Honda automobiles have long been a popular part of America's love affair with driving cars.

The Honda Motor Company was founded in 1948 Japan by an enterprising man named Soichiro Honda who sought to fill a community need in his post-war society. The Japanese people were economically decimated by the ravages of their World War II loss, and there was little cash available to purchase hyper-inflated gasoline prices. Bicycles were a popular method of transport in cities, but were not fast enough for the public to use to their best advantage.

Honda recognized the need for faster, fuel efficient transport in Japan and attached motors to bicycles, creating the very first motorbikes. Little more than a year later, these crude motorbikes were replaced with a much more sophisticated model constructed from steel, featuring front and rear suspension that could reach speeds up to 50 miles per hour!

The decade of the 1950's saw further advances in Honda's designs and an increase in overall performance and comfort. The C100 Super Cub became the most popular model of all, even with women, and it was introduced to the American market in 1959.

Thanks to the remarkable financial success his company enjoyed, Honda chose to branch out into automobile production during the 1960's. The design of Honda's cars matched the tastes of the Japanese public: they were small and fuel efficient, meant for small families and short trips. The company did not seek to export its designs until 1970, when it brought the N600 to America.

It must be remembered that in the early 1970's, the Big American Car was still king of the road in this country.

Fuel was very cheap, and the average driver in the United States enjoyed the luxury of having plenty of room to stretch out in cars and enjoy a Sunday drive or family vacation. Station wagons were the vehicles of choice for large American families. If a person purchased a small vehicle, it was likely to be a sports car. The N600 was tiny and not sporty, and just didn't capture the American public's imagination at all.

All that changed during the fuel crisis in the middle of the decade. The Civic model was introduced in 1973: it was still small by American standards, but much more suited to our country's lifestyle than Honda's previous attempt at breaking into the market here. The Civic combined affordability with fuel efficiency, and a star was born.

Accords and Civics are still some of the most popular vehicles in North America over 30 years after their initial introduction. Both of these models are the number one selling used cars in the United States. Honda has come a long way from its humble beginnings in war ravaged Japan.

Author: Art Gib

About the author:
If you are a Pennsylvania resident seeking quality Honda used cars in Lancaster PA, contact the good people at the Jones Dealer Group Honda (http://www.joneshonda.com). Art Gib is a freelance writer.

Article source: Free Automotive Articles.