Honda’s First Car in the U.S. is Getting a Special Makeover

In Southern California, Honda N600 Specialist Tim Mings has made a living exclusively by fixing and restoring old Honda N600s and Z600s – the first models ever brought stateside for the brand. As the predecessor of the 1973 Honda Civic, the N600 began life as the lowest-priced, most economical car in the USA, with a starting MSRP of $1,795 (including prep and freight) and up to 40 highway miles per gallon. The car had an aluminum engine which could achieve 9,000 RPM and reach speeds of 81 miles per hour. A simple yet skillfully designed vehicle, the N600 embodied characteristics shared with today’s Hondas, and helped pave the way for the brand’s legendary reputation for quality and reliability.

Mings developed a rightful affinity for the little car and its loyal following, saying he’s worked on more than 1,000 N600s and Z600s in his own lifetime. As a collector, he has owned plenty of these cars as well, but none quite as special as #Hondaserialone, a 1969 Honda N600. Mings came upon the car by accident, having owned it for several years before dusting off the serial number “N600-1000001” – a true feat considering that, of the first 50 N600s that Honda brought to the U.S., only three still survive.

When Honda caught wind of the find, they knew they had something unique. Working with Mings, the automaker launched a social media series aptly named ‘Serial One.’ The weekly series, which can be found on Honda’s social channels and at www.serialone.com, documents the car’s journey to make an incredible comeback, sharing Ming’s progress and some special surprises along the way.

“We’re so proud to bring the story of Honda’s roots in the U.S. to life through the restoration of this vehicle,” said Alicia Jones, Honda social media manager. “Finding Serial One, the very first Honda N600 test vehicle in America, and documenting the meticulous process of bringing it back to life really embodies the Honda spirit. We can’t wait for viewers to come along with us on this journey.”

For Schomp Honda, the journey hits close to home. Many of our employees and clients being multi-generation Honda owners, we can empathize with the emotional ties of not only this car, but of the brand. As the first Honda dealership in the state of Colorado, we saw plenty of early Civics, Accords, and more come through our inventory. Through the years, watching these classics pull through our service drive has only deepened our love and respect for the brand.

Stay tuned to our blog, Facebook page, and more as we work to likewise document and follow Ming’s and Honda’s work.