It is certain to be highly sought after by collectors in the future

On 1-2 March 2024, a Honda NSX Type R was offered at an auction held by RM Sotheby’s in Miami, USA. Only 483 units were produced, yet the car was in excellent condition with a surprisingly low mileage of 18,500 km. The results of this remarkable auction are reported below.

The NSX Type R remained in production for almost three years

In the mid-1980s, discussions were raging within the Honda Research Institute in Japan about the possibility of developing a high-performance sports car with the pinnacle technology that would make its presence known around the world. Its direct rival was the V8 mid-ship ‘328’ series produced by Ferrari at the time, and for Honda, which had been an engine supplier to the Formula One GP since 1983, producing a road car with Ferrari as a virtual enemy was of course a big dream.

Although the basic concept swirled around a number of opinions, in the end, it is said to have come together relatively smoothly. It would feature a high-performance engine mid-ship and a lightweight all-aluminium body. The engine was based on the 2.7-litre V6 used in the Legend at the time, and its displacement was increased to 3 litres, while DOHC and VTEC (variable valve timing lift system) were also adopted. The production model was announced on 13 September 1990.

It was not until 17 November 1992 that the even more hardcore Type R was added to the NSX line-up. Although the engine itself was unchanged, the internal components of the engine, such as the crankshaft, pistons and connecting rods, were re-balanced to improve response as well as weight precision. The final drive ratio was also reviewed and the LSD was revised to a specification with a higher locking ratio.