by Legendary Honda S800 compact sports car prepares for auction
You are unlikely to encounter a Honda S800 M Coupe on the roads often today, but for fans of small and light Japanese sports cars, this specimen deserves special attention.
Compact and full of character, the coupe version was created with export in mind and competed with cars such as the Austin-Healey Sprite and Triumph Spitfire. According to experts, it may be more exciting than anything in Honda’s modern lineup.
The car is equipped with a high-revving 791 cc engine producing 69 hp. This Honda S800 was initially delivered to Belgium. It later returned to Japan and underwent a full-scale restoration.
Auction and Restoration
This tiny sports car will be put up for auction in Japan this January, with the possibility of international export. Initially created for the Belgian market, it later returned to Japan, where it underwent detailed restoration.
Thanks to this restoration, the car looks as good as it did in 1968 when it rolled off the assembly line. Therefore, it is no surprise that the expected selling price is between 7 and 9 million yen (which is approximately 44,000 – 57,000 US dollars at the current exchange rate).
Tiny Engine with Big Character
The heart of the car is a tiny 791 cc (0.8-liter) naturally aspirated inline four-cylinder engine, producing 69 horsepower in “as new” condition. Today these figures may seem modest, but they were enough to propel the S800 to 99 mph (160 km/h). However, the true value lies in the driving experience.
What sets this engine apart is its high-revving character, a trait inherited directly from Honda’s motorcycle experience. The S800’s engine could rev well beyond 8,500 rpm, with some versions reportedly reaching 9,500 rpm. It’s a small, happy roar, lively and unafraid of the tachometer’s redline.
Lightness and Design
It’s also worth remembering that the S800 is a very, very light car. In fact, its weight is only 1,587 pounds (720 kg), so undoubtedly, driving it on a mountain road must be an absolute pleasure. Paired with the small engine is a four-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels.
Then comes the design – it’s an unfiltered dose of 1960s charm. Despite the tiny engine, the S800 has a surprisingly long hood, marked by a prominent bulge on the passenger side. Chrome details are present everywhere: framing the headlights, outlining the radiator grille, and wrapping around the rear bumper. All this is mounted on beautiful small black wheels that perfectly match the car’s proportions.
Collectible Value
The odometer reading is 66,438 kilometers (41,282 miles), which is an extremely low figure for a car of this age. This, along with the restoration, makes it an attractive option for collectors or for those wishing to own a piece of Japanese sports history.
For those fascinated by tiny engines and high revs, this little Honda might turn out to be a dream. This auction lot is a rare opportunity to acquire not just a car, but a restored historical artifact that embodies Honda’s engineering philosophy from a time when sportiness was defined not by power, but by lightweight construction, precise handling, and the unique character of an engine that inherited the spirit of racing motorcycles.
