It’s hard to believe sometimes that a car has already aged enough to be considered a restoration candidate when you still consider it to be “late model.” That’s my response to seeing this 2002 Honda S2000 appear as a modern-day barn find when it pops up for sale looking like it hasn’t seen the light of day for years. I remember how exciting these were when they were unloaded off the trailer at a local Honda dealer; now, we have an example that’s ready for restoration and listed here on eBay with bids to $7,600 and the reserve unmet.

I have a personal connection to the S2000 as a good friend growing up was flat-out obsessed with Honda’s modern day sports car. He wanted one for years, and I was with him the night the break-in period was over and he could finally kiss that 9,000 RPM redline. These are seriously fun cars, even if you don’t love the idea of revving the snot out of it. It’s a motorcycle with doors, effectively, and will take endless beatings due to its Honda DNA. The seller’s car is unfortunately taken to a bit of an extreme in that regard, and needs both mechanical and cosmetic restoration.

The engine bay shows signs of modifications, which aren’t the end of the world but also demand some caution be taken. The listing mentions that the S2000 comes with several Spoon-brand accessories, and that’s generally considered one of the higher-end aftermarket companies when modifying a Honda or Acura product. However, of cause for concern is the seller’s disclosure that the last oil change showed there was bearing material in the oil. As a result, he parked the car and hasn’t driven it since, but does note that it will run with a smooth idle.

A hail storm contributed to the cosmetic flaws you see here, and it will need a new top as a result. In addition, the listing notes that there is “repairable hail damage” that will also need to be sorted out, which likely amounts to light dents around the body. The mileage is high at just under 180,000, and I’m a bit surprised to see the reserve hasn’t been met yet. In general, the S2000 market is softening a bit, so I’d consider the current bid a decent “floor” for a car with needs.