Vehicle exhibits

By the early 1970s, Honda was struggling to find success in automobile manufacturing. Its early cars, like the air-cooled Honda 1300, failed to gain traction in the market. The company even considered exiting the car industry entirely.

That changed in 1972 with the release of the Honda Civic—a compact, economical, and reliable vehicle launched during the global oil crisis. It was an immediate success and helped establish Honda as a major automotive manufacturer.

This 1977 model is part of the first generation of Civics, produced from 1972 to 1979. It features a 1,238 cc engine and a “Hondamatic” transmission—a 2-speed semi-automatic gearbox that made driving simpler for many users.

This particular car was purchased by the Southward Museum Trust for an engineering project focused on developing a wheelchair lift system to improve accessibility for disabled passengers. The lift design was successfully adapted for use in other vehicles.

It also holds special historical value, having been used for several years as the personal daily driver of Sir Len Southward.