It was 1973. Honda had set out to make the best little car that could. Sporting the tagline "It'll get you where you're going," a love affair was started. 40 years later, it's still going strong.
With its quirky styling, transversely mounted engine, front-wheel drive, and fully independent suspension, the original Civic made an impression and turned heads. It was everything that its American counterparts were not. It stood apart. And it was fun to drive.
Beginnings
Honda engineers continued to tinker with the Civic's engine, teasing out more performance, bumping up the cc's to a total of 1,237 and horsepower to 52.
But what established the Civic as a credible threat was the introduction of the CVCC engine in 1974. As federal mandates continued to demand more from engines, requiring tighter emissions standards, the majority of automakers begrudgingly reluctantly fitted exhaust catalysts. However, Honda saw a better way and quietly went to work. And the CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) engine was born. Featuring a head and fuel-delivery design, it provided cleaner and more complete combustion, meeting the new standards. All without the need for a catalytic converter. And still ran on standard leaded gasoline...
Continue reading at Capital Honda: History of the Honda Civic
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