16/08/2008 07:27. 1977 Honda Civic Hatchback (Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor
Company, Inc.)
Prior to 1973, Honda was a company known more for its motorcycles
than for its cars, which were tiny two-cylinder 600cc runabouts.
This changed when the Civic debuted for 1973 . The Civic offered amazing space efficiency in a fun little car
that achieved more than 40 mpg on the highway. Room for four
passengers was quite a feat for a car that possessed such
diminutive dimensions as an 86.6-inch wheelbase and 139.8-inch
overall length. A small transversely mounted engine and
front-wheel-drive layout (an arrangement that was something of a
novelty to the American car market) and 12-inch wheels maximized
interior room. Indeed, early ads for the Civic boasted that it had
more passenger room than many larger... //
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