To say that Honda is a powerhouse is the understatement of the century. As the world’s largest maker of motorcycles for the last 67 years, it’s hard to argue with this company’s success. This rare 1958 Honda Benly JC58 is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Le Center, Minnesota, and they’re asking $14,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to NW Iowa Kevin for the tip!
Founded a year after the end of WWII, in the fall of 1946, the company’s first complete motorcycle wouldn’t be introduced until 1949. It’s been pedal to the metal since then for this go-getter of a company. Or throttle to the… er… whatever rhymes with throttle. With over 500-million motorcycles produced as of early 2025, this company also became the first Japanese company to export more of its American-factory-made vehicles than it imported.
Did I mention that they’re also the world’s biggest producer of engines? As in, internal combustion engines, to the tune of 14 million a year. 14 million a year, that’s a number that I can’t even wrap my head around. The Honda Super Cub is the vehicle that has been made more than any other in the history of the planet. Acura was the first luxury offshoot brand by a Japanese company, before Infiniti or Lexus. The list goes on and on. It’s an amazing achievement for Soichiro Honda, who started out making piston rings.
The JC58 came much later in Honda’s timeline, and you can see that this example appears mostly complete, but is in somewhat rugged condition. Restoration costs wouldn’t be for those with a weak stomach or checkbook (“What’s a checkbook, SG?”), but this one would be a museum piece either before or after restoration. Since Honda didn’t send motorcycles to the U.S. until 1959, this is likely a Japanese market bike, making it even rarer to see in this country.
The word Benly loosely translates to “convenient” in the Japanese language, and the first model came out in 1953. This JS58 is powered by Honda’s 125-cc OHV single with just under 10 horsepower. That power is sent through a rotary three-speed manual, and the seller says it runs and drives; they purchased it in Japan, and it comes with a NOS horn and a clear title in the seller’s name. Unfortunately, recent auction prices haven’t been encouraging for the seller’s asking price. Have any of you heard of this model of Honda motorcycle?
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