a 1972 Ford Pinto 4 speed. I've been driving it for the past 12 years. A new paint job made it look almost like new. It's bigger on the outside than the Civic, but about the same inside. Honda managed to make a lot of room in that little car.
Yes. She is garaged right now, as we're working out an issue with the carburetor, and doing our best to get the '78 emission plumbing right. The biggest issue for me is that this motor/carb is auto-choke, where the '78 was manual and I'd really like to get THAT corrected and right. But, yeah, it's awesome and it rockets down the road just like the one I had back in the day.
monzsterman Yes, it is. But, I do have my eye peeled for a 78 CVCC motor. But, as I think I mentioned in another comment, parts for 1st gen Honda's are pretty scarce.
cindyscott54 Yes they are. My son recently purchased a 78 1200 race car that we converted back to street and his friend bought from the same guy a stock 78 1200. We go 2 truck loads of extras and a shell to go along with them but haven't really had a lot of time to go thru it all. They are too busy buzzing them around. They are really cool cars. Nice to see someone else keeping them alive.
monzsterman If they find a rear hatch that'll fit the CVCC, let me know. The locking mechanism on mine is toast. I'm also looking for the 78 air cleaner canister with the emission devices still attached.
Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion ?cvcc sounds the same as Suzuki's TSCC or Twin Swirl Combustion Chamber a true hemispherical burning UJM universial japanese Motorcycle or Standard bike like the inline 4Cylinder GS1000 Or GS750's of the 1970's. Great bike the 1000's or 1100's Were nhra Champeens for Decades.
Had a 300$ one in 87, had a/c got insane gas mileage, took Mad punishment and got me off the trail to sweet fishing spots...Most versatile car and best deal of my life.
Through all terrain, all weather conditions and all seasons,"HONDA... We make it SIMPLE!"
My father had a 79 blue little Honda like this one. It great on the snow ❄
Actually, this is a '78 Civic CVCC 5-Speed(that's the model name). And, 1978-79 are the primo model years to have, I think. I'd love to own one of these, even with the aftermarket sunroof and aftermarket side protector mouldings. Road&Track tested a '75 version of this model, and got 28 mpg City and 42 mpg highway, with a range of 365 miles on one tank of gas(with a one gallon reserve). This new owner is a very lucky guy to have found this(in 2014).
I absolutely love that car, i loved the volkswagon beetle for my whole life and i still do but the 78-79 honda civics are so cool.
I owned both a 78 and a 79 civic. Same color as the video. I wish I still had one of them.
I had a '79 Accord, 5 speed w/ air with the same colors and it was just an amazing car and I drove it all over the country, just amazing!
My parents had one just like this. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one, just for the memories.
www.gatewayclassiccars.com./orlando/1978/honda/civic-S613.html
I had one and I miss it.
the car I had in college, damn good car
I had a "Hondamatic" LOVED it. My mom drove it to over 300,000 miles, very reliable.
Also, these Civics were go-kart nimble! But the biggest reason besides the strong build and reliability is the extreme, conspicuous case for fuel economy. A Hondamatic with 1.2-liter OHC 2-valve/cylinder in-line 4 engine would deliver nearly 75 mpg on the highway!
I had the 1979 CVCC in College as well. Man did it backfire. I loved it.
I gave my son a 1978 Civic when he was going to Michigan State university in the early 90's. He drove it back and forth between Lansing and Detroit whenever he came home. It was a great car.
I have a few Honda factory manuals and a book called "How To Keep Your Honda Alive" which is a priceless gem. I think the universe is telling me to buy one of these cars.
Eric Leippe A refresher course on how to tune a carburetor is helpful too. ;-)
Love it...you still got this car...If so post more please
My mother had one in light blue, it drove like a tractor in the Ohio Blizzard of 78. Low and behold Honda came to Marysville Ohio and built the flagship plant for the Honda Accord. Low and behold my 75 year old mother is a security guard where the NSX Acura is made. Honda... The power of dreams. 👍🏻
BEAUTIFUL CAR. I had a '79 when I was a teenager in '85
The car that put Honda on the map worldwide.....
