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Teenager Ferrari - Sensation Honda Sports 500 in 1963

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Created on May 15, 1963

Reading time 5min

Written by:

Günther Molter

Photos:

Archiv

20

Archiv

20

Honda S 360 (1962) - der Vorgänger des S 500 nimmt die Form vorweg

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Honda S 500 (1963) - Sensation - Sportwagen aus Japan

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Honda S 500 (1963) - im Cockpit fehlt nichts, was sich Sportfahrer erträumen

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Honda S 500 (1963) - für jeden Zylinder ein Vergaser - damit lassen sich aus 500 cm3 40 PS erzeugen

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Honda S 500 (1963) - Kettenkästen als Längsträger hinten - eine originelle Idee

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Honda S 500 (1963) - Vorderachse an Dreieckslenkern mit Drehstabfederung

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Honda S 360 (1962) - wirkt noch etwas eleganter als der Nachfolger S 500

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Honda S 500 (1965) - der hochdrehende Vierzylindermotor

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Honda S 500 (1963) - aufwändige Gemischaufbereitung

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Honda S 500 (1964) - Technik vom feinsten im Motorraum

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Honda S 500 (1963) - Chassis ohne Aufbau

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Honda S 500 (1963) - ausgebauter Vierzylindermotor

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Honda S 500 (1963) - kaum ein anderer Motor drehte so hoch zu jener Zeit

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Honda S 500 (1963) - kompakt bauender Motor mit angeflanschtem Getriebe

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Honda S 500 (1964) - Hinterachsaufhängung offengelegt - gesehen am Genfer Automobilsalon 1964

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Honda S 500 (1964) - Blick auf den Kettenantrieb - gesehen am Genfer Automobilsalon 1964

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Honda S 500 (1963) - Vorderansicht des Bonsai-Roadsters

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Honda S 500 (1963) - äusserst knapp geschnittener Roadster

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Honda S 500 (1963) - Unterscheidet sich vom Nachfolger S 600 durch nur drei Rippen im Kühlergrill

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Honda S 500 (1963) - unterscheidet sich äusserlich nur marginal von seinem Nachfolger S 600

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Summary

In 1963, hardly anyone was interested in Japanese cars and certainly no one expected a sports car from the Far East. The 'hobby' makers were all the more surprised and impressed by the Honda Sports 500, which produced 50 hp from a displacement of just half a liter via a chain drive and also impressed with its attractive bodywork. And they also took a look at the S 360. This report reproduces the original wording of the vehicle presentation at the time and shows the Sports 500, its predecessor Sports 360 and the successor S 600 in historical photos, including a rare AS 285 brochure.

This article contains the following chapters

Mysterious Japanese sports car
Engine as a further development of the Honda motorcycle racing engine
Luxurious small cars for the affluent enthusiast
Drive via chain
Honda compared with Bianchina and Goggomobil coupé
Interesting solutions for the rear axle
Only for the local market?
Technical profile

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

A new sensation: sports cars from the Far East. Do the Japanese want to conquer the world market with them or do these 'pocket cars' still have to grow before they gain the desired recognition? Here it is, the Honda sports car: the fast little Japanese car that has become almost legendary. Experts have been puzzling over it for a year. For a year now, the automotive industry in Europe has been eagerly awaiting this car. But its designer did not reveal its secret. During a trip to Japan, hobby employee Günther Molter had the opportunity to look behind the scenes, or rather, under the hood of the Japanese sports car. Soichiro Honda, whose name has been on everyone's lips at the world's most important motorcycle races for the past three years, built two prototypes:'Honda-Sports 360' and'Honda-Sports 500' - two cars that have caused a sensation in the international motor vehicle industry.

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