Concept
The Accord was originally planned to be a V8-powered car with a long hood and sporty pretensions. Honda chose the name Accord, reflecting "Honda's desire for accord and harmony between people, society and the automobile."[3] The initial design was changed to a fuel efficient, low emission vehicle since it was introduced during the fuel crises of the 1970s. In the U.S. and Japan, a version was produced using Honda's CVCC technology, meeting emission standards of the 1970s and early 1980s without a catalytic converter.
Like the smaller Honda Civic, the Accord used front-wheel drive and a transverse engine layout.

[edit] First generation (1976–1981)
First generation

Production
1976–1981
Assembly
Sayama, Japan
Class
Compact
Body style(s)
3-door hatchback4-door sedan
Engine(s)
1.6 L EL1 I41.8 L EK1 I4
Transmission(s)
2-speed automatic3-speed automatic5-speed manual
Wheelbase
93.7 in (2380 mm)
Length
162.0 in (4115 mm)
Curb weight
2000 lb (907 kg)

1979-1981 Honda Accord hatchback (North America)
The first generation Honda Accord was launched in 1976 as a three-door hatchback with 68 hp (51 kW), a 93.7-inch (2,380.0 mm) wheelbase, and a weight of about 2,000 pounds. It was larger than the tiny Civic at 162 inches (4,115 mm) long. The Accord sold well, due to its moderate size and great fuel economy. It was the first Japanese small car with features like cloth seats, a tachometer, intermittent wipers, and an AM/FM radio as standard equipment. In 1978 an LX version of the coupe was added which came with air conditioning, digital clock, and power steering. In 1979 a four-door sedan was added to the lineup, and power went to 72 hp (54 kW) with the introduction of the 1751 cc EK-1 engine. In 1980 the optional two-speed automatic of previous years became a three-speed automatic. Slightly redesigned bumper trim, new grilles and taillamps, and remote mirrors on the 4-door (chrome) and the LX (black plastic) models. The CVCC badges were deleted. In 1981 an SE model was added for the first time, with novio-leather seats and power windows. Base model hatchbacks received the same smaller black plastic remote mirror that the 4-door, LX, and SE 4-door received at the same time. Instrument cluster revised with mostly pictograms, instead of the worded warning lights and gauge markings. Nivorno Beige (code #Y-39) replaced with Oslo Beige (#YR-43). Dark brown was discontinued, as was the bronze metallic. Shifter redesigned to have a stronger spring to prevent unintentional engagement of reverse, instead of the spring-loaded shift knob of the 1976 through 1980 model cars.
The Accord competed with Japanese competitors Toyota Corona, Nissan Bluebird, Mazda Capella, and the Mitsubishi Galant.
The first few generations of Hondas suffered from rustproofing issues in areas where salt is used to melt road ice. Under these conditions, it was not uncommon for the strut towers to rust out and fail, turning the car into a parts car.

[edit] Second generation (1981–1985)
Second generation

Also called
Honda Vigor(Japan)
Production
1981-1985
Assembly
Marysville, Ohio, USASayama, Saitama, Japan
Class
Compact
Body style(s)
3-door hatchback4-door sedan
Engine(s)
1.6 L EL1 I4 (CAN)1.8 L EK1 I4 ('82,'83 US)1.8 L ES2 I4 ('84,'85 US)1.8 L ES3 I4 ('85 US)
Transmission(s)
4-speed automatic5-speed manual

JDM Second Generation, Second Series Four door sedan. Second generation Japanese and European Accords had molded headlights instead of the U.S. DOT required glass units used in the U.S.

