Honda S500 Explained

Honda S500
Manufacturer:Honda
Production:1963 - 1964
1,363 produced
Assembly:Hamamatsu factory,[1] Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Successor:Honda S600
Class:Sports car
Kei car
Body Style:2-door roadster
Length:33001NaN1
Width:14301NaN1
Height:12001NaN1
Wheelbase:20001NaN1
Layout:Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout
Engine:531 cc DOHC I4
Transmission:4-speed manual
Related:Honda T500

The S500 was the second production car from Honda (and its first passenger automobile), released in 1963, following the T360 truck into production by four months. It was a larger-displacement variant of the S360 roadster which, though developed for sale in 1962, was never produced.

Design

Like the S360, the S500 used a high-tech engine developed from Honda's motorcycle expertise.[2] It was a dual overhead cam straight-4 with four Keihin carburetors and a 9500 rpm redline. Originally intended to displace 492 cc, the production version was 531 cc and produced 44hp at 8000 rpm.[3] At the time of its introduction, its dimensions and engine displacement were larger than established kei car regulations.

The S500 used a four-speed manual transmission. A four-wheel independent suspension was also novel, with torsion bars at the front and chain-driven, coilover-sprung trailing arms at the rear.

The car was priced at $1,275 in 1963. An optional fiberglass hardtop was also available. 1,363 S500s were produced from October 1963 through September 1964.

The S500 saw competitors during its introduction, such as the Datsun Fairlady, the Toyota Sports 800, and the Daihatsu Compagno.

Notes

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Honda Global Launching the S360 and T360 / 1962 . Honda . 12 February 2020 . en.
  2. Web site: Sporting Hondas – Classic Buyer's Guide . Sep 21, 2010 . New Zealand Classic Car magazine . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111111143543/http://www.classiccar.co.nz/articles/sporting-hondas-classic-buyers-guide-226 . 2011-11-11 .
  3. Buckley, Martin.The Illustrated Book of Classic Cars. Anness Publishing Ltd, 1997, 2003, p. 146.