Did the S2000 come with a hardtop?
In brief, the Honda S2000 was designed as a soft-top roadster and did not come with a factory hardtop as standard. Honda did offer an official removable hardtop as an accessory in certain markets and during the model’s AP1/AP2 era, but it was not part of the base configuration. This article explores how roof options evolved and what to know if you encounter an S2000 with a hardtop.
Roof options and how they evolved
To understand the S2000’s roof options, it helps to know that the car was built around a classic open-top design. The soft-top version was standard, and there was no fixed-roof option from the factory. An official removable hardtop was available in some markets as an accessories item, but availability varied by region and model year. Below, we detail what this means for owners, buyers, and enthusiasts.
Factory versus dealer-installed options
The S2000’s baseline was a manual soft top that folded away behind the seats. There was no factory-built hardtop offered as part of the standard lineup. However, Honda did provide an official hardtop accessory in certain markets and during the AP1/AP2 era. This hardtop was designed to bolt onto the car and could be removed to restore the roadster configuration. Because it was an accessory rather than standard equipment, availability depended on market and year, and units with the hardtop are relatively rare in some regions.
For buyers, this means there are two distinct paths: (1) a stock S2000 with only the soft top, which is the most common configuration, and (2) an S2000 that left dealerships with an official removable hardtop installed, typically listed as Honda Accessory or equivalent in the paperwork. The latter is rarer and can carry different provenance depending on where and when it was sold.
In practice, the presence of a genuine Honda hardtop affects documentation, part numbers, and installation details. If you’re assessing a car with this accessory, verify the paperwork and confirm that the hardtop was installed through an authorized dealer or Honda’s accessories program to avoid misidentification or mismatched components.
Market availability
Availability of the official hardtop varied by market. In Japan and some European markets, the accessory appeared in Honda’s catalog during the S2000’s production span. In the United States, the hardtop was far less common and did not appear as a standard option; some cars may have had it added later by dealers or previous owners. This patchwork availability means that hardtops are more commonly found on S2000s outside North America and when documented as factory accessories rather than aftermarket add-ons.
Beyond the official accessory, the market also saw a range of aftermarket hardtops and customs. These can range widely in fit and quality and are not equivalent to a genuine Honda hardtop in terms of integration with the car’s seals and mounting points. Prospective buyers should weigh the benefits and risks of aftermarket options compared to a factory accessory when evaluating a car.
The overall takeaway is that the S2000 was not shipped with a hardtop as standard, but an official removable hardtop option did exist in some markets and years, making the configuration and provenance important for collectors and enthusiasts.
How to identify a genuine Honda hardtop
If you’re evaluating an S2000 and want to confirm whether a hardtop is the authentic Honda accessory, look for signs of official catalog involvement. This includes matching color and material to the vehicle, authentic mounting hardware, and documentation from the dealer showing that the hardtop was part of an official accessory kit. Honda’s part numbers on the hardware and accompanying paperwork are key identifiers. In some cases, a separate installation or service record may accompany the sale to verify authenticity.
Visually, a genuine Honda hardtop should integrate with the windshield frame and roll hoops, with weather seals that align with the bodywork. The interior headliner should reflect the cabin’s design, and the top should be removable and stowable according to the accessory’s intended function. If the vehicle lacks documentation, or if the hardtop appears to be a non-OEM fit, it is wise to consult a trusted S2000 specialist or a Honda dealer to confirm compatibility and authenticity.
For buyers considering aftermarket options, be aware that non-OEM hardtops can vary in fit and finish. They may not seal as well, could affect structural rigidity, and can complicate maintenance or resale. Weighing OEM versus aftermarket options is an important step in any S2000 purchase that involves a hardtop.
Summary
The S2000’s identity is as a lightweight, high-revving open-top sports car with a soft top as standard. A factory hardtop was not part of the default package, but an official removable hardtop was offered in certain markets and periods as an accessory. Availability was uneven by region and year, making genuine Honda hardtops relatively rare in some markets and more common in others. If you come across an S2000 with a hardtop, verify documentation and part numbers to confirm it’s the official accessory, and be mindful of aftermarket options that may not provide the same level of integration or value preservation.
In the end, the S2000 remains widely celebrated for its driver-focused, open-top experience. The presence or absence of a hardtop is a footnote to that core identity, reflecting the model’s flexible appeal to enthusiasts around the world.
