Honda S600/S800
Honda was one of the first Japanese car companies to enter the American market in the 60’s. But, the first Hondas weren’t cars because the company sold only small, durable scooters in those days. However, Honda wanted to produce cars. And one of their first models was the cute little roadster they called the S600.
Honda introduced the S600 in 1964 as a two-seater convertible. It had extremely compact dimensions and was lightweight with a small 600cc engine. Although it only delivered 57 HP, it provided a lively performance since it weighed just 1,500 pounds. Interestingly, the S600 had a chain drive, a primitive drivetrain system from motorcycles.
In 1967, Honda introduced the S800. It was an upgraded, more powerful version with a bigger 800 cc engine and 70 HP. It was also available as a coupe. They discontinued the production in 1970 after building more than 22,000 Kei car roadsters and coupes. The car wasn’t initially popular on the American market. However, today, it is highly sought-after.