Introduction: The Vision of Soichiro Honda
Honda has always been a company of innovation and bold choices. When Soichiro Honda decided to transition from motorcycles to automobiles, he did it his way, starting with a series of compact two-seat sports cars that embodied technical brilliance and captivating design. The first of these, the Honda S500, debuted in October 1963.
The Early Steps Toward Automobiles
The seeds of Honda’s automobile journey may have been planted in 1958 when Yoshio Nakamura, later the project leader for the Honda Sports series and the first manager of Honda’s F1 team, joined the company. By early 1959, a study group developed Honda’s first prototype, the X170, which featured a remarkable 360 cc air-cooled V4 engine.
Debut of the S360 and S500
At the 9th Tokyo Motor Show in October 1962, Honda unveiled the S360 and its more powerful sibling, the S500. While the S360’s 360 cc engine lacked sufficient power, the S500’s 492 cc engine proved more practical. By the time the production-ready S500 debuted after the 10th Tokyo Motor Show, its engine had been upgraded to 531 cc, along with a wider and more robust body.
A Revolutionary Sports Car
The Honda S500 stood apart from other Japanese cars of the time, which commonly featured iron-block OHV engines and single carburetors. With its high-revving DOHC engine and innovative design, the S500 was a small marvel. Its lightweight British sports car-inspired styling added to its appeal, showcasing Soichiro Honda’s vision.
Evolution to the S600 and S800
Recognizing the S500’s modest power, Honda quickly developed the S600, which launched three months later with a larger 606 cc engine. Honda R&D was already working on an even more powerful successor, the S800, which debuted soon after. With a top speed of over 160 km/h, the S800 became Honda’s first “100 mph car.”
In May 1966, the S800 underwent significant updates, replacing its aluminum chain-case rear suspension with a simpler rigid axle system. The final iteration, the S800M, launched in February 1968, featured additional luxury features like a factory auto-seek radio and a high-capacity heater.
The End of an Era
By the time production of the S800M ended in May 1970, Honda had produced nearly 25,000 sports cars across the S-series. With the conclusion of the S800M, Honda shifted its focus away from small sports cars, marking the end of a remarkable era.