In 1969, after a decade of growth that led to Honda
becoming the top-selling motorcycle manufacturer in America
and the world, Honda embarked on a new mission to sell
cars in the United States. Honda entered the U.S. market
with the Honda N600, which was just 122 inches in length
and could actually fit between the wheels of some full
size vehicles in America, which measured up to 225 inches
in length and weighed nearly twice as much as the NSX.
The N600 had an all-alloy engine that could achieve 9000
rpm and reach speeds of 81 miles per hour. A simple, yet
skillfully designed vehicle, the N600 was nimble and
fuel-efficient, characteristics it shares with today’s
Honda’s, and helped paved the way for the quality and
reliab ility for which Honda vehicles have become known.
Since March, Honda has taken viewers on an in-depth journey
of the restoration of the very first Honda automobile
in America, the N600 with Vehicle Identification Number
1000001, called “Serial One. In the last episode, the fully
restored “Serial One” is shared with the audience, along
with a look back in time, from the start to finish of the
restoration process. Tim Mings and team take “Serial One”
through the final finishes, from installing the doors to
tightening the last bolts and signing the roof of
the vehicle before the roof liner is installed
CGM