Benards's 1976 Honda Civic (1200)

Description                 Click here for French version Bought  in 2002, to replace...my Honda S800 convertible! I needed a classic Honda able to transport the family. Type SB1, chassis number 4005461 Currently in France

Vehicle Specifications Wheels: 5.5x13 alloy wheel coming from a 1978 Accord Tires: 155/70/13 Michelin Exhaust:  Horsepower: 1169cc EB1 Transmission: 4 speed manual  Weight: ------ lbs.

Performance Modifications Planned: Twin Keihin carburator coming from a 2nd generation Civic "S" (same as Triumph Acclaim) and I'm planning to put a 1250cc on it with these carburators and a 5 speed gearbox from an "S". Except that, the car will stay stock, as I'm planning to use it in Classic car rally's (I'd like to do the "Monte Carlo Historic Rally", as 1st generation Civic did it in 77, 79 and 80)

Interior Modifications .

Exterior Modifications .

Sound System .

I'm also a great Honda fan and owned many different models during last 15 years; (CRX Si, CRX Dohc Vtec,  Hatchback Civic 3rd, 4th (with ZC engine), and 5th (Euro VTI, same as Sir with Dohc Vtec) gen Civic, Shuttle, Accord Aerodeck (a 3 door combi coupe 3rd gen Accord), N600, S800 coupe and convertible...) 

My Civic still have its original registration of February 1976. Its a 3 door hatchback with 117000 original kilometers,

Early Civic are very rare (which doesn't mean valuable!). The idea of Honda in the 60's was to race (Formula 1 and 2) and sell cars in Europe. S and N series were successful, as half the production of S800 were sold in France (more than 3500). But these performing cars were expensive to build and maintain, the F1 program ended by a terrible accident, and then Honda decided to stop that. 

The new challenge was Northern America, with an ecological, inexpensive, and easy to maintain car, the Civic.

After years of tiny,  powerful  but sometime difficult to live with cars, the Civic arrived in the summer of 1973 in an atmosphere of great suspicion. Only a few of them were sold in 1973 and 988 in 1974, mainly with Hondamatic. These Civic were, in France at least, 3 door hatchback, with 1169cc EB1 engine of 53 din hp (or 60 SAE), 4 speed manual or Hondamatic. Most of them were white, maroon or metallic gray or blue. Dealers received orange one for demonstration. They were called SB1-100 (100 indicate the prefix of chassis number). Weight 690kg (3 door manual)

In 1975 Honda introduced the SB1-400, with the same engine and some little changes (switch turn signal...), available in yellow (75-76 only) and a 4 door version with a 1500cc non CVCC iron engine good for 65 DIN hp/73 SAE hp (we never had CVCC Honda in Europe); weighting 775kg

In 1977, came the SB2, basically a SB1-400 with a EB2 1237cc engine, good for 55 instead of 53 DIN hp. The car opt for tissus and vinyl seat instead of vinyl, fitted carpet instead of plastic, rear defroster and roll up belts.Weight 705kg. The 4 door remains the same.

More modification in 1978, with the introduction of SE/SF Civic: 60 hp EB3 engine, 3 door and a new 5 door who replace the 4 door, new front and rear bumper, new rear light and new front light who replace the original one from Euro Honda "Z 600" coupe. Weight 705kg for 3 door manual

In 1980 came the 2nd generation who introduced the 5 speed gearbox here and the 1335 engine in normal and "S" flavor (60 / 70 din hp), but that's an another story.

Victim of the poor image of Honda in France during the seventies and the rust, few Civic remain, most of them are Hondamatic.

Michel Quagliozzi, a great name on the Honda racing scene in France, started racing Civic in 1975, prepared with it's one special parts and Mugen parts. A group 2 1300 civic was good for 130hp at 8000 tr/min