Sold

Model history and curiosity

The Honda Civic is a car model produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Honda in 1972, still in production and now in its eleventh evolution. Only the Toyota Corolla presented in 1966 can boast a longer cycle of models presented with the unchanged name.

The first Honda Civic was born in a period marked by intense economic development for Japan. Events of international importance such as the Osaka Expo in 1970 and the Sapporo Winter Olympic Games in 1972 pushed the country towards more intense urbanization from which the automobile did not escape, which in those years took on the role we have always better known than a means of mass transport. Until then specialized in sports cars, Honda decided to adapt to the new economic-social panorama that was emerging, focusing on the design of a compact car that could meet the needs of Japanese and even foreign customers. The new "utility car" brought with it new mechanics that were absolutely distant from other Japanese compact cars of the time: in a period in which low-range cars were characterized by a three-volume bodywork, front engine and rear-wheel drive, the Honda Civic presented itself as a two-volume front-wheel drive and transverse front engine, following the concept of a small car as expressed in old Europe. The "gestation" period was incredibly short (considering the era in which virtual design and computerized analysis did not exist): within two years (from 1970 to 1972) the car went from a blank sheet of paper to the marketing of the car. The debut dates back to July 1972 for the 2-door version, followed by the 3-door version in September. The first generation Honda Civic won the "Car of the Year Japan Award" for three years, from 1972 to 1974, and took third place in the "Car of the Year" award in 1973.

Gallery