1972 Honda N600 Sedan - SOLD ON BILL OF SALE ONLY - VIN: FA1001733 - Offered Without Reserve - First car Honda imported into the United States | Believed to be a complete car | Few remaining N600s in the United States - 36 cid air-cooled two-cylinder 600cc engine, 32 HP, rear-wheel drive; wheelbase: 78.7”


Best known in the automotive world for their micro cars and early motorcycles, Japan has long been a leader at producing small, fuel-efficient cars. Their fascination with small cars began in the postwar era when their economy was at an all-time low. Many of the Japanese people could afford a motorcycle, but not nearly enough were able to purchase a car. Japan introduced new regulations in 1955, around the same time saying cars had to be a certain dimension and could not be more than four passengers. The regulations lasted till 1975, during which many different companies took on the challenge of building micro cars, including Honda, which came up with the N600 Sedan. The N600 was launched in 1967 and was similar to Alec Issigonis original mini and featured an air-cooled two-cylinder 600cc engine. With the help of some tax incentives for those who bought a car, the N600 dominated the micro car market in Japan and Honda knew it was time to expand. The Honda name had been in America since 1959 but was really only known for their reliable motorcycles which were sold by the “You meet the nicest people on a Honda,” ad campaign. The Honda N600 was first imported to the United States in 1970, becoming the first production Honda car to be imported to the United States, it was eventually switched out by the historic Honda Civic in 1973, and the rest is history.

With few N600s remaining or coming up for sale in United States, almost all the Honda N600s that do surface are considered a rare sighting, no matter what shape they are in. This 1972 Honda is far from perfect condition, though the body is solid and shows no visible spots where rust has gone all the way through. The car seems to be complete with all the right parts still attached to it, even the original 10-inch tires, which are the same ones the mini used. It comes with its original air-cooled two-cylinder 600cc engine, which when new produced 32 horsepower. The cabin comes with two seats in the front and a two-person bench seat in the rear. Even though this Honda has seen better days, it is still one of the more significant vehicles in history when it comes to early importation of automobiles.