Red Hot Beat! 1992 Honda Beat Convertible

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Fun and frugal, the convertible Honda Beat blends the sporty appeal of small convertible like Honda’s S2000 with the fuel sipping and ease of parking associated with cars of diminutive size like the Smart Fortwo. Though never sold by Honda in America, specimens of the tiny Right-Hand-Drive roadster dot the vehicular landscape thanks to the quirky drop-top’s enthusiastic fans. This 1992 Honda Beat in Woodstock, Georgia reportedly runs “great,” and shows fewer than 100,000 km (60,000 miles) on the odometer. It can be yours with one click of Buy It Now, for $12,899, here on eBay. Thanks to reader Larry D. for spotting this Goober State classic.

It must be a royal pain to remove the spare tire every time you need to work on the engine. Hey, wait a minute! That’s no engine compartment; this Beat utilizes a mid-engine, Rear-Wheel-Drive layout, just like Honda’s fabulous NSX supercar, as noted by the seller. The good news is that whatever crushes your legs in an accident won’t likely be the engine. That said, the Beat offers infinitely more protection than the average sub-700cc vehicle on American roadways.

Since our feature car’s listing skipped any picture of the engine, we thank Honda-Tech for this shot. The 656 cc (40 cid) inline three-cylinder engine generates 63 HP at an eye-opening 8100 RPM, propelling the 1675 lb Honda to 60 MPH in, well, 12.1 seconds, but it probably feels faster than that as you hurtle down the road at dandelion height. A five-speed manual transmission handles the gear changes. While the trunk can’t swallow a golf bag, you might fit a five iron in there. Decades ago, a friend proposed we play nine holes using only a Five Iron, and it barely affected my game. Take that, Tiger Woods! Plan your homicides carefully, though, because there’s certainly no room for a dead body in there, unless your victim is a rodent. Thanks to Automobile-Catalog for some details.

It takes some perspective to appreciate the Beat’s absurd tininess. Check out this picture of a Beat next to a Toyota MR2, or next to a pickup truck. As part of Japan’s kei car or “light automobile” class, the Beat comes with tax and other legal benefits in the Land of the Rising Sun. This specimen looks nearly perfect, and I’d love to drive it.

The sporty cockpit suggests a serious driving machine, and this Beat surely underscores the saying that “It’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slowly.” Just having three pedals puts this Beat one step above most modern muscle cars, and the latter might get a surprise trying to chase a well-driven Beat down a twisty two-lane. Coaxing 4000 pounds around corners can be more daunting than you think. Do you dig this red hot Beat?

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Comments

  1. RayT

    These are cute little puppies, and an absolute blast to drive. Yes, even in Southern California, where I had one for a week circa 1992. They’re not terribly fast, but confirm the old adage “It’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow.” And boy, are they a ball to hustle over a mountain road! All this and excellent fuel economy and easy parking.

    Several concerns: first, parts. I doubt your friendly Honda store would have anything you might need, and I’d say a shop manual — in English, please, if such a thing exists — would be a “must.” Second, while this one appears to be in good nick, I’ve looked at ads on “buy a car from Japan” websites, and as a generalization most don’t seem any less prone to wear, abuse and rust than any 30 year-old car. Get its history if you can. And I don’t think you could get plates in California.

    The price seems a wee bit high, but when you factor in things like ocean freight and the hassles of importation, it’s probably pretty close to the mark. I hope someone buys it and enjoys the daylights out of it!

    If I were looking, I’d give this one the solid once-over.

    Like 7
  2. Scotty GilbertsonStaff

    Nice one, Todd, and a great find, Larry D! I saw one a couple of weeks ago at the last cars-and-coffee event of the season here in the upper-Midwest, and even though I had seen them in person before, I’m still surprised at just how small they are. I would love to have one someday.

    Like 5
    • Todd FitchAuthor

      Thanks, Scotty! They are super-cool. When you get yours, I want to borrow it once in a while. ;)

      Like 0
    • Larry D

      Thank you, Scotty. I really strive to find the offbeat or unusual stuff whenever possible.

      I fear the thing that will hold this car back is the RHD. But we shall see!

      Like 0
  3. Charles

    Looks like the radiator/overflow tank is missing its cap…

    Like 1
  4. TheOldRanger

    I never knew about this car, but I was a Honda owner for a bit over 50 years, and I would have liked to have had this one. I always admired the 2000 and this would seem to be similar in some ways. I still own a 1996 Honda hatchback and I’ll keep this one until I die. I have a son-in-law who has already claimed it (but he tells me he still has to wait at least 20 years for it…. I’m 80). :-)

    Like 1
  5. Howie

    I think this is a great deal, if you can get plates in your state, i am in CA.

    Like 0
  6. Andy G.

    Cool little car. Looks like red overspray on the underneath side

    Like 0

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