Honda Collection Hall: The Greatest Place on Earth for a Honda Fan - Part 1: Road Cars

On my latest trip to Japan, I decided to venture beyond the usual sights and make the pilgrimage to the Honda Collection Hall. Located at the Mobility Resort Motegi (formerly Twin Ring Motegi), the journey there is an adventure in itself. We learned the hard way that public transport is a challenge: after reaching Mito via train, we realized we had missed the only morning bus. This resulted in a two-hour taxi ride to avoid being stranded—a mistake that firmly convinced us to rent a car for our next visit.

The Hall is masterfully organized, guiding visitors through a chronological journey from the company’s origins to its modern-day innovations across four main sections. Because the collection is so vast, featuring over 300 meticulously maintained machines, I will be splitting my coverage into separate installments. This first article focuses exclusively on the evolution of Honda’s road cars, organized by decade, while the motorcycles and legendary racing machines will each receive their own dedicated features.

1960's

The 1960s marked Honda’s ambitious entry into the automotive world, leveraging their motorcycle expertise to create a series of high-revving, "jewel-like" sports cars. The journey began with the 1962 Sports 360 (Silver), a "phantom" prototype that never reached mass production but introduced the brand’s signature DOHC engine and chain-drive system. This was quickly followed by the 1963 S500 (Red), Honda’s first production passenger car, which delivered 44 horsepower at a remarkable 8,000 rpm. The decade's performance evolution culminated in the 1966 S800 (White), a sophisticated roadster capable of 100 mph that successfully challenged established European competitors and solidified Honda’s reputation for precision engineering. 

Honda Collection Hall also had a special exhibit at the time; featuring "Honda Throughout Tomica's History" and showed off various icons, including this 1/1 scale 1966 Honda S800 (Yellow) parked inside a larger mock-up of the original "Vintage" Tomica box.

Parallel to these sporting achievements, Honda redefined the utility and commuter segments through innovative packaging and the philosophy of "Man Maximum, Machine Minimum." The 1963 T360 truck (Blue) surprisingly became the brand's first production vehicle, utilizing a mid-mounted, high-tech engine usually reserved for sports cars. By 1967, the N360 (Red) brought affordable mobility to the masses with its efficient front-wheel-drive layout and air-cooled engine, setting the stage for future global success. This era of experimentation concluded with the 1969 Honda 1300 Series 77 (Green), a complex, air-cooled sedan that pushed the boundaries of technical ambition and eventually transitioned the company toward the more practical, water-cooled designs that would define the upcoming Civic era.

1970's

The 1970s marked a transformative era for Honda as it transitioned from a niche manufacturer of quirky curiosities into a global automotive powerhouse. The decade opened with a focus on specialized, clever designs like the 1970 Honda Vamos (Green), a minimalist, doorless, open-air recreational vehicle that showcased the brand’s playful and utilitarian spirit. This was followed by a move toward greater refinement in the small-car market with the 1971 Honda Life (Yellow), which replaced the old air-cooled units with a smoother, water-cooled engine, setting a new standard for the "Kei" car segment. Simultaneously, the 1971 Honda Z (Blue), often called the "Z600" in export markets; captured the youth market with its sporty, coupe-like silhouette and its distinctive black-rimmed glass hatch, which earned it the affectionate nickname "the diving mask."

The true turning point for the brand’s international legacy came in 1972 with the launch of the original Honda Civic (White), a vehicle that arrived with impeccable timing to offer the perfect blend of compactness and reliability just as the global oil crisis began. Honda truly shook the foundations of the industry in 1973 with the Civic CVCC (Top Right), which stands for Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion; this model featured a revolutionary engine that was so efficient it met strict U.S. Clean Air Act standards without the need for a costly or restrictive catalytic converter. This decade of unprecedented growth was cemented in 1976 with the introduction of the Honda Accord CVCC (Bottom). As a larger, more sophisticated hatchback, the Accord proved that Honda’s reputation for engineering excellence and fuel economy could be successfully scaled up for the mid-sized family car market, forever changing the competitive landscape of the American and European auto industries.

