How much did a Honda Civic cost in 1970?
There was no Honda Civic price in 1970 because the Civic did not exist yet. The model was introduced in Japan in 1972 and arrived in the United States in 1973, with a base price of about $1,995 for the early U.S. version. In today’s dollars, that starting price would be roughly in the low-to-mid teens of thousands, depending on how inflation is calculated.
Origins and early pricing
The Honda Civic debuted in 1972 in Japan as a compact, fuel-efficient alternative at a time when car buyers were increasingly valuing economy. In the United States, the first Civics landed in 1973, positioned to capitalize on the oil crisis and rising interest in smaller, more efficient cars. Contemporary reports consistently cite a base price of around $1,995 for the initial U.S. model year.
Pricing in context
Pricing varied slightly by trim and options, but the core figure cited for the inauguration year in the U.S. remained near the $1,995 mark. When adjusted for inflation, that base price is equivalent to roughly the low-to-mid teens of thousands in today’s dollars, illustrating how the Civic was marketed as an affordable, economical choice during the era’s energy concerns.
Summary
In short, there was no Honda Civic price in 1970 because the car did not exist yet. The Civic first arrived in the U.S. in 1973 with a base price of about $1,995, a figure that translates to roughly $11,000–$14,000 in today’s money depending on the inflation method used.
