Honda has long been known for its small cars, with the predominant model being the Civic. While the average consumer would be lucky to know that much, most anyone who doesn’t follow automotive culture would be unaware of Honda’s significant small car that won the hearts and minds of many car shoppers when the company was still quite young. The tw0-cylinder, air-cooled econobox may strike us as funny today, but it was a shot heard around the world as it relates to Honda’s plans. This one is a first-year model which is notable for making a touch more power than later cars. Find it here on eBay where bidding is just over $1,000 with the reserve unmet, and thanks to Barn Finds reader Larry D. for the find.
The seller includes a ton of photos, to his credit; unfortunately, they’re all in blocks of four photos like these. Still, they tell quite a story, with the seller noting he rescued all of these N600s from a local farmer. Basically, the red N600 was purchased new by the farmer in Seattle, and when he moved back to his native Montana, he brought the N600 with him and acquired two parts cars. The seller reports he has sold the other cars and this is the final one to be moved. Despite the surroundings in this photo, the Honda is said to be “not a rust bucket” and to have “survived well.” Just between the top photo and the ones seen here, the N600 has improved dramatically since being rescued.
The first year cars of any model are generally desirable just for being the earliest ones offered, but the N600 was even more coveted for its higher output engine that could scream to 9,000 RPMs and reach 81 miles per hour on the interstate. Beginning in 1972, the engines were less powerful, but I’m guessing most shoppers that year wouldn’t have noticed the difference. As you can see from the interior photos, the N600 has remained largely complete, with factory bucket seats in fair shape and the iconic shifter sticking out of the dash (why don’t more manual transmission vehicles have the shifter located here?) There’s plenty of small flaws in the cabin you can’t see, like cracks in the dash and in the steering wheel.
But, let’s focus on the good news: the windows still roll up and down, and it comes with its original keys. Lots of other original details are present, like the factory rubber floor mats, hubcaps, tire jack and tools, headliner, and more. Despite not running for several years, the air-cooled engine does turn over and have spark (and even the fuel pump still works, in classic Honda fashion), so you’re clearly buying a project that wants to run again. Despite their significance for Honda and small car innovation in general, the N600 still remains quite affordable, so it’s not entirely surprising to see bidding so light at the moment – will it take off as we get closer to the finish line?
Wonder what the reserve ask is here. These were very cool little rides and this one still looks like an easy save. They were a lot of fun to drive, very simple to maintain and work on.
Looks like a sweet ride for the right person.
If that was local, of be bidding right now. Beautiful piece of auto history, looks like it’s wants probably a fluids refresh and perhaps a new oil filter (gods, did we go through those when I was a wee rant) and it’ll start right up. New owner also probably should have the breaks done, they were a point of failure for us. And these are actually crazy fun, not terribly fast, no but nimble with what they’ve got and they’re so light they FEEL like you’re going hell for leather. Hope it finds its way into the hands of someone who will drive it like they stole it
Be a lot more fun than that damn Chevette.
Chevette rocks…..
LOL…………………….
Be a lot more fun than that Chevette.
Honda cars were sold in Canada 5 + years before Honda came to the US. The tiny air cooled 360 cc Honda came to Canada in the early 1960 s and was sold by Honda motorcycle dealers who had one in their bike showrooms mostly as a good joke. The first one my teen buddies and I saw we all had a good laugh! LOL
Having owned one of these way back when I can say that 81 mph in one of these would be more than terrifying. I got mine up to 60 – once, and only once.
I deeply regret selling mine for $100 (Paid $50) like many things I did not think for a second it would be collectable.
I drove a Z600 (England model) from Fehmarn Germany on the Autobahn at 82mph, then through England to Liverpool, then ferried to Isle of Man in 1988. Then back through Holland. RHD model with a failed brake booster which added to the excitement of never driven in UK before. I was attending a Honda s800 meet on Isle of Man. Quite the adventure!
what tells U it is?
If you watch his other videos he is trying to show how great his parts are which include broken cylinders, burned up camshaft, crank with thrown rod, cases with hole in front, all things that should be in the garbage. At least we the semi-normal Honda 600 folks can see he isn’t hiding anything.
What a awesome write up, Got excited when heard Seattle I am north of there. I had a 1970 Red Honda N600 back in the 70 s and would be perfect car for me to restore to original and bring back the memories. I still have the Honda key chain and the original screw jack . Will be interesting to see what it goes for ,the shipping to me would be the deal breaker with this Covid