Behind the scenes of these production successes, the 1971-1973 Honda Project 660 (Orange) served as a vital experimental bridge during a period of intense internal debate regarding engine cooling. As Soichiro Honda famously championed air-cooled engines, younger engineers were increasingly convinced that water-cooling was the only viable path for the future of global emissions and performance. Project 660 was the secret laboratory where these engineers refined the 660cc water-cooled powerplants and front-wheel-drive dynamics that would eventually render the air-cooled era obsolete. The prototypes developed under this project acted as the mechanical DNA for the first-generation Civic, proving that a lightweight, water-cooled transverse engine layout provided the superior cooling and cabin space necessary to compete on the world stage. Little did he know, there would be a small, light-weight Honda sports car called the "S660" later on down the line!

1980's

The 1980s saw Honda exploding with creative energy, beginning with a "Tall Boy" design philosophy that maximized interior space in tiny footprints. The 1981 Honda City (Red) was the poster child for this era—a cheeky, high-roofed subcompact designed specifically to carry the "Motocompo," a 49cc folding scooter (Yellow) that lived in the trunk for the "last mile" of a commute. By 1985, this playful commuter was transformed into a performance beast with the City Turbo II (White), famously nicknamed the "Bulldog." With its aggressive wide-body flares, an intercooled turbocharged engine, and an optional "Sonic Seat" that vibrated with the music, the Turbo II became a cult icon of 80s JDM culture. The Turbo II was another feature in the Tomica special exhibit, depicting the mainline models known for their playability!

As the decade progressed, 1985 emerged as a landmark year that saw Honda moving upmarket while refining its small-car expertise. The brand entered the luxury segment with the Honda Legend (Top Left), a flagship V6 sedan developed in partnership with the British Rover Group to compete with European luxury giants. (This car was the main reason why I bought a Honda Legend, though my old one was a 1998 model with the larger NSX-derived 3.5 litre V6). 

For the enthusiast, the 1985 Quint Integra (Top Right) introduced the world to the "Integra" nameplate as a sleek, pop-up headlight sporting machine, while the entry-level 1985 Honda Today "Kei" car (Red) stunned the public with its incredibly low hood line and futuristic, minimalist interior. 

Meanwhile, the mainstream 1985 Accord (Bottom Left) reached new heights of sophistication, accompanied by the unique Accord AeroDeck (Bottom Right) —a premium "shooting-brake" style three-door that combined the sleekness of a coupe with the practicality of a wagon. (The AeroDeck is still one of my favourite hatch/shooting brakes to date, rivaled only by my love for the Volvo 480GT; which is a similarly styled car with pop up headlights as well.)

The decade also redefined the "hot hatch" through two of Honda's most beloved chassis. In 1983, the "Wonder Civic" 3-door hatchback (Blue) arrived with a radical, flat-back silhouette that looked like nothing else on the road, earning it the Japan Car of the Year award. This platform's sportiest evolution was the 1987 Honda CR-X Si EF7 (Black), a featherweight, aerodynamic masterpiece powered by a 1.6-liter DOHC ZC engine. Distinguished by its signature glass "bulge" in the hood to accommodate the taller twin-cam motor, the CR-X Si offered a pure, go-kart-like driving experience that cemented Honda’s status as a leader in front-wheel-drive performance.

1990's

The 1990s represented the era when Honda’s engineering reached its absolute zenith, headlined by the arrival of a true supercar disruptor. The 1990 Honda NSX (Red), which stands for New Sportscar eXperimental; shattered the exotic car status quo, proving that a mid-engine supercar could be both breathtakingly fast and daily-driver reliable. Not content with just a "base" model, Honda pushed the boundaries further with the 1992 NSX-R (White), a lightened, track-focused weapon that stripped away every non-essential gram—including air conditioning and sound deadening—to achieve pure mechanical harmony. The decade's evolution of the platform culminated in the 1997 NSX Type S (Orange), a refined performance variant that balanced the extreme weight-saving measures of the "R" with slightly more road-going civility, ensuring the NSX remained a world-class contender throughout the decade.

