Vehicle Description
Chassis No. Z600-1017764
Before the Civic took Honda's name to the top of sales charts,
there was the original Honda 600 kei car. One of Honda's first
forays into the four-wheeled export market was the "N" two-door
sedan and the sportier "Z" fastback coupe. The Z600 was shorter,
featured rounded styling, and a better-equipped interior. Both
featured an air-cooled, straight-twin motorcycle engine with a
four-speed manual transmission and could rev to an amazing 9,000
rpm.
This 1974 Honda Z600 is finished in Pop Orange with a Black
interior and is one of 918 examples sold to the European market. As
a European specification car, this Z600 is free of the
U.S.-mandated chrome front grille bar and side markers, providing
an even cleaner design than its American market brethren.
The car was first delivered to France and then imported to Germany
in April 1974, where it was registered to an owner in Hockenheim.
The Z600 was sold with a 250-cc motor, meeting Germany's "Klasse 4"
regulation, a class of vehicle that did not require a license to
operate on public roads. In 1976, the car sold to the owner of a
Honda dealership in the area, was decommissioned from road use in
1995, and remained in the dealer's showroom until the owner passed
away. In 2023, the car was offered for public sale before joining
the consignor's U.S.-based collection. The Z600's paint is largely
original and the interior remains factory original. Despite being
51 years old and showing 41,141 kilometers, this Z600 stands as a
well-preserved and authentic example of Honda's early
craftsmanship.
Although small in nature, vintage kei cars have begun to command
big attention thanks to their rarity stateside and fun-loving
nature. The Z600 is among the most desirable kei cars; an important
model in Honda's history as the brand's leap of faith into Western
markets that would land them among the titans of the industry by
the end of the 1970s. Thanks to its vibrant paint job, originality,
and rare European specification, this car is a prime example for
any collector looking to add a charming kei car to their stable.
It's an uncommon sight to witness on the roads, but surely one that
will put a smile on any onlooker's face.
