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Rusty But Cheap: 1973 Honda N600

For a hot minute, I was convinced one of these tiny Hondas would be in my garage come the end of summer. Barn Finds actually had one listed as part of a collection of vehicles up for grabs, but I bid too low and the car went to another enthusiast. Truthfully, that’s fine – I’m quite happy with the projects I ended up with, but it’s hard not to like these innovative econoboxes. Find this rusty-but-cheap example here on eBay with just over a day left in the listing. 

This particular N600 is listed by a seller with no eBay feedback. He claims to have purchased it off the original owner not too long ago, but like so many other sellers, has too many other projects at the moment. The car sat for 10 years prior to his acquiring it and has less than  60,000 original miles (or so the odometer says). The problem is there’s rust in multiple places, including both fenders and the rockers. This photo would seem to indicate the rear quarters are suspect as well.

It’s hard to tell whether this fender was re-painted due to an accident and rust later blossomed, or if this was a poor attempt to mask the corrosion. This N600 is located near Pittsburgh, PA, an area that is certainly no stranger to snow. The Penn State parking stickers would indicate this Honda was formerly a campus car, and likely subjected to daily commutes and outdoor parking. Despite the prevalence of rust we can see, the seller says the floors and undercarriage remain in solid shape with no holes.

The interior is likely one of the car’s better features, as it appears largely intact with the dash uncracked and seats untorn. Those look like snow tires in the backseat, so  I think it’s safe to say this Honda didn’t get taken off the roads in wintertime. Prices on the N600 have been enjoying a steady climb over the last few years, so if rust repair doesn’t phase you, this could be a smart buy at $2K – but I’d want to find out a bit more about its no-start symptoms before taking the plunge. Would any of you take this project on?

Comments

  1. Avatar RayT

    I love Honda AN600s — bought one new, traded it for an AZ600 and would love to have another (either model would do) — but this strikes me, at best, as a parts car given the extent of the rot it’s showing. Can’t imagine there isn’t significant structural damage behind those scaly fenders and inside/below the bubbly doors.

    If the interior is as good as it looks, I could see transplanting it to a healthier shell. Other pieces might be usable as well, but I’m not seeing $2K worth of goodness here.

    Not for me. I’ll wait for an unrusted one.

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  2. Avatar Ben T. Spanner

    My friend worked at a Chevy store that took on Honda in 1972. Out the door price with tax and all fees for a Z600 was $1967. A bought a V6 Capri instead. In less than a year, I found a used 1972 Orange Z600 at another Chevy dealership. Mine was rust free in Central Ohio.
    My friend had a yellow 1972 which was full of rust. His brother just had to have mine, so I sold it. I drove the yellow on on I-70 for over 2 hours. The only car I passed was a Subaru 360

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  3. Avatar D

    Actually the snow tires are on the car, the ones IN the car are for the non snow season.

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  4. Avatar JCW Jr.

    It is sitting at a body shop from a reflection in one of the photos. Also 4 flat tires says he does not care much for the car. I would guess body shop wanted way too much to fix.

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  5. Avatar Alan Robbins

    In the late eighties I bought one of these in Los Angeles for $15. Hauled it home, got it running, sold it for $150

    I can’t imagine driving one on the highway at speed.. but it was a hoot around town. As long as you don’t hit anyone.

    Like 0

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