1992 Honda NSX – Classified of the Week

There are some cars that, if you’ll forgive the heavy-handed pun, can get anyone’s motor running. Cars that appeal to people who are unable to tell one end of a spark plug from the other. And that’s fine. Not everyone can be an expert in all things automotive. Much as is the case with art, they only need to know what they like. Cars like this magnificent 1992 Honda NSX stand as example of just how appealing a car can be to anyone who happens to gaze upon it. Furthermore, even your dear old nan knows what an NSX is. And by proxy, she’ll be well versed on all things Ayrton Senna, as excited car nerds can’t help but utter his name every time the NSX comes up in conversation. Don’t worry though, we’re not here to tell you about Ayrton. We’re just here to bring this 1992 Honda NSX, this god among cars, to your collective attention. Seriously, how is it a Honda of all things can be so damn emotive?

When Honda said it was going to launch a supercar that would bring the fight to Ferrari, Porsche and any other brand with intimidating showrooms, everyone scoffed. Honda? The company that made the Civic, and the Accord? Good cars, granted. But hardly the kind of vehicles that would set pulses racing. Rather than be offended, Honda smiled ever so, and went off to build this car nobody thought it could. And man alive, did they build one hell of car.

Led by Chief Designer Masahito Nakano and Executive Chief Engineer Shigeru Uehara, a team of budding Honda employees set about building the car. It would resemble the Honda Civic in the same way a toaster resembles a Concorde. The only thing it shared was the badge. The NSX (that’s New Sportscar eXperimental, in case you ever wondered) would break the mould by some measure. The body was made from aluminium, and it was styled with aerodynamics firmly in mind. It was long, low and lean. The interior was sculpted with the F-16 fighter jet as inspiration. It had just two seats, the engine – a 3.0 V6 with VTEC – sat behind them and delivered power to the rear wheels. The weight distribution was perfect, the chassis and suspension were tuned to perfection thanks to the input of *cough* people from the world of F1. It was incredible. And because it was built by Honda, nothing fell off it when it was taken over 2,000rpm. It was a reliable, usable (as long as you didn’t need to move a sofa) supercar. Honda, much to the chagrin of other brands, had gone and done it.

People who were bold enough to buy one were rewarded handsomely. The NSX was like nothing else in its class. Fast, soulful and never a chore to gaze upon, their owners were keen to hold onto them. But unlike the peers of the NSX, owners also used them. This car has 126,000 miles on the clock, and while that would be cause for a cold shower in Ferrari terms, for a Honda it’s not even broken in yet. Furthermore, this 1992 example has been looked after fastidiously, meaning it presents in near as dammit new condition. The history folder is brimming with proof of unrestricted upkeep, meaning this NSX has years ahead of it. The bodywork is flawless, the paint still a rich, deep gloss red. It’s an early model, so it has the pop-up lights, it’s full of inviting black leather, and best of all, this one has a manual transmission.

Honda didn’t need to build this car. Mr and Mrs Honda Civic weren’t walking into dealerships and asking what would get them north of 160mph. Honda was doing just fine making sensible, reliable if largely forgettable cars. The NSX was a flight of fancy, an answer to a question nobody asked of Honda. But man alive, are we glad they did answer it. This is one of the greats. A supercar for everyone. A true halo moment in automotive history. Plus, rumour has it Ayrton Senna had a hand in it, too. Can’t be sure though. Nobody ever mentions it.