1981 Honda Accord from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Structural rust has basically killed it.

Camshaft had to be re-ground.

Muffler.

Absolutely nothing else.

The car was bought as a replacement for our English import Vanden Plas (very similar to Austin Allegro), which was starting to cause many expensive problems.

The Honda was a very smooth car to drive, mainly due to the "Hondamatic" variable auto transmission. When the old leaded fuel was still available, after a long trip the tailpipe would be white, that's how clean it would run.

Rust started to appear quite early, as what happens with most Hondas. Being white didn't help as white cars reflect heat and therefore don't dry as quickly. Rust in the sills was worst as when the car was up on the hoist the doors seized shut, it basically bended. It therefore failed it's safety check. We had the rust repaired, but kept coming back, like cancer for cars. It is now de-registered and sitting in my dad's barn. It hasn't been started for nearly 5 years, but ran beautifully the day I drove it in there. He doesn't want to part with it, and can't give it away although it's complete. You can't really see the rust to you look closely at it.

The only other problem was the camshaft was damaged due to it running low on oil once, was very noisy till it was fixed.

It'll probably sit there for another few years yet, maybe once they've nearly all disappeared will it be sought after.

This car was extremely reliable mechanically wise and it saddens me to see it now.

Aww. Your Accord desreves some loving. Being the proud owner of my first car, an 81 Accord, I am slightly worried about these rust issues you speak of. It hasn't really started to appear on my car yet, except in the muffler/tailpipe department. Muffler is compleatly rusted out. The local inspection place looked it over, said it'll pass with some really minor (muffler and exhaust) work. So, now I'm crossing my fingers.

That Accord will probably still run great in 10 years. I know I am only hoping to keep mine that long. It hadn't been driven in four years, then my grandad eased it back into being run over the course of two weeks, topping off all the fluids and things that had run low, replaced winsheild wipers and things, and sent it cross country for a week. It arrived, and has pretty much been driven realativly lightly (but regualarly) since it got here. The real test comes in September, when I drive this little $1,000 beauty full-time. Sitll runs great though. Had barely any mileage on it, and -all- of its regular millage inspections and service though, that might be a big factor.

Overall, great year, what with that first generation 70's design, but the added features and value of an 80's car. So great.

I have had realatively few problems with mine expect the carburetor and some minor problems. Like my key getting broken in the ingnition. I need to sell it. How much could I get for it?

Rust is a problem though. Interior needs work Needs brake work. I've owned my '81 Honda Accord 9 yrs (second owner)

Need s AM/FM and speakers and the wiring great canidate for restoration or customization.

An 81 Accord Sedan was my first car. I loved that car and would still have it today if the frame was still intact. I let mine go after there wasn't enough solid frame left to reinforce. The rust underneath was so bad I could push a pen through anywhere in the frame. A very sad day when I dropped it off at the dump.

I wrote this review, thanks for the comments guys.

Well, the time came in late 2003 when my mum and dad sold their farm to move back to the city (in New Zealand). Unfortunately, the new owner didn't want an old rusty Honda so dad had to get it taken away and crushed, for a fee (isn't that bad, paying someone to take your car away). While it was in the barn it continued to rust, even with no rain falling on it. I didn't dare try starting the motor during the years it was in there as it would probably seize and I wanted to remember how it was when it was still road-worthy, purring like a kitten (sniff).

I'm now living in Australia and have seen a number of very good, rust-free (or restored) examples still chugging around. Most are even older than our one, with the flat taillights (ours had the later, fluted ones). We don't have much rain here where I live whereas in NZ it rains constantly. There's none left of that model in NZ, unless they're being driven around illegally without a current WOF.

While the author of the previous comment was fare-welling their accord, I was just buying mine!

I'm in Tasmania, AUST, which I suspect has similar weather to NZ. therefore rust in my 1977 accord hatch, named Rusty, has also been a worry. I bought rusty in mid-2006 for $980, having gazed at it every time I drove past (in a faithful, but flawed TP magna). I was lucky to find a forgotten '81 sedan on a farm and after 5 years in a muddy forest, the engine still ran from fuel in the tank.

Rusty has since had rust cut from below the front pillars, and many '81 spec parts swapped over, notably the two front fenders that were only a little rusted, but entirely the wrong colour, chassis members that were damaged from 30 years of unknown collisions and the entire engine and drivetrain, since the '77 gearbox had a broken down seal and layshaft bearing.

After this initial period of hybridisation, rusty proved to be reliable beyond anyone's expectations, economical and truly fun to drive, taking me 2 hours to uni and back, every day till the end of semester, and then over 3000 scorching, but memorable inland kilometers to Newcastle and back for the summer holidays, with a passenger.

This first generation accord isn't fast by todays standards, but the engine revs freely and sounds great, and the ride is excitingly low and direct (like a proper coupe).

Rusty is now garaged full-time and attended to continuously, and I can only hope, providing I don't find any of that nasty door-sill rust, for more of the same.

Approach with care, but highly recommended.