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Mini in Japanese - Honda Z in (historic) test

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Created on April 11, 1973

Reading time 5min

Written by:

Heinz Kranz

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Archiv

9

Archiv

9

Honda Z (1973) – hebt bei schneller Kurvenfahrt das innere Hinterrad

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Honda Z (1973) – mattschwarze Heckklappe wie später der Lancia Y10

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Honda Z (1973) – japanische Ausführung mit den Rückspiegeln auf den Kotflügeln

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Honda Z (1973) – kleines Auto mit grossem Stauraum

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Honda Z (1973) – Armaturenbrett mit Drehzahlmesser

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Honda Z (1973) – Reserveradfach am Heck

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Honda Z600 Coupé (1972) - japanischer Verkaufsprospekt

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Honda Z600 Coupé (1972) - je weniger man ausgibt ... (Werbung)

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Honda Z600 Coupé (1972) - all dies unter einem Dach (Werbung)

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Summary

Well, it doesn't have a rear window heater. But apart from that, the tiny Honda Z came as standard with many features that cost extra in large European cars. In addition, the small DOHC twin was a spirited barrel organ and the handling was nimble. This historical test report reveals what else the bonsai coupé was capable of and why it almost didn't make it to Germany.

This article contains the following chapters

Richly equipped
Not an official import
Technical data

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Would you like to have a key experience? Then let a Japanese driver show you the secrets of a Japanese car! And we guarantee you: After half an hour, you'll be convinced that Adam had slit eyes, Eve had yellow skin and Cain and Abel were brought up on jasmine tea. At least that's what happened to us. Notwithstanding the Japanese folk sport of understating things, we had managed to pay attention to two Japanese people. One is called Watanabe and sells Japanese cars in this country, and the other is a Honda Z and threatens to become the Japanese bestseller in the automotive sector. "Sorry, it doesn't have a rear window heater!" We would only understand this profound remark later; at the moment we were more interested in whether this flea, which was only 127 centimeters tall, could even walk. The 40 hp twin-cam engine began its work with a grumble. The first few kilometers of city traffic showed what the wedge-shaped baby knew how to do with its 600 cc. At every set of traffic lights, it raced away from the others, weaving its way through gaps that others barely noticed, and even on the highway, it cheekily joined in the concert of the big boys. With a speedometer deviation of three km/h, the Honda Z still managed an impressive 127 km/h without overdoing it.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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