A Trip To The Honda Museum
Two weeks ago, Honda kind enough to throw open the doors of their museum in Torrance, California, which houses a collection of significant vehicles sold by the company. There’s something for everyone here, from the smallest N600 to the NSX, along with all sorts of detritus located in a secret corner of the warehouse space. Allow us to take you on a virtual tour below the jump.
The N600 – one of Honda’s first efforts in North America, and a striking doppleganger for the original Mini, no? It wouldn’t surprise me if Honda was “inspired” by Sir Alec’s creation.
The funkier looking Z600.
Speaking as someone who was born long after these cars had oxidized, I was amazed at how thin the door panels were compared to modern cars.
In the corner were some wheels and tires for a 1973 Civic. They don’t look much bigger than my go-kart tires.
A 1973 Civic. That same year, one of my Grandfather’s congregants approached him and said “Rabbi, I am selling a new car, from Japan. It’s called the Honda Civic.” My grandfather was a die-hard Detroit guy up until then, but he took a chance on Mr. Reddinger’s new car. People laughed at him…until winter came, and he had no problems with traction. Or filling up the gas tank. My grandparents drove the car until it literally fell apart. My grandfather’s last car was a 1991 Accord that he purchased off my Dad.
A Civic wagon.
The interior is, as Bring-A-Trailer would say, “period correct”. I haven’t seen red/burgundy upholstery since the early 1990’s Chevrolet Lumina.
Hang on to your hands, B&B. A brown wagon with a manual transmission. This one has 68 original miles.
I am digging the houndstooth fabric seat covers. It looks like one of my father’s old sport coats.
A Civic Si hatch.
These EF sedans were a staple of my childhood. Every year, my mother would get a new one, always in white.
Sadly, this car is automatic.
Inside the museum is a replica of the first American Honda store at 4077 West Pico in Los Angeles. Outside sit an N600 and something on two wheels.
Inside is a veritable treasure trove of Honda goodies…
All those 10 Best awards for the Accord? They have to go somewhere.
Badges of all kinds.
An oil painting of Senna during the McLaren years
Old brochures
And even this diorama. I suppose that’s Asimo about to dock a spacecraft with a Ridgeline.
Across from the Civics was a row dedicated to the Accord. What a metamorphosis it’s gone through, from hatchback
To brown sedan
To tan sedan (with flip-up lights)
To station wagon (another relic of the Kreindler family. My brother and I threw up in the back of countless examples of these)
To coupe. And they all had 4-cylinder engines.
Acura wasn’t forgotten either.
Nor were Honda’s greener efforts.
But this is what I was really here to see.
Next to the Insights and fuel cell concepts sat a 1991 NSX with 80,000+ miles on it. Almost like a middle finger to the green cars. The outside looked pretty, but the inside was actually fairly worn and ratty.
Not that it matters. Honda has this 78-mile 2004 example as well.
And what might be the last unmolested Integra Type-R.
The iconic RealTime Racing cars were in attendance
As well as a more dubious example of a “race car”
This, however, is the real deal.
A beautiful example of a CRX Si.
Alongside it, an earlier Si as well as a real-life Mugen version.
Behind them, an original ad for the U.S. built Accord coupe, which was exported to Japan briefly.
I asked the curator if I could drive an NSX during my visit. Unfortunately, they didn’t have enough time to prepare one, but they did have this kicking around. So, you’ll have to excuse me.
Arigato gozaimasu, Honda-san
Thank you to American Honda and Brad Long for opening their doors to TTAC!
More by Derek Kreindler
Comments
Join the conversation
I bought my first Civic in 1973 and subsequently owned a 1977 five speed (back when five speeds were considered "sporty"), an 1984 wagon, and a 1989 wagon. My 1984 wagon was just like the one pictured, tan with tan interior. It was the first car I ever put 100,000 miles on. That car had a lot of neat features not seen any other iteration such as a pullout storage tray under the front passenger seat, split rear seats that could be individually folded, and IIRC, removed. It also had that pop-up vent on the dashboard. If you had air conditioning and popped up the vent and aimed it at your face you could end up with frostbite. My 1989 was the first car I ever put 200,000 miles on, and when I finally got rid of it, it still started and ran as well as it did on the first day I bought it. It burned absolutely no oil and still got over 30 miles to the gallon. I was disappointed, however, that some of the clever features of the 84, such as the under seat storage tray, didn't make the cut on the redesign. Alas, they dropped the Civic wagon on the next redesign and I have not bought a Civic (or a Honda) since. IMO, the CRV was not a replacement for the Civic wagon, even though the salesman tried hard to convince me it was. The Mercury Tracer wagon that replaced it was a nice car and fun to drive, but nowhere near as mechanically reliable. Thanks for the memories.
Concerning the SCCA Honda Civic, #43: I had the pleasure of knowing the man, Bob Boileau, who built that car and raced it: it never saw a street mile, but was built from a race car from the git-go! It was magnificently-driven and another late friend of mine, David Miller, drove an equally-fierce Datsun 1200, and it was a delight watching Miller and Boileau go at it, hammer and tongs, then afterwards, always buy each other a beer and laugh about the race!