From the fancy of the Hondells a great automotive manufacturer was born. This band of surf-rock aficionados took Brian Wilson’s little ditty about the very versatile, 4-stroke Honda Cub, and turned it into a Top 10 hit. Indeed, the year was 1964 and it was still possible to break into the music scene with a song about a motorcycle.

The Hondells recorded what is essentially a concept album concerning the Honda Cub. The songs range from “Haulin’ Honda” to “Two Wheel Show Stopper” to “A Guy Without Wheels” and the like. A cheap gimmick, perhaps, but an effective one. The Hondells charted, enjoyed a last hoorah with the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “A Younger Girl.” Not bad for one years work.

The Hondells funneled phenomenal publicity towards the coffers of a small motorcycle manufacturer in Tokyo. Up to that point, Honda had struggled to break into the American market. It’s surprising what a catchy surf song will do for sales — that and effective economies of scale. The Honda Cub quickly enjoyed brisk sales in 1964 and 1965. The rest, as they say, is history.

This entailed Honda graduating from motorcycle to automotive manufacturing. With the onset of the 1973 Oil Crisis and culminating with the 1979 Energy Crisis, the American hunger for more fuel-efficient car was insatiable. Honda enjoyed the lions share of the fuel-efficient market, which propelled the company into the profit stratosphere.

The little company that could has shown through the winds of change to become the fourth largest automotive company in the world — and the second most popular in the United States. Minimal decor, friendly service and a dedication to customer service are all veritable trademarks of Honda. The inclusion of both new and used cars is further testament to the fact that Honda cars are indeed built to last and built to go fast.