my Honda Civic (don't worry - it's not totally bland)
Discussion
It's a 1978 1st generation 
Mine is a rather rare 4 door (the 2 or 3 doors are more common), but there's not many of any sort left to be honest. Rust is the real killer, and the thing that I will need to stay on top of. It looks quite clean in the pics, but up close it needs some improvements. The good thing is it was waxoiled from new, which has saved it. So the chassis is actually pretty sound, but the front leading edge of the bonnet is starting to go. Not too late though. It has a this chrome strip attached which of course allows water to sit behind it, so I will need to remove the chrome strip, take back to fresh metal and go from there.
1.2 litre petrol engine. The thing I really love
about it is the 2-speed Hondamatic gearbox!! Yes two speed. Makes you wonder about the latest 8-speed autos...
here's a vid of it driving home. (not riveting, but some of you may be interested
)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jB286GnrEs
It did of course break down on the way home - the mechanical fuel pump has given up the ghost. New one on it's way to me now. Other than that unfortunate circumstance, there's no reason why it won't be totally reliable - pretty simple engines, and no sensors to go wrong!
Mine is a rather rare 4 door (the 2 or 3 doors are more common), but there's not many of any sort left to be honest. Rust is the real killer, and the thing that I will need to stay on top of. It looks quite clean in the pics, but up close it needs some improvements. The good thing is it was waxoiled from new, which has saved it. So the chassis is actually pretty sound, but the front leading edge of the bonnet is starting to go. Not too late though. It has a this chrome strip attached which of course allows water to sit behind it, so I will need to remove the chrome strip, take back to fresh metal and go from there. 1.2 litre petrol engine. The thing I really love
about it is the 2-speed Hondamatic gearbox!! Yes two speed. Makes you wonder about the latest 8-speed autos...here's a vid of it driving home. (not riveting, but some of you may be interested
)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jB286GnrEs
It did of course break down on the way home - the mechanical fuel pump has given up the ghost. New one on it's way to me now. Other than that unfortunate circumstance, there's no reason why it won't be totally reliable - pretty simple engines, and no sensors to go wrong!
I seem to suffer less 'road rage' feelings in it. In my normal car I'm rather road-ragey and impatient, but in this I go into chilled out cruise mode.
I had one about 15 years ago (a three door) but back then it was just a regular old shonker (300 quid jobbie) and no-one cared about them, including me. Now of course I wish I'd kept it as I feel very nostalgic about it.
I had one about 15 years ago (a three door) but back then it was just a regular old shonker (300 quid jobbie) and no-one cared about them, including me. Now of course I wish I'd kept it as I feel very nostalgic about it.
PaulG40 said:
retro in every way
The 'safety features' are rather retro! - the seat belts feel like a couple of flappy bits of material that might retard your deceleration into the steering wheel by 5% if they feel like it, on a good day! Apparently the curb weight is something like 680kgs, compared with (runs off to google to look one up) a modern Mini of 1210kgs!! 
The size is comparable, so I'm guessing a lot of safety stuf flike airbags; abs; catalyst exhaust and err...? make up the difference.NadiR said:
How much?
2 grand.Re: motorway & brakes. It has servo-assisted brakes, disk front / drum rear same as a lot of vehicles (even recent) so to be honest the brakes are fine. The lack of ABS is the main difference compared with modern cars. However tyres & suspension also play a part in braking efficiency, so overall braking efficiency would be less than a modern car. But not so much as you'd notice really - in other words the brakes work fine in normal everyday application, but in an emergency / the wet you might notice a difference.
Got it running and tried to take a few more pics today. Couple of shots of things like the gear selector since some of you young'uns have probably not sat in a car this old
The headrests go up and down(!) So I might move them back low after looking at this pic. Don't like the gap (I was playing around with them). It's two-speed semi auto so you pull away in L (low) and change into 'Star' at approx around 30mph by simply pushing the lever - you don't let up the accelerator or anything. It then moves into it's second gear. I find it amazing to think an engine can be flexible enough to not warrant more gears, but it really does drive fine.
Steering feels good - very positive, no play or anything (like old landrovers). Acceleration is fairly sedate, but certainly good enough to be 'normal' with modern traffic - it doesn't hold anyone up.
I'll probably try disassembling the seats in the summer and add more / or replace the foam to firm them up. You can feel the seat springs through the foam (feels ok but I think we're used to much firmer seats in modern cars. These are more like a couple of easy chairs at your Grandma's house).
Overall my aim with this is to keep it very standard (I know the wheels are different), so I won't be damaging anything original, or trying to 'soup up' the performance. It is what it is.
Got an invite to a car show at Crystal Palace in May (I think it was?). Not sure what the car show is i.e Japanese or what but I will investigate and possibly take it there.
The headrests go up and down(!) So I might move them back low after looking at this pic. Don't like the gap (I was playing around with them). It's two-speed semi auto so you pull away in L (low) and change into 'Star' at approx around 30mph by simply pushing the lever - you don't let up the accelerator or anything. It then moves into it's second gear. I find it amazing to think an engine can be flexible enough to not warrant more gears, but it really does drive fine.
Steering feels good - very positive, no play or anything (like old landrovers). Acceleration is fairly sedate, but certainly good enough to be 'normal' with modern traffic - it doesn't hold anyone up.
I'll probably try disassembling the seats in the summer and add more / or replace the foam to firm them up. You can feel the seat springs through the foam (feels ok but I think we're used to much firmer seats in modern cars. These are more like a couple of easy chairs at your Grandma's house).
Overall my aim with this is to keep it very standard (I know the wheels are different), so I won't be damaging anything original, or trying to 'soup up' the performance. It is what it is.
Got an invite to a car show at Crystal Palace in May (I think it was?). Not sure what the car show is i.e Japanese or what but I will investigate and possibly take it there.
Edited by CoolHands on Sunday 22 January 15:25
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