They say you meet the nicest people on a Honda. Though they were talking about folks riding a motorcycle, I bet it also holds true for our Pick of the Day, a 1972 Honda 600 Coupe. It is currently listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Morgantown, Pennsylvania.
I remember when I saw my first Honda—it was during the second gas crisis. I caught sight of this little car with funny parking lights in Stone Harbor, NJ. (I’m guessing it wasn’t truly my first, but it became my first upon this youthful awakening.) In subsequent years, I’d occasionally see a 600 or the earlier 600 Sedan, but they were quite uncommon on the East Coast. These Hondas always came off to my eyes as being half-baked cars until the Civic appeared on the scene.
The front-wheel-drive 600 Coupe was produced from 1970-74, though in the U.S. it was available through 1972. Those sold in North America were powered by an air-cooled, 36-horsepower 598cc SOHC straight-twin, though in other markets it was available as the Z360 and powered by a 354cc SOHC. Interestingly, for 1972, the engines were converted to water-cooling. Rack and pinion steering, four-speed synchromesh, power-assisted front discs, radial tires, front bucket seats, tachometer, and left-side racing mirror were standard equipment.
We know how Honda advertised its motorcycles, but when it came to cars, Honda advertised the 600 Coupe with the tagline, “It makes a lot of sense.” The ad campaign focused on the kinds of things one could do with the money saved instead of buying a Chevy (and, starting at around $1,700, a lot could be saved). Plus, the 600 Coupe was able to achieve 40 miles per gallon, which added up to a few more bucks towards an Acapulco trip. Top speed was 75 mph. If you wanted to buy one, all you had to do was visit an authorized Honda motorcycle dealer.
The Honda Civic was introduced for 1973, which is what killed the 600 (both Coupe and Sedan). The Civic was longer, wider, taller, and featured a longer wheelbase, all better suited for American audiences. With a 1.2-liter inline-four, the Civic was more of a fully realized vehicle, though one that didn’t qualify as a “Kei car” like the smaller-engined Hondas that preceded it. When the first gas crisis appeared, Honda was ready, and its quality outshone what was coming from Ford’s Pinto and Chevrolet’s Vega.
This Nassau Blue 1972 Honda 600 Coupe is “what Honda called “economy with flair.” “Ten-inch silver painted steel wheels have a central ‘H’ badge hub on them and are wrapped with 145SR10 rubber from the early 1990s,” says the seller. Inside, “high-back buckets are in very nice condition and sport textured knitted tuck and roll inserts, and smooth vinyl bolsters and headrests.” Adds the seller, “The car started right up and ran smoothly. On the test track it moved and handled nicely.” The standard four-speed manual handles the shifting chores.
Though restored, this little Honda is beginning to show rust, and pitting on the chrome. “Will need some TLC, especially on the exterior,” concludes the seller, so be sure to check out the gallery in the ad. For $8,500, this is a novel collectible for a nice person who can enjoy it while improving it along the way.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
