1967 Honda S800 Is The S2000’s Grandfather, Revs To 10,000 RPM

[cawimmer430]

1967 Honda S800 Is The S2000's Grandfather, Revs To 10,000 RPM

It's time to check those finances again, because another exciting car is coming up for sale. It's a 1967 Honda S800 Coupe and promises to go easy on your wallet.

Advertised by SilverstoneAuctions for their Heythrop Classic Car Sale on May 11 in Chipping Norton, UK, it's expected to sell for £15,000-£20,000 ($19,519-$26,025/€17,336-€23,115). That's new Ford Fiesta money in Britain, yet it could get you this great, tiny sports car instead.



The successor of the S500 and S600, and the forefather of the widely popular S2000, the S800 was presented at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1965. Power came from a 0.8-liter four-cylinder engine, which could be revved up to 10,000 rpm. The 70 horsepower available on tap allowed it to reach a top speed of almost 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).

This example came to life two years after the first S800 was introduced and was subjected to a full body-off restoration. The work was completed between 2014 and 2017 and saw the engine being overhauled two years ago by the S800 Club Chairman, who is a former Rolls-Royce engineer.

As a result, the car is in very good overall condition, with the red paintwork and chrome trim shining. The black interior is clean and so is the engine bay. The only drawback is that this is a right-hand drive model, but this is something its future owner will have to live with, as given the rarity of these cars, nobody knows when another one will be in search of a new home again.


Link: https://www.carscoops.com/2019/04/1967-honda-s800-is-the-s2000s-grandfather-revs-to-10000-rpm/

[CaminoRacer]

It's over 9000!

[12,000 RPM]

Horsepower: 70
Torque: N/A

Very cool though

[Soup DeVille]

Horsepower: 70
Torque: N/A

Very cool though

49 pounding little feet.

Which for a car that small, might be alright.

[FoMoJo]

Chain drive?


This could be the Great Grandfather of the Honda S800...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsdWgmp4TaQ

[Soup DeVille]

Chain drive?

Quite the little buzz-bucket.

Yes. Just like the Eldorado.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Yes. Just like the Eldorado.

In that case, GMC is also chain drive 

[Soup DeVille]

In that case, GMC is also chain drive 

Is it? News to me.

[MX793]

The old Honda sports cars basically had motorcycle power trains.  Low displacement, lots of revs, chain drives.  Only thing missing is a sequential gearbox.

[12,000 RPM]

49 pounding little feet.

Which for a car that small, might be alright.

It has a worse p/w ratio than my old Civic. I guess it's about the experience. The 60s were a different time

[Soup DeVille]

It has a worse p/w ratio than my old Civic. I guess it's about the experience. The 60s were a different time

I guarantee its a more visceral drive than your Civic, your 350Z, or your G.

[FoMoJo]

It was in line with the Austin Healey Sprite and MG Midget of that time; though the Sprite and the Midget came out in the late '50s.

[MX793]

It was in line with the Austin Healey Sprite and MG Midget of that time; though the Sprite and the Midget came out in the late '50s.

It would have been quicker than a lot of the British roadsters of the era.

[FoMoJo]

It would have been quicker than a lot of the British roadsters of the era.

The tiny ones, likely.  They were around 1000 cc of pretty lame technology of the time.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Is it? News to me.

I mean, the camshaft is chain driven, and the front driveshaft is chain driven, so...

[Xer0]

I so wish I had the space to get an S2K.  Right now my carport spot is only for 1.5 cars which makes it useless for two cars 

[Eye of the Tiger]

I so wish I had the space to get an S2K.  Right now my carport spot is only for 1.5 cars which makes it useless for two cars 

S2K is only half a car, really, and it's the only one that needs to be under a port.

[Xer0]

S2K is only half a car, really, and it's the only one that needs to be under a port.

I've thought about how to make it work.  S2K + Civic Hatch is probably ideal situation.  But I just don't think its in the cards.  Right now the Civic Type R is the front runner, assuming I can't find a slightly used M2 at a good price.

[MrH]

I've thought about how to make it work.  S2K + Civic Hatch is probably ideal situation.  But I just don't think its in the cards.  Right now the Civic Type R is the front runner, assuming I can't find a slightly used M2 at a good price.

Honda Accord + S2000

[Xer0]

My dad has the 1.5 Sport and its a very nice car.  You get a ton for your money.  But man, its sooooo much bigger of a car than I actually need so Civic Hatch still wins 

[Char]

Horsepower: 70
Torque: N/A

Very cool though

It's over 9000!

[MX793]

The tiny ones, likely.  They were around 1000 cc of pretty lame technology of the time.

The Honda's power/weight stacks up favorably compared to an MGB, which was 1.5x the weight but only 1.35x the power.

[FoMoJo]

The Honda's power/weight stacks up favorably compared to an MGB, which was 1.5x the weight but only 1.35x the power.

I would compare it to the MG Midget Mk.I, 1000cc, 46 bhp, torque 65 ft. lbs., weight a bit over 1600 lbs.  Less bhp but more torque; which is more useful overall.

I had one back in the 60s.  A bit uncomfortable, but fun to drive.

[MX793]

I would compare it to the MG Midget Mk.I, 1000cc, 46 bhp, torque 65 ft. lbs., weight a bit over 1600 lbs.  Less bhp but more torque; which is more useful overall.

I had one back in the 60s.  A bit uncomfortable, but fun to drive.

Technically, the mini roadsters like the Sprite, Midget, and Spitfire were Honda's direct competitors.  The Honda had short gearing, which would offset the difference in crank torque.  Like a motorcycle (or Formula engine of the time), the motor was built to reliably run at higher revs.  IIRC, they had a roller bearing crank which is pretty much unheard of in production, road-going automobiles.

[12,000 RPM]

I so wish I had the space to get an S2K.  Right now my carport spot is only for 1.5 cars which makes it useless for two cars 

Sounds like you need a motorcycle.

[Xer0]

Sounds like you need a motorcycle.

Um......no.