While the NSX was conquering the track, Honda was busy reinventing the family car and pioneering eco-friendly technology. The 1994 Honda Odyssey (Top Left) transformed the minivan segment by using a passenger-car chassis, providing a car-like driving experience that its rivals couldn't match. This "Creative Mover" series expanded in 1996 with the Step Wgn (Bottom Left), a boxy, space-efficient marvel designed for young families, and the quirky 1996 S-MX Lowdown (Top Right), which targeted the youth market with its factory-lowered stance and a unique interior designed to fold into a flat bed. The decade closed with a glimpse into the future via the 1999 Honda Insight (Bottom Right), a teardrop-shaped hybrid that utilized an aluminum body and Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) to become the most fuel-efficient production car of its time.

Perhaps the most culturally significant legacy of the 90s, however, was the birth of the Type R dynasty and a return to the open-top sports car. In 1995, the Honda Integra Type R DC2 (Top Left) arrived, featuring a hand-ported B18C engine and a chassis so rigid it is still widely considered the best-handling front-wheel-drive car ever built. This formula was applied to the hatchback segment in 1997 with the Civic Type R EK9 (Top Right), a screaming, 185-horsepower 1.6-liter firecracker that became the Holy Grail for enthusiasts. To celebrate the brand's 50th anniversary, Honda launched the 1999 S2000 AP1 (Bottom), a front-mid-engine roadster with a 9,000-rpm redline. It was a poetic return to Honda’s 1960s roots, blending modern rigidity with a high-revving soul that perfectly closed out the millennium.

2000's

The dawn of the new millennium saw Honda doubling down on maximum interior efficiency and pioneering zero-emission technology. In 2001, the Honda Fit
(Red), or Jazz (if you're outside of Japan) revolutionized the subcompact segment with its "Magic Seats" and center-tank layout, proving that a small car could possess the interior versatility of a much larger SUV. Simultaneously, Honda was leading the charge in hydrogen fuel cell development. The 2002 Honda FCX (Blue) became the world's first fuel cell vehicle to receive government certification for commercial use, a feat that was refined and brought to a sleeker, more consumer-ready form with the 2008 Honda FCX Clarity (Burgundy). The Clarity wasn't just a science experiment; it was a luxurious, futuristic sedan that emitted nothing but water vapor, signaling Honda's commitment to a carbon-neutral future.

While the brand looked toward sustainability, it did not forget its high-performance soul, delivering one final, breathtaking evolution of its original supercar: the 2002 Honda NSX-R (White). This facelifted second-generation "R" is often cited as the ultimate expression of the NSX lineage. It discarded the pop-up headlights for fixed HID units and featured an aggressive carbon-fiber vented hood and a rear spoiler to improve downforce. Underneath, the 3.2-liter V6 was balanced to a level of precision usually reserved for racing engines, and the suspension was tuned to be uncompromisingly stiff for track dominance. With its Championship White paint and red Recaro seats, the 2002 NSX-R remains a legendary benchmark in the Honda Collection Hall, representing the absolute pinnacle of the company's naturally aspirated era. This was another vehicle featured at the Tomica Special Exhibit as an example for the higher quality, more detailed 1/56 scale model of the diecast brand.

Conclusion:

Walking through the Honda Collection Hall is more than just a stroll past vintage metal; it is a journey through the restless mind of a company that refuses to settle for "good enough." From the high-revving, chain-driven roadsters of the 1960s to the surgical precision of the NSX-R and the hydrogen-powered dreams of the 2000s, the road cars on display at Motegi tell a story of relentless experimentation. Each decade reflects a shift in global needs, yet every vehicle—be it a tiny "Kei" truck or a world-beating supercar—retains that unmistakable Honda DNA: a perfect marriage of mechanical soul and human-centric engineering.

This evolution of the passenger car is, however, only half of the story. You cannot truly understand Honda’s road-going innovations without looking at the brutal, high-stakes environments where they were forged. Behind every VTEC engine and aerodynamic curve lies a lesson learned on the asphalt of the world's most demanding circuits. Sit tight for the next installment of this series, where we will dive into the second part of this series to explore the thunderous evolution of Honda’s legendary race cars.