Unusual 1963 Honda S600 Sports Car

[Americanshine]

Well, unless you knew exactly what you were looking at, it would all be a mystery. BUT, I just aquired a 1964 Honda S600 Sports car. Complete, in good running condition. Right hand drive, and chain driven. From what I can tell, there are only 2 in the US that I know of.

This one came out of the garage of a freind of mine that passed away. Great guy, old-timer that had stuff stuck away for years. He was holding onto it for another freind of his mother, who was presented this car back in 1964 from the President of the Honda Corp.

We, here at American Shine Products are going to clean it up and maintain it for the lady who owns it. She wants us to keep it up and drive it for her as well as keep it at the shop. It will be put on display in our warehouse, after we detail it and do some maintanence to it. Just click on the attachment to view the car. Check it out, pretty interesting car, don't cha think?

 

[kennypinkerton]

Very cool! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[Sherlock]

Ooh... I'll be there in a heartbeat to take a look (and to photograph it to death... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

Too bad Calgary is a long way from southern California...

Those are very neat little sports cars, I've never seen one in person yet, I believe it has chain drive which I've heard interesting things about

 

[aeronca65t]

Neat.
And yeah, the 600 *is* rare.

I've seen several S800 roadsters at vintage events, in fact I've raced against one (it's a fair amount faster than my Spridget).

If you click on the link below, you'll see the red S800 I've raced (it's on the 6th panel down in the picture...I'm in there somewhere too). Note: If the picture "shrinks", hover over a corner of the picture until you see a 4-headed arrow icon and click on that icon to zoom it back to full size.

https://www.september8th.com/BEAVERUN-VRG-HISTORICS-2006/BEAVERUN-VRG-HISTORICS-2006-W3.jpg

 

[tony barnhill]

WOW! That beats everything I've ever found!

 

[R6MGS]

I think I've mentioned this here before but there is an S600 sitting about 2 minutes from my house, on a trailor, in some womans driveway....Has a hardtop too and looks like a very solid car....I've asked to buy it many times but the owner has no interest in selling. I've been keeping an eye on it and just recently the paint has 'failed' in a few areas allowing nature to take it's course....But still very savable right now...Although in a few years all she is gunna have will be a few plastic peices and a hardtop left.

 

[Steve_S]

Hey, that's neat! It will be a very interesting display for you. Next time I'm up your way I might have to swing by and get a closer look. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[78Z]

Wow - that is definitely a neat little car. The chain drive is a funky way of getting IRS. I think I posted a pic a while back in a different thread.

 

[Banjo]

Beautiful find! and what a great history!
Only 2 huh? I gotta call my uncle
He has one. I'm pretty sure it's an S600. It looks just like your pic. He brought it back with him from Tokyo after his tour in the military in the early 70s. as far as I know it's still within his reach in Orlando Fl. Of course he stuffed the Buick aluminum V8 in it with a narrowed Olds rear end.and a rat-fink style super long shifter that stuck up over the windscreen. (still right hand drive even)
Dad said it would do donuts at the drop of a hat.
I know I have a pic at dads house. I'll get it and scan it.

 

[R6MGS]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif I gotta see that pic

 

[AngliaGT]

I think are more than 2 of them in the US.
I saw one on craigslist for sale ( I think it was in the San Francisco area.

- Doug

 

[Roger]

I used to have one, back in the UK. Mine was a '65 coupe. I had it from '67 to '77. I still have the steering wheel and the tool kit. The wheel is a reminder why woodrims were banned from competition - it is splintered after a mild impact.
I wish I still had the car, even though mine ended up very non-standard, with 700cc engine, 5-speed 'box, disk brakes on the front, lowered wih konis all round, uprated torsion bars and rear coils.
Blew Spridgets into the weeds - I could draw alongside one flat out and then change up. Happy days!

 

[JamesWilson]

Nice. Saw one at a car show in Birmingham some years back.

I suppose it howls like a banshee at speed.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

 

[78Z]

One on eBay right now with a hardtop but no engine.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1965-HOND...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[beaulieu]

Bill Krause Honda ?

 

[Hicksite]

The Honda dealer in Terre Haute, Indiana had a very nice one (not for sale) in the showroom last time I was there.

 

[aeronca65t]

Here's some other pictures I took of the Honda S800 at the Pitttsburgh Vintage.
I think he was shifting at something like 12000 rpm.
On the back of the car, it says "Sayonara!"

I will be at Summit Point WV for a VRG vintage race next weekend and I may see this car at that event too.

For more pictures of our fun at the Pittsburgh Vintage (at BeaveRun) go ~HERE~.

 

[Banjo]

"Bill Krauss Honda"
I wonder if that's the same Bill Krauss of Cobra test driver fame... (as in, the first driver to test drive the original 260cid Shelby Cobra)

 

[beaulieu]

Bill Krause Honda was in Inglewood , California , and one of the first Honda car dealers,

Its in the same area as Shelby was / is in Gardena

BEAULIEU

 

[Banjo]

As promised, Here's the pics I found of "Uncle Harrys Honda"
These were taken Sept. 9th 1973 up at my grandfathers property. The only way to get to this campsite by car is to drive up a steep, narrow, Jeep trail for about a 1/2 mile. Yet I also have pictures of a TR6 and an MGB at this site (the MGB on the same day as this).
The one pic shows the obvously modified rear. and a custom hood scoop. also note it's RHD

In the second pic, that's "uncle Harry" seated. and my dad standing with the super-8 video camara.