For decades, the world of the mid-engined sports car had been dominated by Italian manufacturers such as Ferrari and Lamborghini. Honda looked at that market segment, decided that they wanted a piece of it, so set about creating a car that was a game-changer in the segment. The initial target was to meet or exceed the performance benchmarks set by the Ferrari 328, but in a package that was more refined, and easier to maintain. Honda was able to achieve these stated aims, but in the 18-years that the car was offered for sale in the USA, they were only able to sell 9,000 cars. This was a long way short of their own expectations. This particular NSX was built in 1991, which was the model’s most successful year (1,940 cars sold), and appears to be in very good condition. It is located in Holliston, Massachusetts, and is listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN price of $55,500 for the NSX.

The NSX set new standards in a number of areas, not the least of which was production materials. It was the first mass-produced vehicle to be constructed with an all-aluminum body, which helped to provide the car with both low weight and incredible torsional rigidity. It also meant that rust is not an issue with an NSX. As with the Ferrari, I’ve always felt that an NSX presents at its best when finished in red, and the Formula Red and Black combination of this car looks first-rate. The owner says that apart from a repaint of the bumpers, all of the paint is original. Looking through the photos, it’s pretty hard to find any fault with the panels or paint, while the glass and trim also look good. The only non-standard items are the wheels, which are from a 1994 model NSX. However, the original wheels are included with the car.

The interior of the NSX presents very nicely for a 28-year-old car with 43,000 miles on the clock. The original factory stereo has been replaced by an aftermarket touch-screen unit, but the rest of the interior looks to be original. The leather upholstery looks good, while the rest of the trim appears to be in first-class condition. Apart from performance, it was in the area of creature comforts that Honda intended to match or beat its Ferrari competition. As a result, the NSX was fitted with power windows, power locks, cruise control, and air conditioning. These additions set Ferrari back on their heals, as they discovered that there were buyers who craved both performance and comfort. The impact was profound throughout the supercar world, and it was this combination of performance and comfort that eventually spawned cars such as the Audi R8 and the McLaren MP4-12C.

With the exception of the products produced by Porsche, the majority of the supercar world is populated by mid-engined cars, as these have the ability to provide perfect weight distribution. The NSX is no exception, but rather than follow the path towards a V8, Honda engineers produced an incredible V6 that proved to be a match for the V8 unit in the Ferrari 328. The all-aluminum 2,977cc engine that found its way into the NSX produces 276hp, some 16hp more than the Ferrari. In addition, with a marginally lower weight, Honda was just able to achieve their stated aims of providing superior performance and acceleration when compared to the 328. The engine in this NSX drives through the standard 5-speed manual transmission (an automatic transmission wasn’t introduced until 1994). The only deviation from standard is the fitment of a stainless steel exhaust system. The owner also says that the timing belt and water pump were replaced in 2016.

To delve below the surface of the NSX is to discover some incredible engineering. As well as the extensive use of aluminum throughout the vehicle, it is the idea of using titanium connecting rods that makes you realize just how focused the company was on being able to combine light vehicle weight with bullet-proof mechanical strength. The NSX was not the sales success that Honda had hoped for, but this lack of success has contributed to the relative rarity of the vehicle, and should ensure that this car will become a future classic. That should make it worth consideration for any collector.