WASHINGTON — Americans got their first look at a small, inexpensive Japanese import called the Honda Accord in 1976, and 40 years later, Honda has sold 12.7 million Accords.
Honda began building the Accord in Ohio in 1982, and the vast majority of Accords sold here — 10.5 million of them — have been produced in the U.S.
The 1976 Accord was a hatchback with 13-inch wheels, 68 horsepower and a base price of $3,995. The 2016 Accord is sold as either a coupe or a four door, has an available horsepower of 278, 19-inch wheels and a base price of $22,205.
The Accord has been named to Car and Driver’s “10Best” list a record 30 times, more than any other vehicle.
Accord also was the first Honda and first Japanese vehicle to be manufactured in America. It has been produced at Honda plants in Marysville, Ohio, East Liberty, Ohio and Birmingham, Alabama, as well as Honda plants in Ontario, Canada and Mexico.
Before 1976, U.S. consumers knew Honda for only motorcycles and the tiny Honda Civic.
Honda says the name “Accord” is a nod to achieving “accord” between people and the automobile.
