Auction Date: 26 May 2012

Lot 223 - 1997 Honda NSX

• Registration: P60NSX
• Chassis Number: JHMNA12800T400119
• Engine Number: D30A4-5000040
• Odometer reading: 100,420
• Estimate: £14,000 - £17,000

The Honda NSX was produced between 1990 and 2005 and is equipped with a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, powered by an all-aluminium V6 engine featuring Honda's Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) system. In 1984 Honda commissioned the Italian car designer Pininfarina to design the HPX (Honda Pininfarina Xperimental), which had a mid-mounted 2.0 litre V6 configuration. Following Honda's decision to pursue the project, the management informed the engineers that the new car would have to be as good as anything coming from both Italy and Germany. The HPX concept car evolved into the NSX (New Sportscar eXperimental). The original performance target for the NSX was the Ferrari 328; subsequently revised to the 348 as the design neared completion. The bodywork design had been specifically researched after studying the 360 degree visibility inside an F-16 fighter jet. The car's strong chassis rigidity and handling capabilities were the results of Ayrton Senna's input with NSX's chief engineers while testing the NSX prototype car at Honda's Suzuka Circuit during the development stages. The cars were assembled by approximately 200 of Honda's highest-skilled and most experienced personnel; a team of hand-picked staff with a minimum of ten years assembly experience employed from various other Honda facilities to run the NSX operation. Today the NSX is still considered by owners of the marque as one of the most reliable exotic cars ever manufactured with many examples comfortably exceeding 100,000 miles without serious reliability issues.

First registered in January 1997, this striking Honda NSX was purchased by the current vendor in November 2006 from John Banks Honda in Ipswich; the vehicle having covered 76,600 miles at that time. During the subsequent 24,000 miles the car has been very well maintained, returning to the supplying dealer for the necessary service work. Finished in Indy Yellow pearl with black leather trim, this automatic NSX is supplied with a V5 registration document and an MoT test certificate valid until 8^th November 2012. A modern supercar and one that looks as attractive today as it did when launched 20 years ago.