41 Miles Per Gallon in 1974
The Civic’s four-cylinder engine displaced just 1.2 liters. But let’s compare its efficiency to the Chevy Monte Carlo, one of the most popular new cars in 1973.
The Monte Carlo was sold with four engine options, ranging from a 305-cubic-inch (5.0-liter) V-8 to a 454-cubic-inch (7.4-liter) V-8. Meanwhile, the Honda engine made only 50 horsepower. Of course, that low output wasn’t an issue for a car that weighed 1,536 pounds. On the other hand, the Monte Carlo tipped the scales at around 3,800 pounds.
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The Monte Carlo’s combination of power and weight translated to about 13 miles per gallon, while the Civic returned 41 mpg.
Around the same time, the government started doing something about the excessive smog that hung over cities like Los Angeles. New laws mandated that automakers add costly emissions-fighting equipment like catalytic converters.
One of the Honda Civic’s claims to fame was its compound vortex controlled combustion (CVCC) engine. It famously passed the US’s strict new emissions regulations without a catalytic converter.
Don’t Be Fuelish
The car for sale is a rare one-year-only configuration that bridges a gap in early Honda history. In 1974, Honda increased the engine displacement from 1,169cc to 1,237cc, bumping horsepower from 50 to 52. This predated the CVCC engine, which debuted on the 1,237cc motor in 1975.
The car has a four-speed manual that is fun to shift on a lightweight hatch. The color is also relatively rare. Most first-generation Civics sold in the US are yellow or white. This one was repainted in its delightful original Brown Metallic color.
The Civic also had its own style, designed with simplicity and user-friendliness first and foremost. Like Honda motorcycles before it, the car went against prevailing trends that gave us baroque sedans and aggressive muscle cars. It was unique and approachable, from its sporty motorcycle-inspired gauges and wood-rimmed steering wheel to its expansive greenhouse and pug-like stance.
The seller notes a few flaws. There’s a deep scratch on the hood. The right rear shock is blown and needs to be replaced. Those are not major repairs and can easily be done by a patient owner.
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What might prove more frustrating are the cracks in the dash and the missing radio. Interior trim for classic Civics can be difficult to find. Plastic from five decades ago will likely be just as damaged unless kept indoors.
Finally, the seller notes some rust underneath, but this is a blue plate California car, so hopefully it’s minimal.
Shop now for Honda Civic hatchbacksLet’s Do the Time Warp Again
The dash displays 65,000 miles. Or maybe it’s 165,000 miles. It’s hard to tell on a car with a five-digit odometer.
While this car may not have the clean-burning CVCC engine, it should be easier to wrench on due to its reduced complexity. Those emissions laws worked, so we wouldn’t worry about what’s coming from this Civic’s tailpipe. Cities today are no longer blanketed by a layer of choking exhaust, and one 1.2-liter engine isn’t going to make an appreciable difference.
Just get in, and enjoy the time warp to an era when disco ruled—and the importance of fuel economy and low emissions were on the rise. Fifty years after the legendary and adorable 1974 Civic went on sale, it still goes further on a gallon of gas than most cars on American roads.
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