The year Honda struck Accord

With Honda having just announced it first loss in 70 years — a staggering $15.7 billion — I bet the execs wish it was 1976.

Then the future looked bright and production of its new Accord could not keep up with global demand.

You see, back in 1976, if you wanted the sporting excellence of a BMW 3 series but thought the $13,500 price tag was exorbitant (only $500 less that a Ford LTD), then the newly released Accord at $6000 was your alternative.

The December, 1976 edition of Wheels hailed the Accord as a “supercar”.

In the April, 1977 issue, Peter Robinosn’s road test of the two-door coupe was headlined “Japan’s Best Car.”

High praise indeed from a hard taskmaster.

In most ways, the Accord was a longer, wider and more powerful Civic.

Driving the front wheels through a five-speed transmission was a 1.6 litre version of Honda’s class leading CVCC four-cylinder engine.

Inside were inclusions that the European’s made you pay extra for.

Wheels said: “The fact that it is significantly cheaper and better equipped (than European cars) and still has the now traditional Japanese qualities of reliability and low warranty costs — just adds to its appeal.”

Australia was not the only place the Accord drew rave reviews.

It was popular around the world right from the outset.

So popular, in fact, that worldwide demand meant supply to Australia was rationed.

By the time Wheels did a comparison test of four hatchbacks in July 1977 — Toyota Celica, Holden Torana, VW Golf and the Accord — Honda dealers were quoting a six-month waiting list.

The verdict was another win for the Accord.

Meantime, over in the USA, the Accord outsold VW’s similarly-sized Golf (aka Rabbit), which must have stung the German company.

By late 1977, it was the third most popular imported car in the USA.

So successful was the Accord that by 1982 it was being built in the USA at a factory in Marysville, Ohio.

This was a major achievement and transformed Honda into a global automotive player.

Fast forward to 2026 and the world has sure changed for Honda.