BODACIOUS BEATERS and road-going derelicts: UNANIMOUS ACCORD
By Phil Coconis on December 25, 2012
Periodically, I’ll be featuring some outstanding vehicular examples from the bodacious photo archives, as I have done already in the past (see “LO-LUX”). I wanted to get this one out before the end of the year, so here you go!
Hearing about the outrageously high-mileage original vehicles is one thing—and continues to be the stuff of urban legend—seeing physical proof of one is another matter, entirely. Of all of the well-worn autos I’ve had pass through my shop, I’ve never seen one displaying this kind of mileage, and in this kind of bodaciously original condition.
The first time I was granted the privilege of laying a wrench on this 1989 Honda Accord Lxi Coupe, I had to do a double take of the odometer reading, as I was writing the repair order up. It just didn’t seem to jive with the general condition of the vehicle. While showing signs of definite use, upon closer inspection, it was the kind of use I’d normally have associated with an example displaying one-third the mileage.
Yes, the paint was somewhat “swirly” and dull—if not even in appearance and devoid of impact damage (even on the bumpers, which possessed a notoriously wimpy painted “shell”)—and the interior controls (steering wheel, gearshift and HVAC interface) were worn a little smooth in places. But overall, the unit neither looked nor drove like a motor vehicle that had made the equivalent of a round trip to the moon and change! The customer told me pretty much EVERYTHING was original and undisturbed—including engine and transmission—save for the usual and customary maintenance. I was a bit skeptical about that, but I wasn’t going to dismiss it out of hand, either. People in the know were (and are) aware of the high level of materials and build quality, and fit and finish of Honda products from this period.
It’s doubtful we’ll ever see such examples of this combination again.
To add emphasis to this statement, I’ll relate why this car was in my shop in the first place. It wouldn’t start at the beginning of the day. The engine would spin all right, but it would no fire. Typically on these models, the problem would be something like a failed fuel pump or relay, worn distributor, or ignition switch. It turned out to be none of these.
We had been having some damp weather, but it was sunny and dry the next morning when I went to test it. It fired right up.
I would then typically have a look at the secondary ignition system (especially the spark plug wires—a design concept long since supplanted by coil-on-plug spark delivery systems). I figured that somewhere along the way, someone performing maintenance would have found it necessary to change those spark plug wires.
On most Japanese vehicles, the production date would be printed on the wire itself. I would generally recommend replacement at the ten-year mark, regardless of mileage. I found their performance to be somewhat suspect beyond that point.
These particular leads read “1988”, however. Somehow, this set of wires had slipped between the proverbial cracks! They were the original units—well over twenty years old! The customer hadn’t been exaggerating—the car really WAS that original!
With a new set of wires installed, the ol’ Accord ran as good as new.
No joke. And the pop-up headlights (a design exercise whose passing I’ve lamented ever since) still worked, too!
Phil has written features and columns for a number of automotive periodicals and web-based information companies. He has run a successful Auto Repair Business in the past for many years (See “Memoirs of an Independent Repair Shop Owner” on this ttac site). He can be contacted through this very site, or
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