If you wanted a supercar in the '80s, you needed three things: money, driving skills, and the fax number of a good chiropractor. That's because high-performance machines of the past were hard to drive fast and uncomfortable in equal measure. But one car dared to question the status quo. A team of engineers wondered if it was possible to combine classic sports car looks with the manners of a Japanese daily. The world of supercars would never be the same. The Supercar And Exotics Market In The '80s Was Hard Work Bring a Trailer Supercars, and even GTs, of the '80s tended to be wild, with huge V12 motors, and no driver aids to step in when the car stepped out of line. The cabins were cramped and hard to see out of, with nowhere to put your Aviator Ray Bans, let alone a cup holder. Luggage space was non-existent, and the controls needed a daily session down Muscle Beach to get to grips with. But, let's be honest, at a time when Arnold Schwarzenegger was fast becoming one of Hollywood's best loved actors, power and charisma in the '80s certainly went a lot further than delicacy and tactility.As Jeremey Clarkson said of the Lamborghini Countach: "Having one of those outside your house in 1971 must have been like having an F22 Raptor on your drive today." But with the more socially aware '90s around the corner, one carmaker decided that the time had come for a fast car that didn't need a superhero to drive it. Honda Decided To Rewrite The Rulebook Of Sports And Supercars Acura At a press conference held at the Drake Hotel on February 9, 1989, Acura announced that it had been working on a new type of mid-engine exotic. Introducing the NS-X Concept, the company said this was the first car of its type without European pedigree. In other words, Japan was doing things different to the establishment. Honda R&D in Japan had started work on the first-generation NSX way back in January 1984. The plan was to showcase the company's racing roots from Formula 1 as well as provide a pinnacle sports car for the new Acura brand. The finished product would be a revelation. The NSX Was A Mid-Engined Exotic Like No Other Bring a Trailer The production NSX came fitted with an all-aluminum, naturally aspirated 3.0-liter V6 (270 horsepower and 210 lb -ft of torque) fitted in the middle of the all-aluminum body. This state-of-the-art engine has Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC), dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, and a Variable Volume Induction System. A five-speed manual transaxle came as standard with an electronically controlled 4-speed automatic available as an option. NSX Engine Specs The all independent suspension features aluminum alloy control arms and hub carriers back and front, with an aluminum cradle for the front and rear suspension. Four-wheel ventilated discs front and rear and an advanced 4-channel Anti-Lock Braking System provide stopping power. The launch NSX sprints to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and 100 mph in 12.1 seconds, with the quarter mile covered in 13.3 seconds. Top speed is 170 mph. You Could Daily An NSX Just Like An Accord Bring a Trailer While Honda made the NSX look every inch a supercar, it came with none of the compromises. The cockpit is comfortable and ergonomic, with gentle road manners and even a sophisticated Traction Control System to limit wheelspin. Acura says that the car had to be as easy to live with as any of its other models.Honda said that it did a survey of established high-performance exotics and concluded (in its own words) that they are "the sort of cars that demand constant attention, both in service and maintenance and when driven quickly. Part of the cachet of these vehicles is the fact that they're sometimes idiosyncratic, quirky and have to be mastered or coerced into submission by a very skilled driver." The Acura NSX, the company said, "would not be a car just for Sunday afternoons." With supercars quickly adapting afterwards to become more drivable and easy to live with, such as the Audi R8, the NSX was later dubbed the "father of modern supercars." The NSX's Looks Borrowed From Classic GTs And Supercars Bring a Trailer Visually, the NSX is every inch an exotic. It is low slung and long, with large vents before the rear wheels. But there is a distinct lack of aggression that differentiates it from other supercars. There are no overwrought design features or unnecessary wings. Instead, the NSX is a sophisticated design that is just a bit more grown up. In many ways, the styling was in line with contemporary British GTs.While it is obviously a very different car, and a very different design, you can see the same finesse and refinement in something like an Aston Martin Virage, and certainly a later DB7. The NSX was a car designed to not be shouty, instead letting the mechanicals do the talking. In this respect, the NSX's shape still stands up well today, having avoided being too of-the-time when it was launched. The NSX Was As Easy To Live With As A Civic Bring a TrailerThe NSX was no high-maintenance supercar that needed to be in the shop every five minutes. The C-Series V6 shares its roots with more humdrum units in cars like the Legend, so has reliability baked in. Repairpal points out that a general diagnosis on the NSX costs from just $153. One owner at Carsurvey.org summed up their 1996 NSX by saying: "Ferrari ability, Honda reliability, 3 series prices," giving the car 10/10 for reliability. The owner added: "It starts first time, everything works and it can be ambled around town under 3,000 RPM as easily as any Civic or Accord. The clutch and steering are light, the gearbox is rifle bolt precise, and when it needs servicing, the dealers are absolutely first class." NSXs Can Reach Incredible Mileages NSXs can reach high mileages easily. One owner on Edmunds said: "Bought vehicle used with 112000 miles on it. Car was like new in every respect. Everything works perfectly." But that's just the start. There are a number of high-mileage NSXs out there, with one, very original car reaching an astonishing 400,000 miles. Other high-mileage NSXs are also reportedly running without any problems, and look as good as new. The NSX Has Become One Of The Most Sought-After Japanese Cars Bring A TrailerRemember that bit where the owner said the NSX costs the same as a BMW 3-Series? That would have to be a very nice Beemer, as prices of the NSX have skyrocketed in recent years. In 2024, an Acura NSX-T from 2005 sold for $322,500, having cost $90K new. This 3,000-mile supercharged NSX also sold for $350,000 recently. Yes, base 1994 cars have a price in good condition of $75,700, according to Hagerty, but we seem to be going into a zone where demand is outstripping supply. There Aren't Many Cheap NSXs Left Bring a Trailer Prices are very dependent on the spec, the car, the history, and there is a lot of interest. Meaning that any NSX auction can quickly get out of control. You can still find cheaper cars, such as this modified 1991 example with 241,000 miles on the clock which sold for $51,500. Autos also often sell cheaper for obvious reasons. At least one thing seems sure, if you do get the keys to a good used NSX it will probably last a long time, with minimal fuss, so you'll get your money's worth.Sources: Hagerty, RepairPal, CarSurvey, Bring a Trailer, Edmunds, FastestLaps, Top Gear
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