HONDA NSX MANUAL COUPE 47,200 MILES 1991

Thirty three years ago, the automotive world was very different. Honda had supreme confidence in its engineering excellence. Overseen by new CEO Nobuhiko Kawamoto (who had motorsport and fast cars in his blood), the design brief for the NSX was to make the best sports car in the world. Honda’s engineers were instructed to create a light, usable, fast, functional machine. Unlike most supercars of the day, it had to be capable of being used everyday, but exhilarating when desired.

Fortified by a booming Japanese economy, the engineering priesthood was housed in separate premises, untroubled by the dull businesses of marketing and accounting. It didn’t really seem to matter that customers were not lining up to buy Honda's NSX. The objective was simple – make a sports car that was better than any Ferrari or Porsche.

Gordon Murray, designer of possibly the world’s best supercar (The McLaren F1) said there was only one contemporary supercar he tried to emulate: The NSX.

He later said that the McLaren matched or exceeded the first NSX in every area apart from ride quality. Praise indeed. The original NSX was one of the best cars ever.

If you are looking to buy a collectable NSX that best preserves this ethos, then this is it:

H18NDA (the original registration from new) was first registered in May 1991. It is in the iconic Formula Red with high-gloss black roof and an excellent black leather interior. It is perfectly original, unmodified and fastidiously maintained, having covered only 47,200 miles. It has a perfect service history, showing consistent, light use. It has no fewer than 27 Honda main dealer services, including three cam-belt changes. We have the original handbook / service book, and a thick file of invoices and supporting documents.

We have just completed our NSX-specific check over and have prepared for sale, fixing anything that needs doing - the result of which will be a car just like it was in 1991. An engineering masterpiece that will not be out of place either as part of a collection, a one-off investment, or just to use and enjoy!

£79,000