One of the first "econobox" models to appear in America right before the first gas-crisis, and while Muscle Cars and luxo-barges were still trendy, this diminutive auto from a maker known for motorcycles hit the scene. We had no way to know at the time how prescient and predictive this design would be at the time, but shortly after designs such as the AMC Gremlin and Chevy Chevette hit the market, and with the two gas-crises of the 1970s an upswing in desirability for economically inclined vehicles - read that as "Japanese," - more and more Japanese autos became acceptable and made their way onto American roads.

But all that came later. This tiny little Honda, which was surprisingly roomy inside belying its diminutive size, was powered as I recall by an air cooled motorcycle engine, and front wheel drive which - other than the upscale Eldorado and Toronado (translate as "Big $$$") - was otherwise unheard of at the time in a compact (or even smaller) vehicle (apart from the occasional Mini Cooper, another not well appreciated in America at the time). Not long after front wheel drive became normative among several vehicle lines, but in 1970 it was practically unheard of in anything less than the top end luxo barges on American roads.

So this little Honda unwittingly set a lot of trends, though it was never very popular with the American motoring public. It's successor, the CVCC, renamed the following year as Civic, has gone on to become a long running and very accepted automotive nameplate on American roads.