This pampered, single-owner car will only be sold to someone who grasps its historical significance in the development of Honda’s legendary VETEC-powered Civics. The asking price is negotiable but will be kept high enough to ensure sale to someone who will preserve this rare Honda Civic VX model in its original condition and appreciate its driving and handling characteristics. Its rarity comes from the small number (about 12,000) produced for the US and Canadian car markets between 1992 and 1995.
My 1992 Honda Civic VX was never was an expensive exotic sports car. Rather, when I purchased it as a brand new vehicle it was noteworthy because its introduction was widely covered in the automotive, business, and “scientific” press for making history as the first car in America to earn a 55 highway mpg rating . It was selected by Automobile Magazine as the “1992 Design of the Year” and pictured on the cover of that issue featuring Robert Cumberford’s article. The Business Week feature article in its September 1991 issue told the development history of unique engine that made the 1992 Honda Civic VX the first car to achieve a 55-mpg average and still have excellent acceleration and handling.
As reported in a contemporary article in Popular Mechanics and again in a 2020 article [https://www.motorbiscuit.com/fuel-saver-flashback-1992-1995-honda-civic-vx/] it achieved that goal via three integrated strategies: (1) by designing a 16-valve engine that only used the second intake valve to increase the fuel flow in response to driver demand for increased power, (2) eliminating any sources of excess weight (e.g., using custom allow wheel rims, and not including any power assisted steering, brakes, windows), and (3) careful attention to creating a body shape that minimized wind resistance and acted to stabilize the handling at highway speeds. Three decades later, this vehicle has another claim to a place in Honda automotive history: The successful development of that VETEC engine became the link between the legendary NSX engine’s variable valve timing and what became the highly successful 5th generation Civic SI models. The concluding paragraph of the 2020 MotorBiscuit article cited above should be noted by those considering purchase of the one offered for sale here:
“Is it worth it to buy one today?
Definitely yes, if not for the stellar fuel economy for daily driving, then at least to own a piece of Honda engineering from over 25 years ago. The trouble is that it’s nearly impossible to find a clean example of one, however, they do come up from time to time on local classifieds. While the Civic VX didn’t use the same technical wizardry to achieve its fuel economy number like cars today, it was truly ahead of its time.”
Having followed news of the VX model’s development, I purchased this bright red Honda Civic VX as soon as one was available in Northern New England (after having been shipped from Japan to Windsor Locks, Canada). It replaced my 1971 BMW 2002 (currently in restoration) for my decade-long weekly commute between Bangor, Maine and Montpelier, Vermont in the summer. It was rarely driven in stop-and-go circumstances because I used a bicycle for negotiating the streets between my Vermont residence and work.
The Civic VX handled almost as well on the curve-filled, 2-lane roads through the mountains in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine as my 1990 Mazda Miata which I used occasionally in the summer for that long commute. I have kept this Civic VX, and the Miata which I still own, under a cover whenever they were parked outside anywhere for longer than an hour. I never drove it in the winter (when I used a Saab 99 for the Vermont-to-Maine commute).
The high mileage on this car is testimony both to the durability of Honda engines and to the dramatically reduced number of RPM’s the engine turned when driven at highway speeds (between 2000 and 2200 RPM’s at 65-70 mph). By my calculations this engine has about 48% less actual wear than the engines in other cars of that era with 265,000 miles on the odometer. In effect, the engine wear is comparable to that of most contemporary cars driven 127,200 miles. A little research on the internet provides lots of evidence that this Civic model was consistently driven for several hundreds of thousands of miles without any problems. Two examples:
brdesert, 07/16/2002
" Driven further than the moon! Honda Civic VX 2dr Hatchback
I have owned this 1993 VX since 1997 and have put 305,000 miles on this incredible vehicle. I still have the ORIGINAL STARTER, CLUTCH, ENGINE, PISTONS AND RINGS. Constant oil changes and timing belt maintenance is the key."
4 years ago
"This car has 92 hp. There were apprx 12,000 VX models out of a total of 1,100,000 Civics built from 1992 to 1995. Special parts are 5 wire 02 sensor, aluminum motor mount, alternator bracket, smaller injectors, higher compression, special wheels, no cruise control available, no power windows or locks, no sunroof. Designed to be light. I bought mine new in 1992 and sill have it. Now has 573,000 miles. Still runs great and looks great. Came in red, green, or white only. Rated 55 mpg hwy and 48 city. I have gotten max hwy of 57.7 mpg. High gearing, but fast enough to keep up. Just drove 400 miles last weekend at 80 to 82 mph. I would have loved to but that car!"
With the exception of the right-front fender (repaired and repainted after being very slightly damaged in an encounter with a deer), the paint is all original. There is some minor discoloration of the paint in one section of the roof and a few tiny nicks that required use of factory supplied touch-up paint.
The interior is all original and shows almost no wear on the seats, dash, or headliner. The carpets have been protected by floor mats. There is a small place on the right rear seat-back damaged by a mouse during recent winter storage. The car has been stored during winters and in recent years been driven sparingly only in the summer to keep it in good running condition.
This VX, has the original VETEC-E engine used in all the cars produced in1991-1992 and marketed in North America during 1991 and 1992.. These engines were installed only in the Civic VX in North America during those years. It is listed on the window sticker (included with the documentation) as “ENGINE NO: 15Z1 –1308234” and is a 4-cyl. 1493cc/92hp MPFI. As with all my vehicles, I pampered it with oil changes every 5000 miles and had it serviced according to the manual requirements. To this day it has never failed to start or run smoothly. It is almost due for a new timing belt.
The 13-inch wheels are the original factory installed alloy rims that came on the VX model as part of Honda's strategy to minimize weight and maximize handling. The tires are the same size as the originals and still have good rubber on them.
The brakes, like everything on this vehicle, are the original design and serviced as called for in the manual. They work well for my limited-use drives, but for regular use new pads should probably be installed.
The clutch is the original one and still functions well but now engages near the end of the pedal release suggesting it is now ready for adjustment and/or replacement.
There is slight damage to the plastic piece over the hatchback window caused when one of the window struts failed. Both struts are week and should be replaced. The side-view mirror adjustment levers no longer function and need to be replaced.
The car will be sold with complete documentation including contemporary magazine articles mentioned above (i.e., Robert Cumberford’s Automobile Magazine cover story and the Business Week article praising the accomplishments of the Honda engineers who designed the first over-50 mpg), the original manuals and window sticker, and the small notebook in which I recorded gasoline usage, oil changes, dealer services, and tire rotations.
