Honda

The world's largest motorcycle manufacturer did not make its first car until 1963, and even then it owed much of its mechanical underpinnings to the two wheeled variety. Founded by Soichiro Honda, one of nine children from a poor family, he was a gifted engineer and astute businessman. Apprenticed in a car repair shop, got his first chance to actually drive a car during the Toyko earthquake of 1923, then ferrying people and supplies around the devastated city.

Dabbled with racing cars, but his big break came after World War 2 when he realised that few could afford a car, and so turned his attention to the manufacture of ex-military two-stoke engines fitted to bicycles. Manufactured their first motorcycle, the Dream, in 1949, which was fitted with a four-stoke engine. Launched the chain driven 500 sports car in 1963, subsequent iterations becoming more conventional, and more popular.

1963 - 1966
A plaque in the Honda Collection Hall recalls the days when Soichiro Honda went from being a motorcycle manufacturer to a maverick carmaker. "I didn't want to build a car like everyone else's". More>>

1965 - 1979
Undercutting the Mini Cooper and Triumph Spitfire in price, the vehicle soon made in-roads into the more traditional British sports car category and the rest was history. More>>

1968 - 1973
The Honda Scamp changed a lot of pre-conceived ideas about mini cars with mini engines – the concept of which had become a little maligned by the likes of the Glas Goggomobil and Lightburn Zeta. More>>

1972 -
To break into the lucrative international markets Honda needed to produce a vehicle perceived as 'economical', having the appeal of the venerable Mini, while offering new levels of ride and comfort. More>>

1991 -
In 1991 Honda was to release undoubtedly their finest car, and a worthy flagship for the marque, the mighty NSX. Graced with sleek and purposeful styling, the NSX was embodied with a sublime rear-wheel drive chassis and a fantastic mid-mounted V6 engine - the only thing lacking was the cache of its European rivals. More>>

1999 -
The Honda S2000 produces more power per litre than any other non-turbo production engine and sends the rev counter needle sweeping around to the 9,000 mark. Honda built this remarkable two-litre car to celebrate its 50 year anniversary. More>>