The Honda S800: An Affordable Classic
Originally known for motorbikes, how did this Japanese manufacturer make a significant splash in the sports car industry with the Honda S800?
Written by Elaine Duvet
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Though the company was relatively inexperienced at the time, in the 1960s,
Honda
pumped out exquisite S sports cars and even created a Formula 1 vehicle
. You may remember the S360 road car or the RA271 race car, which with a 1.5-liter V12 engine, was pretty bold for its time.The tiny Honda that could
The Honda S800 first debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1965 and only 12,000 were produced during its run. Enthusiasts were quite impressed with the tiny auto, as Honda only started making cars two years prior and was primarily known as a motorbike maker.
Honda slowly made a name for itself by thinking outside the box, especially with the S Series.
According to
MotorTrend
, the Honda S800 “is the last evolution of the series, ditching the peculiar chain-driven rear end for a conventional live axle, and with a relatively large engine—791 cubic centimeters.” The car also featured a practical fastback coupe body style that was pretty rare.Though the modern classic weighs less than 2,000 lbs and only develops about 70 hp with 49 lb-ft of torque, its rpm is impressive.
According to
Hagerty
, “The diminutive Honda made most of its power at an astonishing 8,000 rpm and the engine had its red line at a screaming 11,500 rpm.” Its top speed is 97 mph and it can accelerate to 60 mph in 13.6 seconds.One example of Honda’s innovative technology was the small water-cooled inline-four engine. “The crank is supported by tiny needle-type bearings, and the powerplant breathes through four individual Keihin carburetors,” notes MotorTrend. With about 1.5 hp per cubic inch, the quirky coupe exhausts through four equal-length exhaust headers.
The Honda S800 is polished and reasonably priced
Cute as a bug, Honda S cars are charming and a joy to drive. You may hear some excess noise and feel a sort of visceral vibration, but the handling is grippy and fun. Just brace yourself for potholes and road imperfections—this is one rigid ride.
It’s definitely an interactive experience. According to
The National
, “There’s a satisfying physicality to the toggle switches and push-pull levers that operate things such as the choke, lights, and heating.”The clutch can be stubborn, but the breaks are surprisingly modern. And the cabin features a comically huge wood-rimmed steering wheel and bucket seats.
Significant changes were made to the S800 in 1969, with the hopes of exporting the new models back to the U.S. According to Hagerty, “U.S. safety regulations mandated safety glass, flush door handles, dual-circuit brakes, and side marker lights.”
And, well…the car never actually came back to America. Consumers would have to wait a few decades before Honda released the Honda S2000, a two-seat convertible.
According to The National, “The S800 followed the S500 and S600, but when it ended production in 1970, there was no successor until the sensational Honda S2000 launched 30 years later.”
For models in excellent condition, you can expect to pay between $40,000 and $50,000 due to their 100% value increase as of late.
Insuring a modern classic
If you’re thinking about investing in a timeless icon, it’s important to make sure you’ve got the best
classic car insurance
at the lowest price. If you’d rather leave the hard work of gathering quotes to someone else, check out the
Jerry
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