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Japan's super mini versus England's mini classic - Honda N360 versus Austin Mini

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Created on April 15, 1968

Reading time 9min

Written by:

Heinz Kranz

Photos:

Darin Schnabel - Courtesy RM Auctions

Honda

Archiv BMW AG

Archiv

Darin Schnabel - Courtesy RM Auctions

Honda

Archiv BMW AG

Archiv

Austin Mini kontra Honda N 360/600 - wer gewinnt im englisch-japanischen Kräftemessen im Jahr 1968?

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Austin Mini kontra Honda N 360 im Jahr 1968 - der Honda neigt sich stärker in der Kurve

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Austin Mini kontra Honda N 360 im Jahr 1968 - zwei Fronttiebler im Zweikampf

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Austin Mini kontra Honda N 360 im Jahr 1968 - kurz und klein sind sie beide

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Austin Mini kontra Honda N 360 im Jahr 1968 - sie gleichen sich in ihrer Konzeption, die Rückspiegel sind aber beim Honda besser

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Austin Mini kontra Honda N 360 im Jahr 1968 - ein unverbauter Kofferraum im Honda (rechts)

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Austin Mini kontra Honda N 360 im Jahr 1968 - der Honda (rechts) wirkt fast etwas sportlicher

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Austin Mini kontra Honda N 360 im Jahr 1968 - vier Zylinder sind's im Mini (links), zwei im Honda (rechts)

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Honda N 600 (1967) - baugleich mit dem N 360 bis auf den Motor

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Honda N 600 (1967) - mit 600 cm3 geht es bereits flott voran

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Honda N 600 (1967) - ein Mini aus Japan, mit Zweizylindermotor

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Honda N 600 (1967) - optisch unterschieden sich N 360 und N600 kaum

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Honda N 600 (1967) - in der Schweiz statt der N 360 Variante verkauft

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Honda N 600 (1970) - Titelanwärter Serien-Wagen, Jürg Fässler beim Bergrennen am Gurnigel

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Austin Mini (1960) - der Klassiker unter den Kleinwagen

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Austin Mini Cooper (1965) - mit John Cooper ging es schneller vorwärts

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Austin Mini 850 (1964) - immer noch mit 37 PS, aussenliegenden Türscharnieren und Schiebefenstern

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Austin Mini Cooper S (1965) - die schnellste Möglichkeit, Mini zu fahren

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Austin Mini Cooper S (1965) - mit Hydrolastic-Federung und 76 PS auf 170 km/h

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Austin Mini (1969) - Werbung aus dem Jahre 1969 -

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Honda N 360 / N 600 kontra Austin Mini 850 / 1000 im Jahr 1968 - wer baut den besseren Mini, Japan oder England?

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Honda N600 (1970) - verkauft an der Versteigerung des Bruce Weiner Microcar Museums durch RM Auction am 15. und 16. Februar 2013

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Honda N 600 (1970) - als Lot 272 von RM Auctions bei der Versteigerung des Bruce Weiner Museums im Februar 2013 für USD 23'000 verkauft

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Authi Mini 1275C (1968) - verkauft an der Versteigerung des Bruce Weiner Microcar Museums durch RM Auction am 15. und 16. Februar 2013

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Mini 1275 ccm (1968) - als Lot 290 von RM Auctions an der Versteigerung des Bruce Weiner Museums im Februar 2013 für USD 28'750 verkauft

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Summary

In 1968, the magazine 'hobby' compared the Japanese small car Honda N 360 (and its bigger brother N 600) with the Austin Mini 850 (and its sportier variant Mini 1000). Would the inexpensive Japanese car be able to take on the Mini from England, which has already matured into a classic? Is the Japanese bike suitable for European roads and requirements? The Honda performed excellently, but also revealed concept weaknesses. But even the English car did not master all disciplines of the comparison test with flying colors. This article reproduces the original wording of the test report and supplements the pictures taken at the time with archive photos and photos taken later.

This article contains the following chapters

As different as English and Japanese
Dream car Honda N-360?
Many similarities in the concept
Different engine philosophies
Revving with a roar
Ferrari feeling in the Honda
Elasticity advantage for Austin
Honda with better aerodynamics and less weight
Hydrolastic versus traditional suspension
Austin more neutral than Honda
Two space wonders
Equipment advantages for Honda, stowage advantages for Austin
Conclusion - to each his own - no clear winner
Technical data and comparative test values

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Today, Japanese technology is so highly developed that the Japanese really no longer need to simply copy technical products from the West. At first glance, one might assume that the Honda N-360 resembles the Austin Mini from the front-wheel drive to the rear of the station wagon, from the rack-and-pinion steering to the 10-inch tires. But fortunately we drove the Austin for weeks on our daily routes and also on a non-stop trip to Geneva and back and found out that the two cars only have the Issigonis concept in common, but are otherwise as different as Englishmen and Japanese. It is precisely these differences that our comparative test of two cars is intended to highlight, of which the Austin has long since passed the million production threshold, while the Honda, with 20,000 units per month, is eagerly striving towards that million.

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