1991 Honda NSX

A one owner & low mileage example

Estimate: £70,000 - £80,000*

Reg No: S565 FVE Chassis No: NA1-1008621

MOT: February 2024

One-owner examples of any car are rare to find, but a one-owner NSX, with its low production volume is a rare prospect! The NSX (New Sportscar eXperimental) was a major departure for Honda, which by 1984 was renowned for its well-engineered but generally quite staid road cars. Its origins lay in the HP-X (Honda Pininfarina eXperimental) concept of that year and wowed the performance car world when it debuted at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show. The intention was to match or better the performance of contemporaneous V8 Ferraris, coupled with superior reliability and lower cost. The styling was inspired by the F-16 fighter jet, the paint process ran to 23 phases, and Ayrton Senna was involved in the vehicle’s final development. It was the first mass-production car equipped with an all-aluminium body and was powered by an all-alloy V6 motor featuring Honda’s patented VTEC engine control system and titanium connecting rods. The unit drove through a five-speed manual or four-speed sports automatic system.

Make no mistake, this was a mould-breaking motorcar that even caused McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray to say: “When I drove an NSX, all existing benchmark cars vanished from my mind.” The car was the first real Japanese ‘supercar’, proving itself and quickly establishing respect from its key competitors. However, this superiority was not translated into sales and, by the time production ceased in 2005, fewer than 20,000 had been sold making them relatively rare and much sought-after today.

Manufactured in 1991, chassis no. NA1-1008621, was manufactured in 1991, being sold new to a Dubai businessman who owned a collection of rare and exotic supercars, including no fewer than two NSXs. Reputedly unregistered until 1999, the Honda subsequently accompanied the gentleman to the United Kingdom, when he returned to Britain in the late 2000s, it was one of only two cars that accompanied him, interestingly being both the NSXs. Remaining with him until his passing, one erroneous keeper change is showing on HPI due to a spelling mistake by the DVLA with the gentleman’s name (which the DVLA have agreed to rectify if required). Finished in the striking colour combination of Black with complementary specialorder Red and Black leather interior, the NSX is offered for auction having covered just 33,400 kilometres from new (equating to c.20,750 miles).

The Honda had been updated with LED front lights, but an original specification set is accompanying, along with the front number plate holder. The 3.0 V6 DOHC VTEC engine is allied to the four-speed automatic transmission, the Honda is fitted with a beautifully noted TRUST exhaust system. The NSX was recommissioned between 2015 and 2017 by JDM specialists DI Racing, the work completed included a new alternator; overhauled brakes with new discs and pads; and a new battery. In 2020, the Honda was provided with a water pump and timing belt as part of a major service, and the alloy wheels were refurbished recently and shod with a full set of new tyres. Accompanied by the invoice for the recommissioning work, the previous Dubai numberplate and an insurance document, and a current V5C document. Offered with a no advisory MOT certificate until Feburary 2024, the vendor rates the Honda as being in ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ condition throughout.

A very rare opportunity to acquire a one-owner and low mileage example of the iconic and now very collectable NSX.