The word genius is thrown around a lot these days. But if I label Soichiro Honda with it, then it is justified. This guy understood mechanical issues very well. So good that he considered it a godsend. Now the car company bearing his name is having some problems reaching customers, but it proudly carries on the founder's legacy. And if we should remember any of his progressive ideas, it will be the launch of the S600 sports roadster.
The Honda S600 , introduced in 1964, wasn't even the automaker's very first car, but it was certainly the first to record high sales figures. It followed the S500 roadster, of which 1,400 units were produced in 11 months of production. The S600 was built according to the dimensions by which it met the condition for Kei Cars , both the regular roadster version and the rarer coupe . The intention to cram its best engineering into the most compact package possible, Honda brought from the design of small motorcycles and formulas.
Under the hood of the little roadster was a 606 cc DOHC inline-four with four Keihin carburetors, whose dimensions evoked a loaf of bread. But it still fit two cams! The red field started at a value of 9500 revolutions per minute, but the engine did not have a problem pushing the rack up to a value of 11 thousand revolutions. The maximum output was 57 horsepower, proportionally it comes out to almost 100 horsepower per liter of volume. With a four-speed and very precise transmission, you could easily move the car to 144 km/h. And at the same time, the little Honda made an amazing sound . Jay Leno even claims that the Honda S600 has the second best sound of any car he owns. It is said that only Porsche Carrera GT and McLaren F1 are better, which share the first place.
Today, the Honda S600 , and indeed its successor, the S800 , is a prized collector's item. The prices of good pieces attack 20 thousand dollars, but even for a wreck you will pay several thousand. The upside is that the car has been very reliable, so it's unlikely that you'll be in a bottomless money trap after the purchase. In addition, you will be a connoisseur with the little Honda, because it really is an unconventional car.
Source: Petrolicious, Photo: AutoWP
