Given the success of the Honda S2000, and the announcement of the new 2008 S2000 CR package, it's time to take a look at the history of the "S" line. The S500, S600, and S800 were the '60s predecessors of today's S2000, although with performance and size more appropriate to that era.
I've added a new section to my S2000Enthusiast.com site, with >120 detailed images of the S600. The 1966 model shown had a .6 liter engine that revved to a redline of 9500 RPM, backed up by a 4-speed manual transmission. When you see the car run, when you hear it, and when you drive it you are immediately taken with how much it sounds like and drives like an S2000. Although the 0-60 is well over 13 seconds, and the top speed is only 90 MPH (versus ~5 seconds flat and a top speed of the high 150s for the S2000).
The S600 was preceded by the half-liter S500, and followed by the S800 - the last of the line. Lack of emissions capability and future crash standards would kill the car, and the concept wouldn't return for 30 years. Nonetheless, 13000 S600s were produced and the much-improved S800 was also very successful. It is thought that less than 20 "S" Hondas were imported into the United States, and it's not known how many survive.
The S600 pictured here is located at the Lane Museum in Nashville, TN. It's completely unrestored, and is driven on occasion (as are nearly all of the cars in the Lane Museum). If you haven't been to the Lane Museum, you owe it to yourself. This is a great museum for the enthusiast!
Honda, Toyota, and Nissan all offered small and economical front-engine rear wheel drive sports cars. A 1967 Toyota Sports 800 is shown parked in front of a 1966 Honda S600 in this image:
Safety, emissions, and a yearn for even more power and handling ended this age. Honda didn't play again for 30 years, however Nissan brought out the famous 240Z and Toyota the ultra-rare 2000GT.
Go to the S2000Enthusiast.com site and look in the new "History" section for the full report and set of pictures.
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