Honda 600 Coupe 1972

I was not going to dwell in my past in this log, but I came across these old pictures of my Honda 600 Coupe and I couldn't resist revisiting it, since people still don't understand how great the car was. Before the civic, Honda, still a motorcylce company only, imported two 600 models this size. One was a squared off sedan, and this coupe, in green or bright orange.

I paid $1795 plus tax! It had 4 wheel disk anti-lock brakes, (comment corrected me to say it had front disks and rear drums) Michelin tires, 50mpg, hatchback, 600cc, front wheel drive, 5 speed, bucket seats, and pretty spirited. The second picture shows it beside the gargantuan Dodge Polara we had at the time. I drove it all over the state of Virginia, had very few repairs for about three years.


It was designed as a "throw-away car", according to early automotive lore. The idea was that Honda thought America was ready for a car cheap enough to drive a few years, junk it, then get a new one.
But the government spoiled that by requiring safer bumpers, lights, etc. and after adding these improvements, they had to design it bigger, forcing them to abandon these in favor of the Civic models.

Martha and Honda overlooking the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. Note the spiffy flag. We drove it through the first Lion country safari at Busch Gardens before they put in the monorail and a giraffe took a bite out of that flag. I kid you not.





Did I mention that is was a SMALL car? The maneuverability saved me one time when I veered out of line to avoid a 4 car queeze-play on a on-ramp to the interstate. I know larger vehicles have a safety advantage in a wreck, but I felt quite safe in this, I remember.