Who remembers the Honda Z600 (and the boxier N600) from the early 1970s? They were Kei cars (pint-size) built in Japan and sold in the U.S. for half of their duration (1970 to 1972). If you wanted one, you could get your Honda motorcycle dealer to order it, and the Z600 was likely the smallest automobile on American roads at the time. The seller has a completely original survivor with less than 16,000 miles. Located in a garage in Hartland, Wisconsin, it could be the nicest one left and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for (hold on to your hats) $60,000. You can thank “Zappenduster” for this tiny tip!
The Z600 (aka Honda Z) was a crackerbox hatchback that Honda had on the home market through 1974. Perhaps 40,000+ units were built, with the number exported to the U.S. unknown. All U.S. Z600s got a larger engine than on the home market, a 598cc 2-cylinder thumper. Exports to these shores stopped before the 1973 models came out because their itty-bitty bumpers weren’t up to meeting U.S. safety standards.
A receipt from 1972 shows that the current or previous owner bought the car for $800 (new or used?). Perhaps someone thought the auto would be potentially worth 75 times that 54 years later, so more or less quit driving it before the odometer reached 16k. The little car seems to be in excellent condition, but the photos are mostly of close-ups and not of the full car. If it runs, why not drive it out into the light of day for pics?
These were disposable cars, so finding one in this shape is a matter of luck. The seller postulates it’s the lowest mileage example left in the States, and he could be right. While it’s well documented, some explanations of its health are needed to warrant a serious inquiry at the seller’s price point. As a running museum piece, what’s the top dollar you’d fork over for this early foray of the Honda imports?
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It reminds of a little Dutch clog :-)
Were these not chain driven?
best
bt
Nope.
These had a normal transmission, differential and half-shafts driving the front wheels.
The Honda S600 and S800 two-seaters had chain drive to the rear wheels. There was a chain for each wheel, and the chain cases served as trailing arms for the suspension.
According to contemporary reports, the handling was, well, “strange.”
The S600 and early S800 examples used chain drive and independent rear suspension, but most S800s were later fitted with a conventional driveshaft and a live rear axle located by four radius rods and a Panhard rod.
Yes. The forced air cooled/finned 600 cc, twin cylinder engine has overhead valves and a timing chain driven camshaft. These were front wheel drive power train with a 4 speed + reverse manual transaxial/sharing the engine oil. The early Lamborghini Miura exotic supercar also used engine oil for the gearbox which in a high performance sports car was a bad idea and got changed soon. The viscosity of engine oil and gear oil is different with different ingredients. Besides, cornering forces at high speed was detrimental to the engine. The Honda S600 and S800 used chain drive to the rear wheels. These cars were never officially imported to the USA.
$60,000? Well, there’s folks out their that will pay $30,000 for a rotted out hulk of a Dodge Charger, so…
The receipt that I saw was $1,795.50 but even at that it’s a pretty good gain on your investment.
That’s what I paid for mine back in ’72.
Sold it later for a lot less than 60 Large.
Wish I had one now….
As a young teen in the early ‘70’s, there was an older woman in the neighborhood who made many a man out of us boys in that little car.🥰
Same yellow color
Price a bit different from then
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$60,000.00? Some kind of joke?
The only thing I remember about these cars is they were under-powered, even for the size. I did put a fuel pump in one.
I wouldn’t pay a tenth of the asking price.
Why can’t people take decent pictures of things, instead of making us piece all the snippets together to get a crappy view??
I have a similar 1972 Honda AZ600 coupe and a sister AN600 2-door sedan with the same 600cc twin, cylinder, forced air cooled engine in my Collection. 36 horsepower is sent to the front wheels via a 4 speed manual transmission. Engine oil is shared with the gearbox transaxial. No separate gear oil. Gear shifter goes through the fire wall below the dashboard which is odd design but gives ample leg & between seats room as no drive shaft tunnel. The highest a Haggerty Concours 1, sold for was $ 24,000/. Seller is most unlikely to find a buyer at $60K. These are awesome cars to drive, a ton of fun, peppy and great to zip errands in the neighborhood. Fairly good acceleration and capable to cruise the freeway at speed limits of 65 mph to 70 but shakes unsteadily by passing traffic. Good luck with selling it for $60k. This was Hondas debut into the US market. It was well engineered, very reliable, well built and affordable transportation.
I have five of these Honda Z600 Coupes currently, and I would be willing to sell two of them.
One is a very nice example that is ready to drive and enjoy, and the other one needs a few minor details before it can be enjoyed, but it is in exceptional shape as well.
My prices are much less than $60K as I would accept $8,000 and $6,500 for an immediate sale.
Please don’t post them here in the classifieds. Send them in so we can run a feature on them!
$60,000.00!!!!🤯 WOW!! I guess the air is different up there! 😂 If someone pays that amount I guess a fool will be ….. you know the rest. I agree with many comments. If you going to ask such crazy amount. Bring it outside in the Sun and take better pictures so we can get a better picture of the little guy. I seen these before and never at this price. I guess the seller has lots of dreams for it. 🇺🇸🐻