It really was, because of the situation with fuel availability in the U.S. In '78, unleaded gas was absolutely necessary if your car was equipped with a catalytic converter and it was hard to find in that first year of mandated use. But the CVCC, not needing a converter because of the "stratified charge" CVCC carb, could run on leaded OR unleaded, so you didn't have a worry about gas availability on long trips. That was the big reason I bought mine. I was in the Navy at the time and was driving between Norfolk, Virginia and D.C. several times a month... plus coming home to Florida monthly. Finding unleaded gas could be a real problem.
Wow, I bet that car was the talk of the town.
Awesome little car!
We have one here in----- at a donation lot and it's currently priced at 3100dollars with only 75000 miles!
It sold for $2800!
As I love that car, the best car that Honda manufactured , with which made a great leap for the automotive industry . I wish I had one like it , you're lucky to have this relic , take care !
Love this car, it was my first car. i had it in avocado green
My first car crush. It was a 2 door in I belive was yellow. My dad bought it from our neighbour for my mom. She drove it for a few years then the car was used by my grandfather until he passed away. I got to see the car once a year before he passed and the car got worse each year due to not taking care of it properly. The car was mint before it was sent to my grandfather. When my grandfather died, I begged my dad (technically the car is his) not to crush it and that I would do almost anything for it. I cried when it was crushed.
Wiseguy7 I have a similar story. Our 1997 accord got totaled and we realized it had no insurance. I aked my dad if we could keep it so that I could fix it, but he said there was nothing he could do about it. Then one friday, He said if we win the lottery, we can bring it back home and fix it. I hope I can do so.
Wiseguy7 dads a moron
Hey there's one for sale exactly like you described on Craigslist here in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Looks exactly like mine in High School in 81.
The first gen Civics (76-83) were all remarkably similar; Safety and comfort refinements mostly. 82-83 were the exceptions, where the wheel base increased. In addition to the 78, I had an 82 Wagon, and an 83 S. The 83 was MUCH roomier inside compared to the 78. They are GREAT cars, but man am I spoiled with fuel injection. The carb on this 78 is sooooo sensitive to tuning.
It was a Silver 78 5 speed, Then I had a 79 Prelude. Loved them both, that was way before the big JDM movement.
This car color it reminds me of the one Don Doll Louise drove in at Cannonball Run at the beginning of the movie at the shop!!
I had that same car, was my 3rd. Car, I had owned now I wished I still had it!
I had one just like it in Red. It was my first car.
09-03-2022 regular grade fuel @$4.17usd.
Little cars make sense just like 1973 all over again. Cindy is so retro cool. If this car still functions after eight years.
It has a 10 gal tank... my original CVCC Civic got close to 30 mpg driving 55 mph on the highway. City driving dropped to 25 mpg because I was young, stupid, and speed shifting ;-)
She is a great car, and as much fun as remember. There is a oil leak, which I'm concerned might be coming from the oil pump. That will be a bitch, because the engine has to be hoisted off the crossmember to access the pump. Getting the plumbing for the motor to be 78 spec is proving to be quite a challenge. The carb is basically universal through the CVCC series, but the engine in the car is an 81, so there's a huge difference in vacuum hoses, etc between the two models. The carb has to be completely readjusted now that the pre-heater and intake hoses have been added. Getting the fuel/air mixture right, with the proper amount of choke is HARD. ;-) I am actually considering reconnecting the manual choke. Oh, and the hatch locking latch is broken. One other little glitch we noticed while detailing the exterior.... the bumpers were on the wrong ends of the car; front on the back, back on the front. So, we got those switch back where they belong and now have a nice vintage plate on the front. We also have to find a proper washer fluid bottle or bag, and a pump.
+cindyscott54 show the inside of this car and show the keys to
Love this video till today how you DOING
It is hard to describe how small these looked in the 70s
They were all combined for the best, cartoon-like yet endearingly so, compact and adorable yet elegant and simple.
I love my 78 to death
I was almost chose this car between a 2004 VW Golf/Jetta. Two years ago I went to a cousin's party and his neighbor had this same civic parked outside his garage, for sale. I fell in love with the way it looked and if I had this car I knew that I would be in my high school yearbook's "car page" for sure. There were two things that were keeping me from buying this classic.
1) I didn't have the $$$ he was asking for. I think he was asking for like $1800-$2500 for it
2) My step dad said it was a great car, but his friend had the same car model, which had carb problems, so it basically turned me off from the car.
