Who remembers the Honda Z600 of the early 1970s? It may have been the smallest production car sold in the U.S. at the time, with a length of just 123 inches and weighing around 1,300 lbs. It was the forerunner to the larger and more successful Civic that made Honda relevant in North America. The seller has a non-running example from 1971, and it sports larger wheels and tires. From Abbotsford, British Columbia, this Japanese mini car is available here on craigslist for $3,500 OBO (USD?). Thanks for the tip, “Kendra.”
The Z600 was built between 1970 and 1974. But most exports to the U.S. were in 1971 and 1972, as the car would find it difficult to meet safety standards after that (bigger bumpers were required starting in 1973). It was powered by an air-cooled 598cc engine that stayed busy keeping up in traffic. Along with the less sporty N600, the car was sold at Honda motorcycle dealers before the company established an automobile dealer network.
More than 40,000 Z600s were produced, though we don’t know how many made the trip to North America. While the little cars could accommodate two adults up front, the back seat was better suited to small children or bags of groceries. The cargo area was sparse due to the car’s limited size. We’re told the seller’s “barn find” was running when it was parked, but we don’t know how long ago that was. Its indicated mileage of 50,000 could be legit.
Perhaps all the mini-scule Honda will need to get going again is some fuel system work and a new battery, but that’s just a guess. The body looks okay, considering there’s not a lot of metal to rust. Some mods may have been done to the suspension, as the larger rims in the rear look out of place. And the interior needs attention, as well. Is this a car that warrants restoration, or just fix it and drive?
Abbotsford, British Columbia, is in Canada, just across the border from Washington, but the car has Washington plates and is still registered in Washington.
Had a ’72 Z600. Traded a ’70 N600 in for it. Loved both, but loved the Z most.
These little things are an absolute blast to drive. They feel faster than they are. And there’s room inside for a 6’2″ driver.
Wish I had the time, money, and place to restore one, even though replacement parts seem pretty scarce. It probably would make zero financial sense, but that’s not a consideration for me. Most of the cars I’d like to have showroom-fresh in my garage would put me underwater faster than a short step off a bridge.
One of the few little cars I like. PS 4 guys can carry this car wherever it needs to go… Ask me how I know… Older buddy had one and we always hid it in the darndest places for him… One time we sat it between 2 trees with no way out but to lift it.
That’s funny! My older brother also named Michael had one. We came out of the 7-11 across from his high school one day circa ‘79 to see two guys had picked it up and rotated it 90° so it was pinned between two parked cars with no way out till they left. I just wasn’t strong enough at the time to help.
We used to do the same thing to my buddies step dad’s VW Beatle!
Did that to the coach’s car and put it in his office in the gym …
I was waiting for someone to talk about picking it up. 6 Jr. High guys can pick it up and place it sideways in the hall between school buildings. With like 3″ from the wall on front/rear bumpers. Not sure how I know that…1977 was a long time ago.
I was waiting for someone to talk about picking it up. 6 Jr. High guys can pick it up and place it sideways in the hall between school buildings. With like 3″ from the wall on front/rear bumpers. Not sure how I know that…1977 was a long time ago.
Maybe not the smallest sold in the U.S. in the early ’70’s. I’m pretty sure that the Subaru 360 (360cc) was even smaller. Depends on your definition of “sold” — I remember about a dozen Subaru 360’s sitting at a corner gas station “dealer” for a long time, but I’m not sure they ever sold one. Never saw one on the road.
I was able (by my choice) to spend a week in one of these driving back and forth to work. (Down US 41) It was a blast although, when your head is the same height as the 10.00-20 tire next to you in the dark at 65 mph. It does cause pause at times. B.I.L had the AN600 model for a while and it had a timing chain issue that bent the valves constantly. I never, ever want to play with one of those engines ever again. With such a small car and small engine you would expect a crisp, short shifter. Not only does your arm get a workout. But so does your wrist! (Even crazier than shifting a 2CV!) Figure out a way to install a CB750 engine, forget about having reverse as it’s light enough to just push it back. And then it would really be extra fun!
These are great little cars and bulletproof, with the exception of the rubber cam chain rollers and tensioners, which tend to deteriorate after 50 years. Once they fail the interference engine will bend the valves quite readily. I suspect that Wayne never replaced the rubber cam chain rollers or tensioner which is why the engine repeatedly bent the valves. However, removing the head and replacing the valves is a relatively simple procedure providing you can find the parts.
This example shared to have originally been green before the blue repaint.
When properly maintained these cars are a blast to drive in a much smaller than they appear from the photos. I currently have five of them and I am considering selling two of them. One is a very nice driver that is ready to enjoy and the other is a remarkable original that needs to have the engine reinstalled.
My father saw an N600 sitting in a driveway not being driven back when I was a kid, guessing 1980 or so. He ended up buying it and hauling it home. Had a bad timing chain tensioner if I remember correctly, I think the tensioner had rubber coated sprockets, and used oil pressure for tension? He rebuilt the engine and had the car repainted, put it on the road in 1985 expecting to use it as a daily driver. Was a fun car but always seemed to have timing chain issues. Our driveway was on a hill, if you pulled up and parked it in first gear just a little bit of roll back would make it jump time. I think he made a manual tensioner at that point. Then that engine seized, oil pump issue I believe. Ended up buying a Z coupe and swapping that engine in. Didn’t get a chance to really see how good that engine was, older brother fell asleep on his way home from a concert one night and hit, of all cars, a parked ford Fiesta. Totaled the Honda, probably the Fiesta too. Fun while it lasted, great conversation piece. Nobody around here knew what it was. My brother could get it just over 80 mph on a downhill stretch of RT222 between Denver and Ephrata PA, wound tight. Probably still a stash of parts in the basement from the Z coupe. Sure wasn’t as durable as the 72 pinto it was supposed to replace.
We had a ’72 Z600 coupe back in ’76. Driving down I-75 through downtown Dayton during rush hour was intimidating looking at the top of the semi truck tires. Tires were hard to find for those 10 inch wheels. I ran autocross with it and the engine would spin upto 7000 rpm in a heart beat and it loved it. Sold it to a friend who took it to Delaware and drove it for a couple more years. He finally scrapped it when the rear wheel wells rusted out and the struts broke through into the rear seat area. We both thought it was a blast to drive to the end.
1st Japanese car I saw abt 30 mi SW of Boston where i lived in 1970. I remember (18 y/o so into cars @ that tie). I dont know what caught my eye (the difference w/other cars I’m imagining) but I Do remember (to this very day) my eyes following that big blk oval plastic rear window as it disappeared dwn the rd (not the car’s color or anything else abt it). Probably 55 yrs ago this summer…
Didnt realize the tire wuz a 10 incher, WoW~
Wish the sm600 was still made (altho S600 is pretty nice too). 4 Keihin carbs and chain drive, boy, I’d heard Mr Soichiro Honda wanted to make the best bikes in the world but here’s his 13 inch, 4 wheeled one !