By now it’s been around so long that it’s easy to forget what a phenomenon the Honda Accord once was. So high was demand when the Accord first appeared in 1976—with a major spike in 1979 when a four-door sedan joined the original three-door hatch—that well into the ’80s a prospective Accord buyer had to be willing to pay above sticker or wait to take delivery—or often both. The Accord spurred Honda’s foray into American production in 1982, has consistently been one of the top-selling cars in the U.S. for going on 30 years, typically without the benefits of incentives or fleet sales, has been on Car and Driver’s 10 Best list more times than any other car—33, to be exact—and on and on and on. This remarkably original, 27,000-mile 1980 Accord sedan, available here on eBay with a $7,750 buy-it-now, takes us back almost to the beginning; let’s see if we can remember what all the fuss has been about.
Clearly, the Accord’s success has been built on giving Americans what they want from a family car. In 1980, with the fuel crisis-stricken ’70s barely in the rear-view mirror, that meant a smaller, more economical footprint without necessarily giving up the luxuries of a bigger car. It’s telling that the Accord was one of the main competitors targeted when Cadillac launched the infamous Cimarron in 1982—the Accord was seen as the premium product in its segment. Economy was provided by a 1.8-liter inline four with Honda’s clever CVCC stratified charge emissions system, good for 72 horsepower—and 35 miles per gallon on the highway, per the EPA’s estimates at the time.
Of course, the Accord’s continued success has been based on evolving to keep up with changing tastes and needs, and the Accord sedan has grown immensely since 1980. The 2018 model is more than 20 inches longer and 1,200 pounds heavier than this ancestor, which would slot neatly between the Fit and the Civic hatchback in Honda’s current lineup, although it probably doesn’t offer anywhere near as much interior room as either.
So the old Accord is snug but undeniably plush by 1980 standards. This looks about as close to a new 1980 Accord interior as you’ll ever see again, with flawless fabric upholstery and unbroken plastics as far as the eye can see, all tastefully color matched, as the seller points out, to the minty fresh Hampstead Green Metallic exterior paint. A period correct aftermarket cassette player is noted, as is the absence of optional air conditioning. The instrument panel, with its pictogram open door warning and thoughtful service indicator lights, adds to the upscale feeling. Not noted, but pictured, is the classy quartz-movement clock.
With so few miles, you’d expect this Honda to be nearly flawless, and it is. It doesn’t hurt that it is the proverbial lifelong west coast car, but then, aren’t they all? A healthy slather of undercoating has preserved the belly of this little beast, and it does present as a rust-free car, avoiding a common problem for early Accords (and most other contemporary Japanese cars) in less temperate climates. A laundry list of recent maintenance rounds out the thoughtful presentation of this neat little classic. The Accord has been that rare product that is able to sustain and build on its early success over a long, long time; it’s about time the surviving early cars started to get the classic car treatment, and this remarkable survivor seems like a great place to start.
Don’t care for Asian cars myself, of the hundreds of cars I’ve had, maybe had 4, but one can’t deny, the success this had for Honda. Put them on the map, so to say. The Civic on steroids,,,kind of, but these were very popular. This seemed to be the 1st Honda car that was ok to own, your neighbor Bill, who was a devout Ford fan all his life, suddenly, rolled in with an Accord. Peoples parents bought one. Sadly, they were made of tin foil, at best, and didn’t make it long in the salt, maybe 5 years and rusted front struts would poke through the fenders. Amazing to see one like this, as the one below was much more what we had up North, and this is a California car. Obviously, someone came to Cal. with it from up north.. They were great cars.
https://ranwhenparked.net/2013/08/22/driven-daily-honda-accord-mk1/#jp-carousel-10645
Funny all that rust and was still being driven
It is lucky it has the 5 speed and not that horrible Honda-Matic.
These green Accords were everywhere at one time.
Would anybody like to see this color on the new one?
Also you are right Nathan, the Hondas have grown into monsters compared to what they once were.
I compare the new Civic to the 1997 EX Coupe I bought new and I can’t believe the difference.
by 1980 all accords had the 3 speed automatic. Hondamatic denoted the semi automatic 2 speed of 1979 and earlier. my 1980 accord LX has the 3 speed auto. wish it were a 5 speed.
“without necessarily giving up the luxuries of a bigger car.”
Plush by 80s standards?
Demand in 76 so high that they sold 18,643? not so much to all of the above.
Nathan were you a vehicle owner in 1980?
Accords became popular for numerous well known reasons.
Accord was introduced in May, 1976, so 18,000+ for the short model year. Nearly 186,000 were sold for 1980, constrained by supply, not by demand. The Accord was trimmed and equipped to a higher level than buyers were accustomed to in Asian cars. LX models even had standard air conditioning, something only luxury cars included in base prices at the time. The Accord was one of the first economy cars that wasn’t cheap, and it earned big profits for Honda and its dealers. Its influence goes far beyond the sales figures.
It’s been a lot of years since I worked on those. A/C & other accessories were dealer add ons due to a tariff situation. It was cheaper to send the kits in a box & pay a tech to install them than to pay tax on the additional price in a new car. I think the 86 LXis were the first imported with A/C. By the 90 model year the DX was the only one left with dealer installed A/C.