Second Generation, Second Series European 'Three door' Honda Accord coupé.
Debuting in 1981 in Japan and Europe, and as a 1982 model in North America, in addition to being produced in Japan, this generation of the Accord became the first to be built in the USA, at Honda's plant in Marysville, Ohio. Since its first year in the American market, it also became the best-selling Japanese nameplate in the US, holding that position for about 15 years. In Japan, a sister model called Honda Vigor was launched simultaneously with the new Accord.
Modernizing both the interior and exterior, the second generation Accord was mechanically very similar to the original, using the same 75 hp (56 kW), 1751 cc EK1 CVCC engine. Fuel economy increased by nearly 15%. Vastly improved quality control, however, made this one of the most reliable cars on the US market, a position it still holds today. This automobile included popular features of the time such as shag carpet, velour cabin trim and chrome accents. An optional extra on the 1981 Accord was an Electro Gyrocator, the world's first automatic in-car navigation system.[4] Models were available in Silver, Sky Blue, and Beige. The LX hatchback offered a digital clock and slightly higher fuel economy (due to its lighter weight.)
The U.S. Department of Transportation had stringent lighting requirements which prevented Honda from including the aerodynamic molded headlight units which were used on Australian, European and Japanese Accords. The U.S. D.O.T. required the use of rectangular sealed beam glass units to prevent fogging and allow for easy and readily available replacement of units damaged by rocks or other road hazards. U.S. Accords were also required to have a side marker light installed on the side of the rear fenders. German Accords included additional reflectors which were embedded into the rear bumper as well as washer sprayers for front and rear lamps. The Japanese Accords were unique from all other markets in that they included adjustable ride height control and were unique in that their side view mirrors were installed on the mid forward fenders.
In 1983, Honda upgraded the automatic transmission to a four speed, a major improvement over the three speed Hondamatic. The manual, five speed transmission remained unchanged. A 120 mph (193 km/h) speedometer replaced the earlier 85 mph (137 km/h) unit. The Special Edition (SE) featured, novio-leather seating, power windows, power sunroof and locks. Columbus Slate Grey was added as a color option.
By 1984, Accords sold in the eastern U.S. were produced at the new Marysville plant, with quality considered equal to those produced in Japan. The body was restyled with a slightly downward beveled nose; and, the slightly more powerful ES2 1829 cc CVCC powerplant was used, bringing 86 hp (64 kW). The redesign in 1984 is often called the second series of the second generation. Honda integrated side marker lights into the side of the tail light units which satisfied the D.O.T.'s side marker requirements and ended the difference between cross market tail light configurations. European Accords, however, now included signal lights on the forward fenders, just behind the wheel well. The U.S. Accord still lacked the molded head light units which were used everywhere else.
The LX offered velour upholstery, auto-reverse cassette stereo, air conditioning, cruise control, power brakes, power steering, power windows & power locks (sedan only), a digital clock, and roof pillar antenna, along with thick black belt moldings and integrated bumpers. Flush plastic mock-alloy wheels covers instead of caps on steel wheels that resembled the trend-setting Audi 5000. Supplies were tight, as in the Eastern states, the wait was months for a Graphite Gray sedan, a then-popular color. The LX hatchback was the only 1984 version of the Accord to include dual outside mirrors.
The 1984 sedan (regular and LX) was available in four exterior colors, Greek White and three metallic options: Graphite Gray, Regency Red (burgundy), and Stratos Blue (steel). The regular hatchback was available in Greek White, Dominican Red, and the metallic Stratos Blue. The '84 LX hatchback came in three metallic colors only: Graphite Gray, Regency Red, and Copper Brown. These models were on U.S. roads well past the turn of the century.
In 1985, the Special Edition returned as the SE-i, capitalizing on the final year of the second generation's production. A fuel-injected, 110 hp (82 kW) non-cvcc ES3 engine was exclusive to this model. The moniker, SE-i, was adapted from the SE trim, but included the "-i" to signify the higher trim level's fuel-injected engine. This 12-valve, 1829 cc engine was the first non-CVCC engine used in an Accord, and was the same basic engine design used by Honda until 1989. Like the previous SE trim in 1983, the SE-i featured novio-leather seating, power moonroof, bronze tinted glass, a premium sound system with cassette, and 13" alloy wheels.
Overseas versions of the Accord were slightly different from the North American Versions of the car, and had some features not offered in that market.In 1981, the Accord offered an Air suspension in the Japanese market. From 1983 in Japan and 1984 in Europe, the Second Generation Accord was available with Anti-Lock Brakes (Called A.L.B) as an option. This system also had 4 wheel disc brakes. Fuel Injection was made available in 1984 in Japanese market, it took a year to arrive in the NA and European Market. There was also an upmarket trim line called the Vigor.

source from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Accord