We’d just like to take some time out to wish our neighbors to the north an enjoyable, relaxing Civic Holiday. So grab a Molson and kick back, eh? Cheers, Canadian JNCers!

We all know that Hondas provide some of the best deals in cheap motoring fun, and Honda Japan knows this too. It’s been sponsoring a one-make race series in Japan since 1981, when the second-gen Super Civic debuted. From then on, some generation of Civic - Wonder, Grand, Sports, Miracle - has been the HOA (Honda One-Make Racing Association) chariot of choice until 2002 when the Integra took over. (more…)

The new and improved Honda Fit was recently unveiled to the public in Japan, and apparently the Friends of Asimo have resurrected the RS moniker for the new hatch. You know what that means - it’s time to go “Road Sailing.”

Buying a Civic RS in 1974 meant that while mere mortals were simply driving, or whatever it is that plebes do, you could be really hauling through the bends, as one with the curves, the open lanes your oyster - aka Road Sailing, man! Oddly named, perhaps, but keep in mind that Japan is a maritime nation. With oodles of go-fast goodies like a tuned head and dual Keihin carbs, Honda bumped up power to a whopping 70hp. That doesn’t sound like a lot until you realize the original car had only 50. Some Civic RSs had flared fenders. Most were orange. All had a special “H” badge with a red background, the calling card of future Type R cars.

And since the Japanese Civic is no longer a hatch but a mid-size sedan, the Fit inherits Road Sailing duties and rubs it in the faces of lesser Fits and their 1.3L engines by getting a 1.5 with about 20 extra horses. It also comes in a more aggressive body and an optional 5-speed manual. Can you hear the asphalt waves beckoning?

We love it whenever a manufacturer celebrates its heritage. Just a few years ago, one would be hard pressed to find official information about models not currently sold. Recently though, many Japanese marques have begun to recognize the importance of their past vehicles and those of us who love them. Honda is the latest to do so with their “History of the Si” page. There’s only a short blurb about each Si model, but at least they’re doing something. We hope to see more pages like this in the future.

Source: [Honda]

The Honda Civic of legendary pinstriper, cartoonist and father of the Rat Fink, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, has come out of hiding and is for sale on eBay. Though Roth was a hugely influential figure in the Kustom hot rod culture of the 1960s he owned several Hondas including a N600 and pair of Civics, one of which is the car you see here.

The cars served as Roth’s daily drivers/work vans/canvases when was a painter for various movie producers and Knott’s Berry Farm. He often took the cars to hot rod events with a trailer in tow to sell his now-famous Rat Fink gear.

This Civic comes complete with tow hitch to accomodate said trailer and, according to the owner, Roth’s original pinstriping, paint drips and circles left by his cans. Artsy types love this stuff because it’s like being in the studio of a great master, and for Roth, the car was both his studio and his canvas.

Roth’s other Civic now resides in Japan, and the N600 is owned by a collector but was recently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Thanks to Autoblog for the tip!