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Stunning the motoring world when it debuted over 30 years ago, the iconic Honda NSX rivalled anything the European car makers had to offer at the time. But what started out as an experiment by the Honda team, turned out to be the making of a Japanese automotive legend.

With its elegant design, lightweight chassis, groundbreaking engine technology and input from racing superstar Ayrton Senna, it’s no wonder the NSX still turns heads and wins hearts today. But with rare beauty such as this, having great value classic car insurance in place is more important than ever.

If you didn’t manage to snag one the first time around then read our in-depth guide to this legendary Japanese supercar and even its latest rebirth! We’ve also added in a handy guide to what to look out for when investing in one of these classics.

Early development of a classic

The story of the NSX begins back in 1984 when the leadership of Honda began toying with the idea of developing a future sports car to rival the dominant Italian and German car makers of the time. As a result, Italian car design superstars Pininfarina were brought on board to help design the HP-X concept car. HP-X stood for Honda Pininfarina eXperimental and featured a 2.0-litre V6 engine.

The HP-X subsequently evolved into the NS-X prototype (an acronym for New Sportscar eXperimental) – they sure liked their secret code names in the 80s! This, in turn, led to the NSX designed by Honda Chief Designer, Masahito Nakano, and Executive Chief Engineer, Shigeru Uehara.

In view of Honda’s desire to rival the performance of the Ferrari 328 and later Ferrari 348, while offering superior reliability and affordability the engine was replaced by a 270bhp 3.0-litre VTEC V6 engine.

With serious speed and a stunning design, the Japanese supercar was born. Launched at the 1989 Tokyo motor show it finally went on sale in the UK in January 1991.

Stunning innovations

The exterior design of the NSX was indeed stunning, inspired by the 360-degree visibility of an F-16 fighter jet’s cockpit. But it was the automotive technologies contained in its beautiful chassis that really wowed the pundits. These included:

• It’s aluminium body. Inspired by the use of aluminium in the Shinkansen bullet train, the NSX was the first mass-produced all-aluminium car – resulting in an incredible weight saving of 200kg when compared to an equivalent steel body.
• A revolutionary extruded aluminium alloy frame and suspension components to ensure strength and get over construction challenges. Making the shell 50% stronger than a Porsche 911 of the time.
• Innovative connecting rods made from a titanium alloy, used in a production car for the first time. By lowering weight, while increasing overall rod-strength the engine was able to hit over 8,000rpm!
• An independent, 4-channel anti-lock brake system and an electric power steering system.

Many of these innovations arose out of Honda’s experience in motorsports. Indeed, they collaborated extensively with Japanese Formula One driver Satoru Nakajima and Brazilian Formula One World Champion Ayrton Senna. The suspension development in particular was far-ranging and took place at the Tochigi Proving Grounds, the Suzuka circuit, the Nurburgring in Germany, and Honda’s newest test track in Takasu, Hokkaido.

Such was the importance of the NSX for Honda that from 1989 until 2004 it was exclusively  assembled by Honda’s most experienced workers at the company’s purpose-built Takanezawa R&D Plant in Tochigi.

Surprisingly, the NSX also has a good amount of luggage space for such a high-powered car. Perfect if you want to have a quick weekend away. If you plan on hopping over to take advantage of the wonderful European road network make sure you’re covered by classic car insurance before you leave.

Variations and upgrades

Apart from some tweaking over the next couple of years, Honda left the NSX alone. But there were developments in the pipeline. For those wanting an open-top experience, in 1995 the NSX-T arrived with a removable Targa-style roof panel.

While for a more race track type performance, Honda produced the NSX Type R variant exclusively for the Japanese market. Less than 500 were made, and only a few have found their way to Europe where they’re probably the most desirable classic NSX model available today.

Several other variations were produced over the years but perhaps the most significant performance upgrade to the NSX hit in 1997. Honda engineers upped the engine displacement from 3.0 litres to 3.2 litres, through the use of bigger pistons. To fit the new pistons in the engine block required using a thinner fiber-reinforced metal cylinder liner rather than the traditional iron bore liners. Good as they are, 3.2-litre versions of the NSX are rare in the UK. Just 70 of the 450 made were sold here.

It was 2002 that brought the most significant design refresh for the NSX. The pop-up headlights disappeared, replaced by fixed Xenon headlamp units, the body design received some tweaking and the wheels got bigger. All these upgrades in design however contributed to improvements in acceleration and increased the top speed from 168mph to 175mph.

End of an era – and the start of a new generation

Unfortunately the 2002 refresh failed to turn the direction of sales and the NSX was withdrawn from the assembly line in 2005.

However, the story doesn’t stop there. After years of tantalising rumours, glimpses of prototypes and concept car unveilings from Honda, in 2015 a second generation NSX was unveiled at the 2015 North American International Auto Show. Heralded as one of the most advanced cars in its class and a true engineering masterpiece it’s a modern classic in the making. Although it will be some years yet before one will need classic car insurance!

