The 1983 Honda Civic 1500 represents the pinnacle and final year of the second generation Civic (1980--1983). It is celebrated as a highly efficient, lightweight time capsule that helped solidify Honda's reputation for reliability and brilliant engineering in North America.
The heart of this variant is its 1.5-liter (1488 cc) inline-4 CVCC engine.
- Power Output: Factory-rated at 67 horsepower and 79 lb-ft of torque.
- CVCC Technology: Utilizing Honda's unique Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion system, it allowed the car to pass strict emissions standards cleanly without needing a catalytic converter.
- Fuel Economy: Phenomenally efficient, regularly achieving high-30s to mid-40s MPG (and up to 50+ MPG under ideal conditions).
- Driving Dynamics: Because the car only weighed around 1,500 lbs, the 67 hp provided adequate pep around town, utilizing an undersquare design that favored smooth low-end torque.
The 1500 cc engine was reserved for the upper-tier trims of the 1983 lineup:
- 1500 DX (Deluxe): The mainstream upgrade available as a hatchback or wagon. It came equipped with a 5-speed manual or an optional 3-speed automatic, partial cloth seats, and a rear window defroster.
- 1500 GL: A more luxurious hatchback trim adding radial tires, a tachometer, a clock, and a rear wiper/washer.
- 1500 S (Sport): A rare, one-year-only sport trim acting as the spiritual precursor to the Civic Si. It featured a firmer sport-tuned suspension, a rear stabilizer bar, black fabric seats with red accents, and a 5-speed manual transaxle.
Currently for sale this car had been a part of the Duncan Imports private collection since 2021.
