Coming to market less than a decade after Honda started developing a car rather than concentrating on motorcycles, the N360 was introduced with an engine size that was friendly for buyers in Japan who got Kei class tax breaks because of the displacement and vehicle size. This 1972 Honda 600 Sedan (as they were called here) is posted here on craigslist in Boulder, Colorado, and the seller is asking $1,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mike F. for the tiny tip!
The Japanese market N360 gave way to other models, and eventually, the N600, which we received here in the U.S. in 1969 as a 1970 model called the 600 Sedan. Honda’s S500/S600S800 cars were introduced several years prior to the N360, but they were never officially available here. Some were exported here, but some found their way onto our shores. The N600 or 600 Sedan was reportedly Honda’s first official U.S. car.
This car is small enough at 10 feet in length and just over four feet in width to restore in a single-car garage with ease. It doesn’t appear to need much work on the exterior. I only see a small amount of damage on the left front corner and left rear corner, and rust doesn’t appear to be a huge issue. I hope the windows are included, but the seller only says this: “Honda n600. Not running blown engine. Has must part and extra set of brand new tires.”
This is the only interior photo, and it looks like there’s a crack in the dash and lots of work to do inside. It’ll take a big fan of these small cars to take this project on, especially since the engine is “blown”, so that’ll probably be the hardest part to figure out what to do there.
Sadly, they didn’t bother to pop the hood to show the blown engine, if it’s even still under the hood. The trunk is full of parts, so that’s good. The original engine would have been a 598-cc air-cooled SOHC inline-twin with 42 horsepower and 38 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s backed by a four-speed manual sending power to the front wheels. I’d go 100% stock on the restoration, how would you redo this 600 Sedan?
Oh neat, a car with a motorcycle engine. I would at least get a one liter four pot DOHC engine to put into it. Then, it might be fun.
I found one on the internet in the same color that looked like it got painted with a brush. Oh neat, a car with a motorcycle engine. I would at least get a one liter four pot DOHC engine to put into it. Then, it might be fun.
Needs a Hemi
Saw one with a Chevy 350 back in the day. Driver’s seat was where the rear seat is, and the windshield was fabbed to make room for the air filter.
There’s a certain amount of appeal to making this into something like a miniature hot rod (squat rod?). Putting in a 4 cylinder motorcycle engine would make for a smoother machine with power enough to not be a rolling road block but additional stopping power to go with the horsepower boost might be a tough ask. There’s only so much room inside those tiny wheels for more swept area.
Having done extensive work on one of these. I would also be one to consider a 4 cylinder motorcycle engine for a swap.(I’m ot a fan of these engines) I believe that the wheel bolt circle on these is the same as early Civics and Accords. So find a 13″ wheel and really short tires. I spent a week with an AZ600 (600 coupe) as my daily driver. It was a blast to drive but painfully slow on acceleration. Figure out a way for spider front drive and forget about reverse. It’s light enough to just push back by hand.
Visited a client’s auto repair shop and they had one in much better shape than this one and they wish it wasn’t there. Carb replacement was a $1,000 online. Replacement Tires were unavailable. There’s a point where things this old can’t be saved. $10,000 to get it drivable and safe, minimum.
I had one , used it as a clown car in a parade, you could pick one back wheel off the ground alone or 2 people could put it up on its nose
I had one. Bought it for $800 back in the early 80’s and it was in super good condition, ran and drove, 55-60 MPH and still got 50 MPG. But they built them with a block of rubber between the engine and the trans to give it a little flex and it crystalized at 55 mph. Sucked the teenie pieces of rubber against the oil intake screen in the pan and fried the top end. Never got it running again. Sold it to a guy who collected them for $100. Loved that darn thing, wish I still had it today. But I feeling this one is a goner.
Never ceases to amaze me, THIS is what started the mega Honda story. A mere novelty, at best, a motorcycle with 4 wheels, and it wasn’t until the Civic, we were allowed to forget these.
Some may remember on the hoaky, yet entertaining CHiPS tv show, Rosie Grier is shown destroying one of these on the shoulder as Jon and Ponch look on. In that episode, “Moving violation” ( 1977) I found it odd this car could out perform the Kawasaki police cruisers before the stop. That’s a Hollywood,,
Listing update: the seller removed the ad, did one of you grab it?