Owning a classic Honda NSX – prices and service costs

Since the NSX was an almost hand-built car produced on its own assembly line, the overall production number was relatively low. Just under 19,000 cars were built over the 15-year production cycle. However, of that number, nearly 10,000 went to North American markets and around 7,500 went to domestic Japanese and Asian markets. Leaving only around 1,500 units for the whole of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

So the likelihood of pulling up next to one on your next visit to the supermarket is pretty slim. That said, they are still around for those prepared to search, and not at a bad price for a supercar.

Early automatic models can be found for as low as £30,000. Manual models are preferred by many enthusiasts so the prices of these are pushed up to over £40,000. However, owing to their excellent reliability and quality production many examples will have 100,000+ miles on the clock. So, if you’re looking for one with low mileage then the price could push up to the £50,000 mark and beyond.

Later models featuring the 3.2-litre engine are certainly going to be over £50,000 and could push six figures if you’re looking for one in pristine condition with low mileage. Some of the rarer Type R models can fetch even more serious money and are rarely seen in the UK.

In terms of running costs, despite its supercar pedigree you’ll be relieved to hear the NSX doesn’t demand a supersize chequebook to keep it running. The NSX is considered by motoring experts to be an incredibly reliable supercar and excellent value to service. With an annual service costing around £200 and even the seven-year/70,000 mile service only around £2,000 the NSX should give you many happy years of motoring. If there was ever an everyday supercar, this is it.

Buying guide – what to look out for

It should go without saying that if you’re looking to invest in a piece of Japanese supercar history you’ll want to find an NSX with a good service history, preferably from a specialist. But wherever you find your dream car, bear the following points in mind when viewing.

Exterior

Being made from aluminium and in its own special factory there shouldn’t be too much in the way of bodywork nasties on an NSX. However, if something feels suspect in terms of panel alignment then check and check again. You really want a beloved, never-been-off-the-road NSX rather than one that’s been in an accident. All-aluminium cars are not cheap to fix and many body shops won’t even touch them. If the NSX has been in a wreck then it might be worth looking elsewhere, no matter how much of a bargain it seems. 

Also take the time to closely examine the forward facing sections of the panel work for stone chips and other damage. Inspect the windscreen to see if has delaminated, as replacing one can be expensive. Being so low to the floor, examine the bumpers for any bumps and scrapes that have been repaired.

Engine and transmission

As already mentioned the NSX’s engine is a technical masterclass in automotive engineering and provided you’ve got a full service history with experienced Honda agents there should be no problems. It’s especially important that the cambelt and water pump have been changed – this has to be done every seven years or 70,000 miles. While the transmission is also very reliable if maintained properly be sure to watch out for signs of a fading clutch.

Anti-lock brake system

The ABS is always worth looking at, particularly on earlier models. When taking a potential purchase on a test drive be sure to listen out for a tell-tale washing machine-like noise – it’s a common symptom of a failing ABS. While you’d probably do this anyway, taking it to a trusted mechanic for a complete inspection is well worthwhile.

Air-conditioning and climate control system

The NSX had some pretty ground-breaking electrics fitted at the time that might be in need of attention now. For early models in particular the air-conditioning system may well need some work by now if it hasn’t received attention before. Replacing an air conditioning system can be costly and always requires the complete removal of the vehicle’s dashboard. Not something you want to contemplate on a recent purchase. Make sure you put the AC through its paces before you leave. Watch out for any erratic behaviour from any of the climate control systems as this could indicate an electrical problem.

Electric windows

Issues with the electric windows can also be a problem with older Hondas. Watch for slow windows or ones that ‘chatter’ or judder when they roll up and down. While it can be sorted, the electric motor and regulator that need replacing aren’t cheap.

Audio

While you won’t be buying the NSX for its top quality sound system it would be nice if it worked. While the Bose hi-fi set-up was top-end stuff when the NSX launched there can be problems with it today. Not least of which is that it’ll be a clunky cassette player rather than a CD or MP3 player. Any issues can be sorted but it’s always a factor worth looking into when you’re after the best price.

To get to know what to look for it’s worth searching out a NSX at one of the many track days or classic shows around the country. Classic car insurance from Lancaster provides cover for such events if you choose to attend with your current classic.

Insure your Japanese classic through Lancaster

Getting your hands on an NSX is a privilege, and if you do you’ll be getting a motor that’s truly special. But you’ll need adequate classic car insurance to protect it for the future.

As the broker of choice for thousands of classic car owners, we can help you find the right cover, at the right price.

Choosing cover from Lancaster entitles you to a range of benefits including:

• Up to 25% Classic Car Club member discounts
• 90 days EU cover
• Limited mileage discounts

You’ll also have 24-hour access to our claims helpline and UK-based call centre.

Get a quote for classic car insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.