Very nice
I have this car but 1982. I love this car
beautiful
Very cool Honda! and "64 Impala
A great find as most of these things had the wheels run off
had a 79...non cvcc. greenest car
looks really nice
how much did u guys pay for it?
I love the mid '70s Honda Civic. It was my first new car. It was yellow. From there Honda just went downhill. I have no interest in a modern Honda. I have been unable to locate another one that is not rusted to pieces. I wish Honda could build this car again, but sadly it would not be considered safe by today's standards. I currently drive a 1972 Ford Pinto and a 1968 VW Bug. I would certainly not be afraid to drive a mid '70s Honda.
I certainly appreciate how you feel. However, may I suggest you check out the Honda Fit series? These cars have assumed the fuel savings, flexibility, and driving fun of the classic Civics. Their wheel base, weight, stance, and drive train really give a decent approximation of the first and second generation Civics; with modern safety and convenience features. I have one and it's a faithful feel to the original...on street and track. No, Honda didn't pay for this message ;-) I just really like my Fit. (I have a '16 Pilot too).
Unfortunately the Fit simply does not work for me. First it is a four door, and that alone takes it off my list. Also, it has no character. The original Civic was noisy compared to today's cars, and it had some vibration. And it was surprisingly roomy. It had a mechanical feel and sound that today's cars lack. It was so simple, with no electronics. It actually had bumpers. The mirrors were attached to the door, rather than the A pillar. Even the little side indicator lights had a plastic lens with a metal frame and rubber seal, and were attached with screws, unlike today's cheap flimsy snap in one piece lights. The '70s Civic was mostly assembled with nuts and bolts, and had a lot more attention paid to detail than modern cars. While I have been unable (so far) to find a decent '70s Civic, I did find a 1972 Ford Pinto 4 speed. I've been driving it for the past 12 years. A new paint job made it look almost like new. It's bigger on the outside than the Civic, but about the same inside. Honda managed to make a lot of room in that little car.
very nice car👍
I had a Hondamatic, the car was a lot of trouble. More in the shop than on the road.
I wanted that exact car but ended up with a brown basic model instead.
I liked my ‘91 Hatchback the best, too bad it got rear ended, had an ‘84 too, also rear ended.
Omg. Where did you get that car? I want it!
Do you still have this car? Awesome car!!
Yes. She is garaged right now, as we're working out an issue with the carburetor, and doing our best to get the '78 emission plumbing right. The biggest issue for me is that this motor/carb is auto-choke, where the '78 was manual and I'd really like to get THAT corrected and right. But, yeah, it's awesome and it rockets down the road just like the one I had back in the day.
I'd like to buy this car if you still own it.
You they got ozzy osbourne in the video
Put a b18c5 in it or a b16b. Vtec swap
Nice idea, but I wanna keep it stock with the Keihin carb & the 12 valve 1.5L CVCC series motor ( which hauled butt in it's day).
nice car, ashamed it doesn't have the proper engine
monzsterman Yes, it is. But, I do have my eye peeled for a 78 CVCC motor. But, as I think I mentioned in another comment, parts for 1st gen Honda's are pretty scarce.
cindyscott54 Yes they are. My son recently purchased a 78 1200 race car that we converted back to street and his friend bought from the same guy a stock 78 1200. We go 2 truck loads of extras and a shell to go along with them but haven't really had a lot of time to go thru it all. They are too busy buzzing them around. They are really cool cars. Nice to see someone else keeping them alive.
monzsterman If they find a rear hatch that'll fit the CVCC, let me know. The locking mechanism on mine is toast. I'm also looking for the 78 air cleaner canister with the emission devices still attached.
cindyscott54 If we have either I will let you know.
mantap civicnya sangat cantik, sangat mempesona, saya pengen banget civic seperti itu. sungguh tak ternilai. boleh saya minta civicnya?
Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion ?cvcc sounds the same as Suzuki's TSCC or Twin Swirl Combustion Chamber a true hemispherical burning UJM universial japanese Motorcycle or Standard bike like the inline 4Cylinder GS1000 Or GS750's of the 1970's. Great bike the 1000's or 1100's Were nhra Champeens for Decades.
I'm from Australia I got one of these for $1000 hahaha what u pay for yours lol 7k lol
It's higher because it's now very collectable & in great shape!
Her haircut looks as old as that Honda. Get a new stylist asap.
Oragon hahaha