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Sold 1964 Honda S600
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1964 Honda S600


Specifications


Description

 

The S600 is that man’s soul encapsulated inside a roadster the size of a go-kart...In fact, it drives like its where all the fun comes from!

This S600 is incredibly ahead of its time and is the ancestor to all the modern Honda cars and motorcycles we know and love today, and one of the company’s earliest production cars. It was actually Honda’s third automobile and came after a tiny little truck called the T360. Then came the very first S360 roadster, followed by the S500, and then this, the S600, which ran from 1964 all the way to 1966.

This car gets credit for being the first Honda car to have been mass-produced, and sold to other markets than Japan. Since Honda was better known for building motorcycles at the time, it used technology it already mastered to put together a sports car. This made the S600 all kinds of weird and unique. For instance, its engine, essentially a motorcycle four-stroke unit revamped for automotive duty, stood at 606 cubic centimeters of displacement but it had dual overhead cams, needle roller bearings, four Keihin carburetors, and was ultra lightweight due to an aluminum construction. It also had an independent rear suspension, complete with an unusual chain drive, quite similar actually to what’s used on a motorcycle.

Rear-wheel drive was the only way to go for the S600, with power claimed at a whopping 58 horsepower. Putting the power down through a four-speed manual gearbox, this thing could rip to 60 mph from a standstill in roughly 11.5 seconds. What’s more, just like the modern VTEC Hondas, the S600 could rev to a whopping 9,000 RPM redline. Not many street cars at the time could brag about that.

ABOUT THIS CAR

  • The Highest Revving Sports Car!
  • These Honda four cylinder engines are legendary for their durability, power, noise and revs. One should in fact note that Honda's first ever car was even more impressive than Lamborghini's was.
  • A very nice example of this model - straight body clean and from any rust as you can see from photos.
  • Paint is very good and shiny.
  • Very Good upholstery, original interior, nice chrome, like new soft top - beautiful car overall.
  • Mechanically sound and what a great wee motor - drives beautifully.
  • This car has two owners on record and is a wee gem.
  • We are currently going through compliance process and price here advertised includes compliance IF sold in New Zealand.

These things aren’t cheap, dinky little roadsters but considered the pioneering car that made Honda what it is today.

Before the S600, the big H was the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles, but the jump to cars was no guaranteed success. It was through determination and the ability to build innovative, well put together and fun-to-drive sports cars like this dorky-looking S600 that Honda was able to grow into the profit-making juggernaut it is today.

It is extremely rare too, plus there’s enough boot space to carry a few bags. The engine is also incredibly fuel efficient due to its small displacement and the car’s light weight. So it is daily-driveable in some way or form. In fact, you don’t get more connected to the road than driving an S600, and the best part of it all is that you’re never going all that fast, so the danger levels are low.

Because this car has so much historical significance, and because it was Honda’s introductory car, these things retain a significant amount of value. Luckily though, their current prices are still relatively affordable if you’re interested in saving one. They’re also bound to appreciate over time given how important they’ve been for the entire Honda brand.

According to Hagerty, a well-kept, concourse condition Honda S600 could run up to US70K but truth be said, we know of plenty other sales where they’ve gone for much more than all that.

Will be sold WOF'd and Registered if sold in New Zealand.

TRANSPORT / WORLDWIDE SHIPPING CAN BE ORGANISED ON THIS VEHICLE ON BUYER'S BEHALF AT BUYERS COST.

Viewing is STRICTLY BY PRIOR APPOINTMENT only.

This vehicle has been sold

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DISCLAIMER (PLEASE READ)

NOTIFICATION AS TO NATURE OF GOODS IN TERMS OF THE CONSUMER GUARANTEES ACT 1993

Waimak Classic Cars Ltd is a New Zealand registered company and accepts that the vehicle being sold must be of “acceptable quality” in terms of section 7 of the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (the Act) having regard to “the nature of the goods”.

Waimak Classic Cars is not aware of any specific defects with the vehicle, however (a) such a vehicle being a classic vehicle may have mechanical breakdowns, electrical failures at inconvenient times and maintenance costs being part of and parcel of ownership of a classic vehicle; (b) reliability is a combination of the particular nature of the classic vehicle, how it is being driven, how it has been maintained, and to a certain extent luck; (c) because of the age of the vehicle, and its propensity to rust, it is likely that the vehicle would have been fully or partially restored, or at least repainted at some point in its life, maybe even more than once. Waimak Classic Cars does not know, and cannot give advice on how good any restoration work on the vehicle had been.

The Purchaser acknowledges that the vehicle is being sold as a classic car; that in terms of the Act and the nature of the goods, the vehicle is an old car, bike or boat, that may have visual and hidden faults, unlike a new motor vehicle.

The Purchaser is encouraged to personally fully inspect the vehicle and also to have the vehicle inspected, and fully assessed by an experienced, independent, specialist garage - before committing to purchase. While the Purchaser is entitled to rely on statements given by Waimak Classic Cars as being correct, where goods such as vehicles are concerned, with so many moving parts and rust being an issue with older vehicles; a Purchaser who chooses not to seek independent professional assistance when assessing the quality of what they propose to buy is considered as buying at their own risk, and if the vehicle then turns out to be of less than the represented quality, or not up to the Purchaser's expectation, or in the Purchaser opinion not fit for purpose; then the Purchaser is considered to have contributed to their own loss and should not expect any refunds or betterment from Waimak Classic Cars.

The Purchaser acknowledges that they have read and fully understand this notification and the nature of a car which is many years old.

For more information about this vehicle, please contact us Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 6:00pm (New Zealand Standard Time) on +64 (0) 3 310-6485. Alternatively, you may email us at [email protected] anytime.

PLEASE NOTE: Waimak Classic Cars is Not a car yard dealer type of operation. As a result, we do not operate through fixed opening hours and viewing is By Appointment Only.