Highlights
- Rarely seen 60’s cabriolet that’s often seen as the first mass-market Honda
- Highly appointed, having been restored and retrimmed circa 2008
- Retrimmed, model-accurate interior with vinyl seating and period instruments
The Appeal
The first Honda built for international mass markets, this quirky little two-door roadster is a timeless motor that effectively set up the blueprint for the brand’s future. Though it was far from an elaborate design, the simplicity and compact lines hit a cultural zeitgeist - an impressive feat for a car that never exceeded 13,084 vehicles - and the adapted super-high-revving powerplant and unusual chain-drive made for a sublime curiosity that’s still attracting ardent enthusiasts to this day.
Of these, the cabriolet was the most numerous - and it’s easy to see why. A nifty little handler with the top down on gentle country roads is a pleasure, and by the 60s had become a way of life for many.
This example was purchased from its Canadian owner in 2008. From here, it’s experienced a thorough rebuild, engine overhaul and retrim and now comes to us in excellent order.
The History and Paperwork
- Registered in Greece
- Car indicates 44,635km on a 5-figure odometer, so can’t be verified
- The vendor reports to us that:
- This car was purchased from its first owner in Canada 15 years ago
- It underwent a total rebuild in 2010 including an interior retrim
- The engine was overhauled in 2019
- Car has only run around 1,500km since
- The car has a full independent service history
- Comes complete with all original manuals
The Interior
- Retrimmed interior with black vinyl steering
- Period instruments all present and correct
- Attractive wood-accented steering wheel
While you can’t exactly call the Honda S600 a plush cabin, it’s certainly a pleasant one. Compact, understated, and with the gentlest touch of silver steel, this sporty little car feels right at home amongst its British and European counterparts of the era.
The dashboard has a peppering of tactile instruments, set upon a steel plate with plastic trims. Everything appears to be in good working order, and the vendor doesn’t report any faults. We do note a small scuff in the dashboard’s covering, but it’s in a spot that really doesn’t detract from the car. The wood-trimmed steering wheel is an attractive highlight, with a very presented wooden trim.
The seats, which have been recovered, are upholstered in a very nicely presented black vinyl. Commensurate with their relatively young age, we can’t spot any rips or tears, and they look to be very clean and well-presented. The matching door cards are clean and look to be in good order. Every rubber seal has been replaced, offering superb weather protection.
The deep grey carpets look to be in good order, protected by a good set of mats, and the soft-tops interior looks to be in fine order with no major faults. Round the back, the boot is in good order with a lightly stained rubber mat. This also stows a spare wheel and a non-original toolkit.
The Exterior
- Highly attractive bright red paintwork
- Brand new black soft top
- Restored in 2010
Beautifully compact and understated, this attractive cabriolet is rightfully praised as one of the most immediately charming cabriolets from the 60s. Attractive lashings of chrome and a distinctive ‘smiley’ grille make for a hugely endearing profile.
This car presents very nicely, with all of the body panels tight-knit and straight and the paintwork in very nice order. The vendor reports that there is some signs of welding on the rear wing, and two small spots of corrosion on the sills.
The paintwork shows some very light wear, with some chips underneath the bumpers and on the wheel arches. However, it’s still a very bright, smooth finish. The chromework shows some patina across the board, while still contrasting very nicely against the paint.
The black soft top - which the vendor reports is brand new - is in fine order, with no rips or tears and a good, clean rear panel. The car is sitting on its original alloys, though the vendor notes these are painted as opposed to plated, thus not quite capturing the reflective finish that the discerning owner might favour. It’s shod in a good set of tyres with no major faults.
Underneath, the car is very nicely presented with new exhaust pipes having been fitted this year. We can’t spot any major signs of corrosion and only the lightest surface wear across the board.
The Mechanics
- Engine rebuilt in 2019
- 606cc 4-cylinder aluminium engine
- 4-speed manual transmission
- Super high-revving engine - up to 9,500rpm, with some claiming 11,000 at a push!
- Hypoid differential with chain drive
When the S600 was released, Honda were still far more experienced in the motorcycle market - something reflected in this car. The tiny engine isn’t exactly a speed demon, being a heavily adapted motorcycle powerplant.
However, even back in ‘66, the company was known for its exceptional quality - making them impeccably long-lived, with much of the bike engine’s hardware perfectly welcoming high engine speeds. As a result, the sound of the S600 is a real treat, really capturing its motorcycle heritage and producing an unusually high-revving sports car that can hold its own with little consternation. And sounds ten times louder than you might expect.
This example is presented beautifully, with the recent rebuild clear on display in a bright aluminium that’s only lightly pitted. The engine bay as a whole is a tidy, unfussy one that’s showing very few faults.
The vendor reports a few minor oil leaks, but the car is starting and running exactly as you’d expect, and in terms of mechanical curiosity, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more fascinating little roadster.
Summary
It’s rare that an S600 hits the market - both due to low production numbers and the fact very few owners ever want to part with them. This car is in excellent order and makes an excellent ambassador for a lesser-spotted model.
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