Located in main lobby of Honda
headquarters in Torrance, Calif.
(September 13, 2023) TORRANCE, Calif. — The new American Honda Collection Hall officially opened its doors this week in Southern California. The hall offers visitors a glimpse of more than 60 historic and significant Honda and Acura automobiles, motorcycles, power equipment, race machines, engines and concept models, plus images, graphics and video presentations.
The products on display represent the more than six decades since American Honda Motor Co., Inc. was established in 1959 as the first Honda company outside of Japan.
“Our new American Honda Collection Hall reflects the important connection between the dreams and passion of Honda associates and the joy experienced by customers who love their Honda products and racing fans thrilled by our checkered flag successes,” said Noriya Kaihara, president & CEO and director of American Honda.
“Everyone at Honda is honored to share the expressions of our history in America that are on display in the form of products and technology that have helped move people and society forward.”
Open to the public free of charge during scheduled public “Cars, Bikes & Coffee” events, the American Honda Collection Hall pays tribute to Honda’s unique contributions to American’s lives and highlights significant milestones in the history of Honda in the U.S.
Some examples of products currently on display:
Cars
1970 Honda N600 Coupe – The first Honda automobile sold in the U.S. used an air-cooled 600 cc 2-cylinder engine and retailed for just $1,395.
1975 Honda Civic CVCC Hatchback – The first car to meet the emissions standards of the 1970 U.S. Clean Air Act without the need for a catalytic converter.
1979 Honda Accord CVCC Hatchback – The first Accord debuted in 1976 as a three-door hatchback powered by Honda’s revolutionary Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion (CVCC) 4-cylinder engine.
1985 Honda CRX Si – The first performance Honda Si model sold in America, a sporty 2-seat coupe with Honda's advanced PGM-FI fuel injection.
1986 Acura Legend – The performance luxury touring sedan that launched the Acura brand alongside the Integra.
1991 Acura NSX supercar – The revolutionary hand-built, exotic mid-engine sports car that showcased Honda’s technical prowess.
1997 Honda CR-V – Honda’s first in-house SUV helped establish a new breed of compact sport utility vehicle with car-like ride and handling.
2006 Honda Insight – Introduced in 2000, Insight was the first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid passenger vehicle sold in the U.S.
Motorcycles
1962 Honda 50/Super Cub – One of the first three models Honda sold in the U.S. The Super Cub is now the overall bestselling vehicle globally with over 100 million sold to date.
1969 Honda CB750A – Widely considered the first ever superbike and called “the Motorcycle of the Century” by Motorcyclist magazine.
1973 Honda CR/RC250 Elsinore – Honda’s first production motocross motorcycle and the first product Honda manufactured in the U.S., named after the famous Elsinore Grand Prix.
1975 Honda GL1000 Gold Wing – Redefined long distance touring motorcycles with a revolutionary horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine.
1981 Honda CBX1000 – Honda’s first motorcycle with over 100 hp, powered by a 1000cc six-cylinder engine.
1983 Honda VF750F – The revolutionary VF750F used a liquid-cooled DOHC V4 engine and a stiff square-tube frame that also helped it dominate superbike racing in the mid ‘80s.
1990 Honda VFR750R/RC30 – A homologation special created for competition in the “World Superbike Championship.”
1992 Honda NR750 – The most technically advanced motorcycle at the time, iconic for its oval-piston engine design and other innovations.
2004 Honda RVT1000R/RC51 – A street version of Honda’s championship winning V-twin superbike.
Race cars
1992 Acura Spice GTP-Lights – Powered by a modified Acura NSX V6 engine, carried veteran driver Parker Johnstone to the Drivers' championship in the IMSA Camel GT Lights series.
1996 Reynard 961-031 Indy Car – Honda/Reynard driven by Indy Car Drivers' Champion Jimmy Vasser and Rookie of the Year Alex Zanardi.
1997 Acura Integra Realtime – RealTime Racing and the Acura Integra Type R forged a race-winning record that remained unbroken after nearly two decades.
The display at the American Honda Collection Hall will be updated several times a year to showcase different products and themes.