A Homebuilt Honda Hot Rod

Now that you guys have had an overall look at what this year’s Japanese Classic Car Show was like, it’s time to start focusing in on some of my favorite individual cars of the event. At JCCS, old Hondas are typically far outnumbered by their Toyota and Datsun counterparts, but here we’ve got a 1972 N600 that may have been the most impressive build of the entire show.

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The car was built by Dean Williams out of Bakersfield, California, and he drove the little Honda a couple hours south down Interstate 5 and through the maze of LA freeways to reach Queen Mary Events Park. That would be a bit strenuous for a stock N600, but Dean’s car is far from stock. In fact, despite its relatively original appearance, there aren’t many factory N600 parts left on this thing.

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The N600 originally came equipped with a 600cc air-cooled motorcycle engine, and Dean’s car is still bike-powered. Only this 800cc fuel injected motor came from his 1998 Honda Interceptor and it makes 115 horsepower at 12,000rpm. That’s quite a jump from the 36 horsepower you got with a stock N600.

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And while the original N600 sent its power to the front wheels, Dean figured he’d go ahead and convert his to rear-wheel drive when he did the engine swap.

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To do this he had to fabricate a driveshaft tunnel which feeds the power back to a 7.5-inch Ford IRS rear end. Gear changes are made via the original bike gearbox with custom paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.

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And how about the suspension? Well, Dean got a little bit crazy and fitted heavily-narrowed Mazda Miata subframes in both the front and rear to give the car fully independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes.

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Other trick details include bucket seats from a Polaris RZR ATV and front and rear bumpers that were customized from first-generation Camaro parts.

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What I like most though, is that despite all the incredible work done to this thing, it still looks very much like an N600. It’s only when you get close that you realize this Honda isn’t like the others.

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Whether it’s on the freeway or a canyon road, I can only imagine the look on people’s faces when they see this old Honda microcar overtake them. Hats off to Dean for an incredible piece of homebuilt engineering!

Mike Garrett
Instagram: japanifornia_media
mike@speedhunters.com

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1

That is hilarious!

2

Omg sleeper! Luv it!

3

I can imagine this would be super fun to drive if you could keep it straight.

4

Incredible. 

but why is there 2 fuel tanks?

5
Muhammad Haqy Aunoora

I like the the sort of standard look though

6

The noise must be interesting!

7

Freaking awesome! Way to stick with the gear driven cams over the VTEC engine! If only there were some video of this car tearing it up in the mtns/track!

8

@LUU I'm guessing the bike gas tank isn't holding gas but is acting as part of the airbox.

9

@LUU I'm guessing the bike gas tank isn't holding gas but is acting as part of the airbox.

10

I was lucky enough to see/hear this amazing piece of work in Reno at Hot August Nights. He beat the doors off everybody in the autocross event. Even had the chance to talk to the owner for a while, super cool dude.

11

Did you ask how he manages reverse?

12

OscarPais It's possible that he uses the original transmission which would have reverse. I've also always thought that for a bike powered car, you could use the car's transmission in series with the motorcycle trans. Except only shift the cars transmission for overdrive and reverse (similar to how one would use a 4wd transfer case).

13

OscarPais It's possible that he uses the original transmission which would have reverse. I've also always thought that for a bike powered car, you could use the car's transmission in series with the motorcycle trans. Except only shift the cars transmission for overdrive and reverse (similar to how one would use a 4wd transfer case).

16

BettyWhite510 That is awesome!

17

I didn't ask him that but I watched him pull it out in reverse from a parking spot.

18

I didn't ask him that but I watched him pull it out in reverse from a parking spot.

19

A street car with a 12,000 rpm redline, that is just Awesome
Where's some pics of the suspension? You tell us about this awesome suspension and drivetrain but no pics?

20

@mike garret yea he was by far one of the most down to earth guys at the car show. I'm still amazed at what he did with the suspension!

21

A lot of the hot rod guys were pretty torqued over the little honda out there.

22

Very cool and unique build....all do It would have been cooler with the Sixth Generation 2002 to 2013 VFR 800 RC46 Engine. So that he can have the VTEC.
But still awesome.

23

My big brother had a one of these with tuned carbs in '75, revved like crazy.

24

Dean's build log: http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=14452Complete with pictures, great read!

25

Love the paddle shifters and the motorbike tank! :)

26

Saw this at hot august nights and was one of my favorite cars. Wish I could have seen it on the autocross.

27

A Honda with a tunnel in the middle!! xD

28
Fabrice Carpentier

Looks Like an old Mini Cooper

29
Fabrice Carpentier

Looks Like an old Mini Cooper

30

romangrafix  Highly unlikely. The VFR800's came out in the 90's.

31

N600 is from around '70 though..

32

joshwfifty5 romangrafix 
I was referring to the N600. He bought it from a Honda dealer who club raced it.

33

joshwfifty5 romangrafix 
I was referring to the N600. He bought it from a Honda dealer who club raced it.

34

Interesting. Go on.

35

Interesting. Go on.

36

Here's a video of that car from Hot August Nights. I took the video, feel free to post it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkiZqwLx6iI

37

BettyWhite510 He had a lot of support out there. I was one of them, hence me posting this video to youtube!  Ha ha... They polled the audience on who they thought should have won and everyone voted for this guy over an AC Cobra.

38

BettyWhite510 Same here! Talked to him for quite a while. Very cool guy!

39

apex_DNA It just covers the engine, because of all the wires from the fuel injection. Talked to him for a while.

40

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