There are some attempts to make a car more interesting or marketable that come across as being straight gimmicky. However, in other instances, you have to give the seller credit for making their car a standout in a way that’s undeniably cool. This 1970 Honda N600 is already an eye-catcher for being in seemingly excellent condition, but then it has the added bonus of a custom trailer made up of the remains of a departed N600. The N600 and trailer combo are listed here on Cars and Bids where it has attracted bids to $4,250 and the listing notes a recent engine rebuild by noted N600 expert Tim Mings of Merciless Mings.
The N600 was an important vehicle for Honda, representing one of the first modes imported to the U.S. market. It captured the essence of a startup brand: spunky, small, and willing to punch above its own weight. The N600 didn’t set performance records or attempt to be anything more than an extremely economical form of transportation that also happened to feature a high standard of build quality. Finding a stylish and well-built car that also got high MPGs was unheard of at the time, and though simple inside, the N600 still looks quite tidy throughout the cabin, complete with a then-radical shifter that jutted out from underneath the dash.
There was an N600 on Barn Finds a few years ago I made a pass at buying; ultimately, I decided the limited utility inside the cabin made it a tough sell for a guy with a growing family. Of course, if I had seen this one with its custom trailer, maybe I’d have felt differently. One thing I did learn from that experience is that Tim Mings, owner of Merciless Mings, is the guy to go to if you want to service an N600, restore one, or have major components rebuilt with OEM parts since Tim has managed to sniff out any cache of NOS components still hiding on dusty warehouse shelves.
The N600 is powered by a air-cooled, four-stroke engine that churns out a surprising 45 horsepower. With the noise that comes from an air-cooled engine, its high-revving nature, and the signature smooth Honda manual transmission, driving one of these is likely a joy under the right circumstances (no hills and minimal traffic!) Though it has a limited market of potential buyers, finding one with a long-term California history, Tim Ming provenance, and a wicked custom trailer all help make this N600 a standout. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rocco B. for the find.
Actually, I saw the successor of this car on the interstate recently, a Honda Beat complete with right hand drive and that little engine just buzzing away at 65 mph. I don’t know about California, but we’re seeing more kei cars and even some larger JDM cars here in the PNW. A Toyota Chaser? Or how about a Toyota Dirty kei truck? And to buy one isn’t inexpensive either.
I remember years ago seeing this technique applied to a Nash Metropolitan. We didn’t know whether to refer to it as a Metropolitrailer or a Trailopolitan, but it was an outstanding creation.
Hatin’ life. Batteries not included.
That seemingly “goofy” out-from-under shifter actually first appeared in mass production in 1948 in the REALLY goofy Citroen 2CV. The 2CV was goofy at the time and it still is… in a wonderfully creative and endearing way.
Too bad the trailer’s builder didn’t try to raise the hitch coupler so that the trailer sits at the same attitude as the car.
I know, picky, picky, picky…
The “goofy” 2CV is the best-selling car of all time in the world. And why not? It was an affordable and very practical car, built over 2 generations.
At 50 million sold world wide, the Toyota Corolla is the best selling car of all time.
The 2CV only reached 9 million.
You are right, Terrry! The 2CV was ONE car, as was the VW Beetle. The Corolla was 5 or six. If 50 or so years of one model Chev (say Bel Aire) or Ford, even Chrysler was counted as one model, I wonder how they would dwarf Toyota’s claims regarding their Corolla??
People don’t make good decisions. What can you say?
I remember these cars driving around our town, when I was a youngster. We lived a couple miles away from Kent State University. Always driven by bearded young college kids, with a peace sign on the rear window.
If I recall these things barley had enough power to get themselves down the road now you add the trailer thing? You would be like the old Volkswagen bus trying to climb the mountain pass at 30 mph. But if your not up for driving it home they will both fit on a Uhaul auto transport you just need extra tie downs for the trailer
Correct. The HP was 36, not 45. Zero to 60 was around 23 seconds or so, same as the 1/4 mile, so therefore speed at the end of the quarter was therefore 60 mph. That’s just too much trailer for these.
Correct. The HP was 36, not 45. Zero to 60 was around 23 seconds or so, same as the 1/4 mile, so therefore speed at the end of the quarter was 60 mph. That’s just too much trailer for these.
Had a yellow N600. Fun to drive. Topped out at 78mph on a good day, downhill with the wind. I painted mine Plum Crazy Purple and cruised the Ft Lauderdale strip with it in the early 1980’s.
Having driven an AN600, AZ600 AND a 2CV. Shifting the Honda is way more dexterous. Requiring full wrist rotation to the left and right, besides full arm movement in raising and lowering. The 2CV actually feels normal. (As much as shoving a shift lever forward through the dash board can feel normal.) The Honda just feels like specialized physical training/therapy. You get used to using the Honda shifter, but it NEVER feels normal!
The only thing it needs is a redesigned tongue to allow the trailer to sit level when attached to the car.
Cool find! I wonder how the Honda would perform on the track against a 1970 Mini Cooper?
No contest, the Mini would stomp it pretty well. If it was a very tight/slow it might be a contest as these handle really well. But no actual speed.
the Z600 (big oval blk plastic trim to rear window) wuz the 1st honda we saw (30 mi SW of Boston ’70?). I no some other hondas came in ’59. Never saw this one in that geo location…
I like the wagon version of this (N600) that never made it over. A DD for sure. The S600 hardtop/FB is the one I’d like to try tho. 4 keihin carbs anda chain drive to each rear axle shaft would B fun to work on. Heck, even the pop top to drive but that ‘enclosed’ has the looks I seek (long hood, short deck, FB).
The local Honda motorcycle dealer in Manchester, NH started trying to sell both models of this car around 1972-73. I was 19 and they actually let me test drive both the sedan and the coupe. Both were just too slow, and I didn’t have the money to buy anyhow. My first car was a 1965 Austin Mini Cooper, so I was used to small, but the Mini Cooper set my performance expectations much higher then the Honda could deliver.
I had one in high school in the late 80s… if you put 4 high school boys in it, the TINY brake pads were not quite enough to stop it going 35mph! That was alarming to discover on the way to graduation practice. LOL
Also, it was sooo light weight… 4-6 my friends used to go out in the parking lot, lift it, rotate it 90-degrees in the spot, and pin me in. Or just move it to another location. They always rescued me after a good laugh. :-)
This auction ended at $7,200.
Reserve Not Met.