Junkyard Find: 1980 Honda Accord Hatchback

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The American Honda Motor Company sold the first-generation Accord in the United States from 1976 through 1981, and that car brought Honda success here far beyond that achieved by motorcycles and Civics. Today's Junkyard Find is one of those early Accords, found last year in a Colorado car graveyard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

This car is much smaller than the current Accord, with a wheelbase of 93.7 inches and a curb weight of 2,129 pounds. The 2024 Accord has a 111.4-inch wheelbase and scales in at more than a half-ton heavier than its first-gen ancestor.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

The Accord is now in its 11th generation, and has been available only as a four-door sedan since the 2018 model year.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

For 1976 and 1977, only hatchback Accords were sold in the United States. A sedan version appeared here for 1978.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

The final year for the hatchback Accord on our shores was 1989, though wagon versions were available here for the 1991 through 1996 model years.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

The engine in this one is a 1.8-liter (1,751cc, to be more accurate) SOHC straight-four, rated at 72 horsepower and 94 pound-feet.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

This engine is equipped with Honda's CVCC stratified-charge fuel-delivery system, which became much more complex as it changed to accommodate the stricter emissions rules of a few years later.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

CVCC-equipped engines ran so clean that no catalytic converter was required on this one. Go ahead, use leaded gas!

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

The base transmission was a five-speed manual. The Hondamatic two- or three-speed automatic ( depending on how you define a forward transmission gear) was an option.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

The burned-off paint is worse on the right side, suggesting this car sat immobile for decades in the same spot.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

Honda began using six-digit odometers the year after this car was built, so we can't know its actual mileage.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

There's no rust-through on the lower body, which is unusual for a Japanese car of this era. Just bad paint and surface rust.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

It has air conditioning with a crooked sticker marking the A/C positions on the HVAC controls. I haven't found many of these cars with refrigerated air.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

Sankyo was known for ” flip clocks” during the 1970s.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

It was sold new just a few miles from its final parking space.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

junkyard find 1980 honda accord hatchback

1980 Honda Accord in Colorado wrecking yard.

[Images: Author]

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