1964 Honda S600 Coupe (Project)

The remarkable Honda S600 was a surprisingly sophisticated design when introduced in March 1964 (the year the company entered Formula One racing), boasting an all-alloy four-cylinder engine with twin overhead-camshafts, twin carburettors and a roller-bearing crankshaft, all technology drawn from Honda's experience in motorcycle racing. Based on Honda's first production car, the S500 of 1963, the S600 also had fully independent suspension and final drive to the rear wheels via enclosed chains. The S600 looked similar to the earlier Honda but with a restyled nose and was sold in both convertible and coupe form (the latter, with a neat hatchback, was announced in March 1965) and has the distinction of being Honda's first ever sports car. Critics raved about the switch-like gearchange, the excellent roadholding and above all, that screamer of an engine, with a redline starting at 8500rpm and running all the way up to 11,000rpm. Although the S600 was the first Honda widely marketed (and sold in left-hand drive markets like America) it remains comparatively rare, particularly in coupe form with only 1,800 made in the period 1964-1965 (roadster production exceeded 11,000).