1979 Honda Accord

The name Accord was derived from Honda's unremitting effort to achieve "accord" between people, society, and the automobile through advanced technology. The introduction of the first Accord in June of 1976 was significant for both the American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and the automobile industry as a whole.

For Honda, then known mainly for its economical Civic, it was the first step toward becoming a full-line auto manufacturer and a major presence in the U.S. market. For the industry, the Accord defined a new kind of car - a practical automobile that combined economy and value with sporty style and spirited performance.

The Accord proved to be so popular that customers' vehicles sometimes increased in value within the first years of ownership. In all, 18,333 Accords were sold that first year, and by 1980, the Accord achieved annual sales of 185,972.

• 1976: Accord was initially available only as a three-door hatchback powered by a Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion (CVCC) 4-cylinder engine.

The revolutionary CVCC engine technology debuted in the 1975 Civic and cemented Honda’s place in history as a leader in powertrain innovation. That year, Civic became the first automobile to meet the tightened emissions standards of the Clean Air Act without the need for a catalytic converter.

The 68-horsepower rating for the Accord’s 1.6-liter CVCC engine may seem low by modern standards, but a typical V8 produced about 140 horsepower at the time. The 2,000-pound Accord had a better power-to-weight ratio than traditional larger vehicles that weighed in at over 3,500 pounds.

Cutting-edge for its time, the front-wheel drive Accord featured an all-aluminum cylinder head, a standard 5-speed manual transmission or an available 2-speed Hondamatic semi-automatic transmission.

Standard equipment was generous. The innovative interior layout featured a combination of comfortable seating, logical controls and high-quality switchgear, along with a maintenance reminder system that recommended when to change the oil, rotate the tires and more.

• 1979: The first-ever Accord sedan debuted. It was equipped with Accord’s first power steering system and its first true automatic transmission, a 3-speed, which was optional on all Accords. Engine displacement increased to 1.8 liters in all U.S. models, increasing output to 72 horsepower.
• 1981: A new luxuriously-appointed Special Edition model included leather upholstery, alloy wheels, power windows and a sound system with a cassette deck – incredible features during an era when manually-operated windows, vinyl seats and optional AM radio ruled the automotive industry.

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