Friday, August 03, 2007

Pictorial addition to last post...

...because it occurred to me that many people don't know that there were Honda cars in this country before the Civic....

This is the 600 sedan. Mine was yellow, and cost a whole $1295 new in 1970. It was just over 10 feet long, would do maybe 75 mph tops -- a little over 80 when slipstreaming semis on the open highway -- and got great gas mileage.

What I remember most about it is that, despite previous ownership of cars with large interiors and wide seats, it was the first car in which I...ummm...you know...yeah, did that with a girl. Damn, I was so much more flexiible in those days...



I traded it in on the "sporty" model two years later. Mine was the same vile shade of green -- no stripes, though -- and it was a total hoot to drive. I want to say I paid $1595 for it, but don't recall now.

It was a kind of ancestor to the smart car, and I wish I still had it...

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I always thought the little sporty model (GT?) was cool. My first Honda was a '75 Civic CVCC 5-speed, yellow with black/white houndstooth check interior. I drove it for 3 years and sold it for about what I paid for it. Times were simpler then. :)

MrScribbler said...

l&s -- The "GT" lettering must be from an over-enthusiastic owner. Honda called it the Z600, and it had a shiny chrome badge on the back that said "Coupe."

I was always kind of happy they weren't using the names "Benly," "Raccoon," "Tact" or "TN-ACTY" for it. Those appeared on other Honda vehicles....

I almost bought a Civic, but the Mazda was way faster, and gas was cheap back then.

becomingkate said...

I always wanted a Honda,but when push came to shove I chose a Nissan. Mostly for cosmetic reasons, but also because an old friend had one for 10 or 11 years.

MrScribbler said...

I think a Z600 would be perfect for you, Kate!

Anonymous said...

How retro of you Mr. S. :-)

John0 Juanderlust said...

It took the Japanese a long time to work out colors. I remember all of them coming up with hues never before seen on this planet, interior and exterior. But they were laid out logically, easy to work on, and a blast to drive.

MrScribbler said...

kit -- I'm just a retro kind of guy!

Doug said...

Chuckling at John's comment about colors. Nobody had the hues that Chrysler had back in the 70s.

If I could, I would like an original Honda Civic CRX Si from the 80s.

Anonymous said...

Does it come with a personal assistant? That's the only way I could get in and out of something that small and low to the ground!

Anonymous said...

I'd like to see the Hillman. When I was about 6 or 7, my dad had a Hillman Husky. Memories, indeed!