What is the rarest NSX?
The rarest NSX is the Acura NSX Type S, with only 350 units produced worldwide, making it the scarcest production version to date. This article explains why the Type S is so limited and places it in context with earlier, scarce NSX variants.
Rarest NSX: the Type S (modern-era rarity)
Launched in 2022 as the pinnacle of the second-generation NSX, the Type S increases power, handling, and refinement over the standard model. Its production run was capped at 350 units globally, with allocations distributed across major markets such as North America, Europe, and Asia. The combination of limited supply and high demand has made Type S vehicles particularly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.
These are the key factors that contribute to the Type S's rarity:
- Limited production: 350 units worldwide
- Global allocation: scarce distribution across regions, with demand outstripping supply in several markets
- Pricing and desirability: higher MSRP and strong collector interest reduce the number of units that reach the used-car market
- Unique engineering and styling: distinct aero, revised suspension tuning, and bespoke interior treatments differentiate it from other NSX trims
Together, these factors explain why the NSX Type S remains the rarest NSX in production today and a coveted item for collectors.
Other historically scarce NSX variants
While the Type S holds the modern production scarcity crown, some of the earliest NSX variants are legendary for their exclusivity. The most notable example is the first-generation NSX-R, a lightweight, track-focused version built for homologation and performance tuning during the early 1990s.
Notable decades-old scarcity centers on the first-generation NSX-R. The production count is commonly cited as around 480 units, and the model was primarily Japan-exclusive with a focus on reducing weight and improving track performance.
- NSX-R (NA1, 1992–1994): around 480 units produced; Japan-only; lighter weight, enhanced suspension, and performance-oriented tuning
These numbers have made the NSX-R a highly desirable classic among collectors, often commanding strong premiums at auction and in private sales decades after its introduction.
Summary
The NSX landscape features a clear hierarchy of scarcity. At the top of modern production is the NSX Type S, with 350 units worldwide, making it the rarest current-generation NSX. Historically, the first-generation NSX-R stands out as the rarest among early NSX variants, with roughly 480 units built and limited to the Japanese market. Together, these figures illustrate how Acura Honda has balanced performance, exclusivity, and market demand across the NSX lineage.
What is the most expensive Acura NSX?
The most expensive NSX is the 2003 Honda NSX-R that sold for over $1 million in May 2025. This record-breaking sale was for a rare, low-mileage example of the NSX-R, which is one of only 140 built. There was a previous record set in 2016 by the first production 2016 Acura NSX, which sold for $1.2 million at a charity auction.
- 2003 Honda NSX-R: Sold for €934,375 (approximately $1.06 million) at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este auction.
- First 2016 Acura NSX: Sold for $1.2 million at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2016, with proceeds going to charity.
- First production 2022 NSX Type S: Sold for $1.1 million at a Mecum auction in 2021, also for charity.
How much is a 1999 NSX worth?
The price for a 1999 Acura NSX varies, but a typical price for one in good condition is around $75,000 to $95,000. Prices can be higher or lower depending on the specific trim (like the coupe or the NSX-T), condition, mileage, and whether it's a special edition, such as the Zanardi Edition.
Factors that influence the price
- Mileage: Lower mileage typically means a higher price.
- Condition: A car in excellent condition with no accidents will be worth more.
- Trim and modifications: Standard models will be less expensive than rare models like the Zanardi Edition or heavily modified versions.
- Edition: Special editions, especially the Zanardi Edition, command a significant premium. For example, a 1999 Zanardi Edition in good condition might cost around $142,000, but its selling price can vary.
- Market fluctuations: Prices can fluctuate based on recent sales and current market demand.
What is the rarest Honda NSX?
Honda only needed to make five examples of the NSX-R GT, so that's exactly what it did. The price tag was astronomical, however. The NSX-R had a sticker price in 2005 of $470,000, making it not only the rarest Honda ever but the most expensive.
What is the rarest Honda car?
The rarest Honda is the 2005 Honda NSX-R GT, with only five ever produced as a homologation special for a racing series. This ultra-exclusive model was built for the Super GT series and was never intended for mass public sale. Its scarcity is further heightened by the fact that only one of the five ever made was sold to a private collector, making it virtually impossible to find.
This video shows the rarity of the 2005 Honda NSX-R GT: 58sCar WizardYouTube · Feb 2, 2025
- Purpose: The car was made to allow Honda to enter the NSX-GT racing car into the GT500 class of the Super GT series.
- Rarity: Only five were produced, and the single example that was sold to the public was eventually sold to a collector.
- Cost: The original price was astronomical, costing around $\$470,000 in 2005, which is roughly $770,000$ 770 comma 000$770,000 in today's money.
- Exclusivity: It was only available in Japan and was built with specific modifications, such as a longer and wider body kit, to meet racing regulations.
