The 1981 Honda Accord marked the final year of the highly successful first-generation Accord (1976-1981) before the car transitioned to its second generation. It is widely celebrated for helping solidify Honda's reputation for engineering, reliability, and fuel efficiency in the North American market.
Equipped with a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine featuring Honda's clean-burning Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion (CVCC) technology. It produced 72 horsepower for the 5-speed manual models and 68 horsepower when paired with the 3-speed automatic transmission.
The 1981 model year featured minor styling revisions and luxury enhancements designed to keep the car competitive:
- The SE (Special Edition) Trim: Honda introduced the high-end SE sedan trim for the 1981 model year. It was the most expensive and luxurious Honda offered at the time, featuring Novillo calfskin leather seats, power windows, and central locking.
- Unique Mechanical Details: The car included a clever mechanical remote rear-door lock lever located right next to the parking brake, allowing the driver to manually lock or unlock both rear doors at the same time before electronic power locks became standard.
- Instrument Cluster: The dashboard was updated with clear warning icons rather than the text indicators found in earlier first-generation models.
- Color Revisions: Honda introduced Oslo Ivory to replace Livorno Beige, while discontinuing dark brown and bronze metallic paints.
The 1981 Honda Accord has evolved into a desirable vehicle for vintage Japanese car enthusiasts and RadWood-era car collectors, this particular Accord has been owned by Duncan Imports and Classics since 2018.
