Classics have been in my family for generations, and Iʼm now carrying on the tradition. My dad always owned Honda Accords and Civics: having to commute from Oxford to London in the late ʼ90s, he turned to them as he sought reliability at an affordable price.
I think there was a genius team at Honda in this era: these cars are so well built and designed. There is nothing on the road like them today, and the fact that weʼve driven them all over Europe for the past 25 years is a testament to their durability and engineering. Not only are they dependable no matter the mileage and condition, but they are also a real pleasure to drive and to be a passenger in.
Nearly 18 months ago I came across a 1991 Civic 1.6i-16 for sale online. Iʼd always loved the look of this generation and, having grown up with Hondas, I was intrigued by it. However, at the time it was too expensive. Fast-forward a year and it was still for sale; after saving up for a while, I had enough to make the vendor an offer and, because he had been trying to sell it for so long, he accepted and was glad to pass it on to someone with both persistence and enthusiasm.
A Civic had been in the back of my mind for a while, and this one might be the most immaculate one left in the world. I know thatʼs a big claim, but Iʼve also worked as a photographer at a classic auction house so Iʼve seen cars of all ages and makes, and this Honda stands out as probably the best Iʼve seen anywhere in terms of showroom-fresh condition. Itʼs only had one very careful owner before me, and in 30 years it has done just 17,000 miles. Itʼs as if it just drove straight off the Honda assembly line – it even smells like a new car.
So many Hondas were driven into the hundreds of thousands of miles until they kicked the bucket, or were heavily modified and customised. To find a stock Civic is rare, but to find a standard one-owner car with such low mileage and a full dealer service history is an extraordinary opportunity that I felt couldnʼt be missed.
The Honda gives a great driving experience, too. Vision is amazing, with the huge windows providing a panoramic view in all di
