This Tiny Car Launched Honda in AmericaCar and DriverBrendan McAleerSat, September 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleThis Tiny Car Launched Honda in AmericaBring a TrailerHere's an example of the first Honda to be officially sold in the U.S.It's even smaller than a first-gen Honda Civic, with a two-cylinder engine and the footprint of an original Mini.This one has a rebuilt engine and is ready to zip around town.All through the 1960s, Honda grew in popularity as a well-recognized brand in the U.S. It was such a byword for cheerful two-wheeled transportation that, back in 1964, the Beach Boys even released a song about how much fun riding a Honda was. But across the Pacific, Soichiro Honda had big plans to go from two wheels to four.Bring a TrailerAn example of the first Honda car to hit the U.S. market, this bright yellow 1971 Honda N600 sedan just popped up on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos). Think of it as a proto-Civic, offering fuel-sipping transportation, a revvy two-cylinder engine that could keep up on the highway, and a surprising amount of interior space in a gnat-sized footprint.Bring a TrailerTechnically speaking, the N600 wasn't the first four-wheeled Honda to arrive in North America, as there were a few S600 coupes and roadsters brought over privately into the U.S., and hundreds of them sold in Canada through motorcycle dealerships. However, the N600 was the first official factory-supported effort, and it was something of a loyalty test for established Honda dealers.AdvertisementAdvertisementBasically, if you were already selling Honda motorcycles and wanted to add the N600 to the mix, Honda required you to invest in a separate showroom. Several dealers took the gamble, and when the Civic arrived later in the 1970s, they basically hit the jackpot.Bring a TrailerIf the Civic established Honda as a major player in the U.S., the N600 was the beachhead effort. It was a tiny little car, basically the size of an original Austin Mini, but thanks to the public's familiarity with Honda's motorcycles, it had a big impact.Honda was already selling the N360 in Japan under kei-car rules, but that car's tiny two-cylinder engine would be no match for U.S. interstates. So Honda stuffed a 600-cc parallel-twin engine into 50 prototype cars, then shipped them over the Pacific to see how they could handle everything from California heat to Midwest winters. They worked, and for the 1970 model year, Honda started selling a production version.Bring a TrailerThis example is from 1971, and from its friendly face, you can just imagine Brian Wilson penning a song about cruising down the PCH at sunset in such a thing. It's finished in sunny Spring Yellow over a black vinyl interior, and it appears to be in tidy condition. Hondas of this vintage wouldn't have lasted long driving around Ohio, but this one hails from the warm climes of Florida.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe plucky two-cylinder engine was rated at 35 horsepower from the factory (Honda sometimes quotes 45 hp, but this was for the prototypes and Euro variants), which was plenty for a car that weighed about as much as two scooters. This one benefits from a freshly rebuilt engine, and you also get a four-speed manual to stir things up a little.Okay, so it's not a SoCal hot rod, but it is an entirely enjoyable piece of Honda history, zippy, light, and full of joy. The auction ends on September 30.You Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029