Nice example, that car will outlive all of us.
I was really intrigued by this posting — right up until I read ‘no ac’. I may be getting old, but no ac means no sale. Especially living in GA. Too dang hot down here.
Other than that, it’s perfect. Low miles, the right color, no rust, good interior, 5-speed.
I learned my lesson early. I was a broke, entry level dealership employee driving a severely rusted 77 Plymouth Volare when we took in a one owner, 100,000 mile 82 Accord. Came with a one inch stack of dealer service records. I bought it for $1200.00 and thought I stole it. Until winter came and it would die on me halfway through my 40 mile commute. Every day. Same place. Carb was freezing up. After sitting for 10 minutes, the heat of the engine wouuld thaw it out enough to continue on to work. Came time to change the oil, and the lift went through the floor, the underside was completly rusted away. Last straw came on a rainy day. I braked for slow traffic and the right rear brake locked up and spun me into oncoming traffic. I had to have it towed because the brake would not release. Sent it to salvage auction the next day, pulled the Volare out of the pasture and drove it another year. The lesson I learned? Japanese quality is a myth.
I think the lesson learned might be to have any 100,000 mile car thoroughly inspected before buying it.
The cheap becomes expensive as Judge Milian says.
The lesson is, and it’s universal. Just because a manufacturor makes good cars is no indication that any particular USED car is a good car. The other lesson of course that the used car department will rip off the ignorant even when you work there.
I remember looking at those in the showroom when my folks bought their ’81 Civic Wagon and how plush and luxurious they looked! My first new car was a Civic sedan in ’95, and this week I’m reviewing a Civic Touring for autohebdo.net The Civic is now a budget Audi A3, and I should know since my dd is an A3.
If you can keep the rust at bay, a Honda will run forever. Kudos to the people who kept that Accord pristine!
No sale at a reduced $5500//OBO…
It was recently sold on Bring A Trailer for $3150. Miles are likely as represented on eBay 127,xxx
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1980-honda-accord-4/
I dated a girl in high school (80’s) that had the same color Accord, but it had ac an an auto trans. It was a slug! Good dependable car that sipped gas but “ugh!” Later I had a friend who said his dad was considering buying one similar and i mentioned the auto trans really hobbled it. His dad ended up buying it but fortunately it had a standard shift trans. It was a copper color IIRC. Neither were very “awe inspring”, but they always made it to school on time!
After growing up in a buy American household but still really liking these Hondas i now have a collection of several vintage Honda cars. I cant put my finger on what was so attractive about these but think it had something to do with the incredible attention to detail that Honda put in thwir cars, particularly 80s Hondas. For example not only were the panels trimmed, but tje trim itself often had a black sub trim to keep panel gaps very tight the net result being an iverqll tidy package. This particular generation Accord started Honda trend of offering near luxury interior finishes especially for their price point.
While material quality itself such as fabrics and steel might have been substandard, that wasnt apparent when new and only became visible in future years thru rust, worn fabrics, etc. If i uad more room Id grab this accord too. When new late 70s and 80s Hondas were always 1 generation ahead of the competition style wise.
Unfortunately as time passed Honda as well lost their way and their cars as other readers mentioned git large and fat, losing their gotta have it appeal and becoming just another alternative in todays market.
The Cimarron was not targeted at the Accord. That was the Cavalier.
Cadillac’s J Body was targeted at the small BMW and Audi and priced that way.
Tests included those two cars along with the Cimmaron. Ads made the same comparisons.
Read the “Decline & Fall of The American Auto Industry” by Brock Yates to get the development story of the J Body. The Accord was the target.
The Cimmaron was created from the J to go after the high bucks compact imported car buyer.
GM would have been smarter to have taken the four door notchback X or A Body and given it the Cadillac treatment with V6, leather instead of just breathing on a Cavalier to justify the price.
Development for the Cimmaron was about 18 months and Cadillac was very late to the J Body program.
That original 1.8 engine did none of the brands a favor and why the Olds and Buick versions soon offered the Brazilian OHC 1.8.
The Accord was a beautiful, well trimmed and popular car. Cadillac’s version of the J was targeted at a different buyer. And thousands of dollars more. About twice that of a Cavalier.
All the lesser Js aped the Accord with a very broad list of standard features and improved assembly over the H Body line they replaced.
Looking at the pictures of this “green machine” brought me goose bumps! This is same care that I had in 1986. It was a hand me down from my cousin who doesn’t how to repair cars. Upon my “magic” trick-I the mechanic, tuned it up, changed the oil-used Mobil1. I invited my clueless cousin for a “revisited” drive, he was so impressed with my “touch”, he wanted back! It was a simple tune up, check the timing, correctly adjust the carb, the “magic touch” was the Mobil1 oil! The engine was so smooth that my cousin thought the engine was off! The moral of this story was my “barn” find. I made an easy $1,000 in “returning” it to the original owner. Too bad he trashed a year later. I may check this one out & see if I can make a deal! Thanks for the memory.