As faded as a favorite pair of jeans, and probably just as reliable, this 1982 Honda Civic Wagon is almost guaranteed to draw a few onlookers at any gas station or grocery store parking lot. The seller has this faded wagon listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Norcross, Georgia, and they’re asking $5,555. Here is the original listing, and thanks to PRA4SNW for the tip!
The seller’s listing is a little different. They list this Civic wagon as an EX-L with navigation. I’m assuming maybe they were selling another Honda and just copied things over? There was no EX, no L, no anything other than just Civic Wagon in 1982, no trim level designation, and this car certainly doesn’t have any navigation other than maybe a 1982 map of Georgia in the glove box. I love the look, though, and the 5-speed manual.
The infomercials and countless social media ads for products that you wipe on faded black plastics and magically make look like new again could have a field day with this Civic wagon. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a bumper as thoroughly faded as this one. The front isn’t much better. I know it’s hot in Georgia, or in parts of it, but dang, I had no idea that paint could fade this much in there. I always assume this occurs more often in the relentless desert Southwest than in the humid South and Southeast. Here’s what the rear cargo area looks like, by the way. It’s faded, too, but looks good overall.
The second-generation Civic was made for the 1980 through 1983 model years, and here’s a brochure showing the ’82 Hondas. Seat covers and a steering wheel cover are in place, almost as expected, and kudos to the seller for providing so many photos, including some of the seats under the covers. A 5-speed manual was standard (cough) in the wagon, as was the bigger engine, a double bonus. The back seat looks almost like new.
The seller provided a vertical video of the engine running, and this is a composite screenshot of it. The Weber carb air cleaner is hard to miss. The engine would have been Honda’s 1.5-liter SOHC inline-four, rated at around 80 horsepower and 90 lb-ft of torque when new. Backed by the 5-speed manual sending power to the front wheels, the seller says it drives well and has no rust, a combo that’s hard to beat. I wouldn’t change a thing, other than maybe buffing the paint a bit, wiping some magic goop on the bumpers, adding new tires, and doing general maintenance. Have any of you owned a second-generation Civic wagon?
Great find! This one even has AC! These are getting harder to find and with a stick! The only issue is this car can’t move fast enough to get out of its own way. Still a great little vehicle!
Install a Weber carburetor on it. That’ll really wake it up.
Looks like it has one.
My Dad had an ’81 civic 1300 dx. It was only a hatchback, with a 5-speed. He drove it about 60 miles each way for work daily. He bought it because it was promoted as getting 55 mpg on the highway. He actually got between 51 and 53. Here we are, 45 years later, and you can’t buy a new car that gets anywhere near it, at least not in this country. Makes you think 🤔
A new Prius will get 50 (or more) mpg, and also do 0-60 in 7 seconds. Now that should make you think, about how far we have come.
I get what you’re saying, but a Prius is a hybrid, and still doesn’t do as well. We had the technology almost 50 years ago to do better, with a petroleum fueled engine, and went backwards. A Prius is a good car for those that like them, but will you see one on here when it’s the year 2070? I don’t think one of them will be around….
Just my 2 cents
Any Prius near me (Chicagoland area) seems to require a Lobotomy as well…. And you still look like a Dork driving one!!
They kept growing the cars and adding mandated safety features, so even with more efficient engines of today, they are dragging around too much car to get that kind of mileage, unfortunately. Who wants to be in a 1700 lb car when a 4500 lb SUV with a distracted driver creams you?
Scotty. I could be wrong … But perhaps the 1982 Georgia map IS the Navigation!!!
Ok. Sorry. I just couldn’t resist. But anyways, just seeing that Honda brochure just brings you back. We had a neighbor down the street from us who was a terrific Honda salesman. Many folks bought multiple Hondas from him over the course of many years he worked there. I wish they still made Hondas like the ones in that brochure. I think the Accord and Prelude are my absolute favorites. These are terrific cars. And this one looks like a solid one overall. Great write up Scotty!! And of course a tip of the hat to PRA4SNW for this awsome find too!!
I was a Honda field rep from November 1986 to January 2001, then a Honda dealer parts manager until 2015. You are right about those early Honda’s, from about 1985 to 2010, they were pretty indestructible. These very early models had some head gasket issues, but Honda fixed them and repaired even cars out of warranty at Honda’s expense. I remember I could write credits to dealers for almost anything! I finally told my dealers in the SF Bay area, “Don’t even bother calling me, just fix it, I’ll approve it!” In 2015 I went to work for Nissan- they couldn’t figure out why Honda had such a loyal customer base. It was simple, build a decent car and stand behind it for 150,000 miles, even though your warranty is 3 years 36,000. I’m retired now, and sadly, I am told by those who have also retired in the last few years that the Honda of today is definitely NOT the Honda of those “Golden Glory Days.”
an optimistic price for a car with that many sags in the seats and that many miles.
So maybe $2500 but only because it’s so rare? Would $5500 be appropriate for an 82 Cavalier wagon or an 82 Escort wagon in similar shape?
Difference is, the Honda still exists, complete and running on the roads
Sure, but at that age against those cars, in that era, I don’t see how that affects the set price? Those cars were civic competitors.
Faded paint in the south is easier to deal with than body rot up North
Back when honda was still building a name for themselves in the US. My brother-in-law picked up a 2 door civic back in the late 70’s for my sister. They used to let me borrow it on occasion. No speed demon but with the 5 spd it was spirited to say the least. Especially in its powerband, which is where I always drove anything. Sometimes just not sure how I survived my earlier years.
That honda was solid. This one, though faded, should clean up nice enough and will provide plenty of miles for someone in need. And it’s a wagon!
Though I don’t see wanting to spend more than $2,500. for it.