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Honda Accord
A Honda Accord might seem like mere street furniture to many of us over the age of 40, but for the new generation of car enthusiasts, this is a car which is fast getting cult status as a classic alongside other street furniture of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.
But where did it all begin?
Well, the Accord came to market in 1976 with their first generation and it was made in Japan and Malaysia; and they must’ve been pretty well made because you still them being used as daily transport in Malaysia even now - decades on.
Knowing they were onto something good and having achieved market share in the western car buying markets, Honda created the second generation in 1981 - which gave rise to the Honda factory in Ohio; making it the first Honda to ever be assembled in America.
Despite having a fantastic motor industry of their own, Americans were captivated by this no nonsense Japanese car and it quickly gained the title of the best selling Japanese car in the US - a position it held for well over a decade without interruption.
But what did the car offer the discerning buyer?
Well, I understand it might’ve been slightly different for some markets, a little like the first generation, so my information has been gleaned from a sales brochure correct to the year of the car.
Honda billed the second generation as a new style of Accord for today’s style of motoring; promising the mid-range family car was one of the most sought after in the entire world. Which I think might be true, because the Accord is the world’s fourth most stolen car.
The new car promised a luxurious and elegant 4 door, with a larger body shell to offer more interior space and a larger fuel tank and boot capacity; with the boot having increased by 25% and the fuel tank holding two gallons more of fuel.
Aerodynamics wise, it was completely re thought out to offer better MPG - but more importantly for this era of cars after the 70s where things seemed to rot at the speed of light - rust proofing was an intrinsic part of the build process.
The car was built in a new light-weight high strength steel which not only reduced excess weight but also, allegedly, provided a virtually invulnerable buffer against the elements. Honda boosted this with high-strength steel plates to the front wheel arch, bonnet skin, floor frame, centre pillars, boot and tail gate. These plates were said to offer greater protection in the event of high speed collision. They also boasted better paint and prep to see the car outlast the competitors.
Engine wise, this particular car was afforded the 79bhp 1.6 litre engine. I know some cars abroad had different engine specs as standard, but this refers to the model I’m testing today. Overall across the range in all countries, Honda described it as one of the best cars in the under 2 litre market.
The second generation came to an end in 1985 when it was replaced by the third gen, but the story doesn’t stop there. The Accord is still being made today; albeit looking a lot more modern than this example.
Is it a classic? I would argue yes - this is a car with memories for many, whether it’s the commuter, mum’s car or the car you walked past on your way home. A car doesn’t have to be exceptional to be a classic, it just needs to take you back to a time and a place and bring back a feeling.