Honda made its fortune building motorcycles, so it came as no surprise that its first car, the tiny S500, was heavily influenced by everything that the company had learned through its many years of motorcycle engineering.
Available as a convertible and a hardtop, its double overhead camshaft, hemi head 531 cc engine had a roller bearing crankshaft and four carburetors. Maximum power 44 bhp, came at a blaring 8000 rpm, which was practically unheard of in a road car. The S500 also had sequence drive to its separately sprung rear wheels, again subsequent motorcycle practice. Disc brakes on the front wheels hinted at the S500’s cost no object specifications, although the separate chassis was somewhat backward, even for the mid 1960s.
The S500 became the 606 cc S600 in 1964 and finally the 1965 S800, the best known and the most popular variant. When the S800 became available in Britain in 1967, it had conventional drive to the rear wheels and an ordinary live axle located by trailing arms and a Pan hard rod.
It was good value for money, undercutting both the Mini Cooper and Triumph Spitfire. It was praised for having remarkable acceleration for its engine size, a very slick gear change and excellent 30mpg (9.5 liters/ 100 km) economy, the handling was predictable, although the ride was on the firm side.
S800 production continued until 1970, by when Honda was making serious inroads into the economy car market with the N360 and N600. It was Honda’s last sports car for many years.
Available as a convertible and a hardtop, its double overhead camshaft, hemi head 531 cc engine had a roller bearing crankshaft and four carburetors. Maximum power 44 bhp, came at a blaring 8000 rpm, which was practically unheard of in a road car. The S500 also had sequence drive to its separately sprung rear wheels, again subsequent motorcycle practice. Disc brakes on the front wheels hinted at the S500’s cost no object specifications, although the separate chassis was somewhat backward, even for the mid 1960s.
The S500 became the 606 cc S600 in 1964 and finally the 1965 S800, the best known and the most popular variant. When the S800 became available in Britain in 1967, it had conventional drive to the rear wheels and an ordinary live axle located by trailing arms and a Pan hard rod.
It was good value for money, undercutting both the Mini Cooper and Triumph Spitfire. It was praised for having remarkable acceleration for its engine size, a very slick gear change and excellent 30mpg (9.5 liters/ 100 km) economy, the handling was predictable, although the ride was on the firm side.
S800 production continued until 1970, by when Honda was making serious inroads into the economy car market with the N360 and N600. It was Honda’s last sports car for many years.
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