What was the first Honda car in 1970?
The Honda N600 (often called the Honda 600) was the first Honda car to reach U.S. showrooms in 1970, marking the brand’s entry into mass-market passenger cars in North America.
In 1970, Honda’s lineup in the United States was built around the N600, a small 2‑door, four-seat car that came after Honda’s earlier kei cars in Japan. The N600 debuted in 1969 in Japan and was introduced to the American market in 1970, signaling Honda’s expansion beyond its local kei-car origins into broader international sales and launching a new era for the company in the mainstream car market.
Historical context: Honda’s early passenger cars
Before the N600, Honda had produced very small cars for Japan, such as the N360, and a range of small, economical vehicles. The N600 represented Honda’s first real attempt to sell a compact passenger car outside Japan and to compete in markets where larger, conventional sedans and economy cars were gaining traction.
Model details and milestones
Key facts about the N600 and its 1970 milestone:
- Model name: N600 (also marketed as Honda 600)
- Engine: 598 cc air‑cooled two‑cylinder engine
- Power: about 28 horsepower
- Drivetrain: front‑engine, rear‑wheel drive
- Body style: two‑door small car, seating for four
- First U.S. sales: 1970
- Production span: 1969–1973
The N600’s compact size and low price were designed to meet urban commuting needs and to comply with the kei-car philosophy that had driven Honda’s earlier product strategy in Japan, while also offering a practical entry point for American buyers curious about foreign, economical cars.
Impact and legacy
The arrival of the N600 in 1970 helped establish Honda as a global automaker capable of producing affordable, efficient cars for markets beyond Japan. It laid the groundwork for subsequent rapid expansion, including the later launch of the iconic Honda Civic in the early 1970s, which would go on to redefine Honda’s global presence and the compact car segment.
Why this mattered for Honda and consumers
The N600 demonstrated that a small, economical car could be produced at scale for Western markets, expanding Honda’s manufacturing footprint and challenging incumbent rivals in the compact segment. For consumers, it offered a new, economical option at a time when fuel efficiency and price were becoming increasingly important considerations for American car buyers.
Summary: In 1970, Honda’s first car for the U.S. market was the N600, a small, economical two‑door car that marked Honda’s entry into mass‑market passenger cars outside Japan. Its introduction set Honda on a path toward global expansion and the later success of models like the Civic.
What was the original price of a Honda N600?
$1,395
This was Honda's first step into the U.S. automobile industry and helped the company begin automobile sales with a network of 58 dealers. Honda sold just more than 34,000 of the little N600 from 1970 to 1972. In 1970, the N600 had an MSRP of just $1,395.
What was Honda's first car?
Honda's first car was the N600, which was first sold in the United States in 1969. Although the company had previously manufactured cars like the T360 mini-pickup in Japan, the N600 was the first automobile they officially imported and sold in America.
- The N600 was an experimental vehicle that Honda brought to the US to gauge interest in their cars.
- Only 50 of the 1967 models were manufactured, and serial number 1000001 was the first one to arrive in the US, according to this YouTube video and this Facebook post https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsfVNb2S43o,.
- The N600 is a two-door, two-cylinder hatchback.
- Honda's entry into the American car market with the N600 was a step toward its eventual success with the Accord in the mid-1970s, notes Showcase Honda.
When did Honda start selling cars in the USA?
Honda started selling cars in the US in 1969, with the Honda N600. The first cars were sold in Hawaii in December 1969, followed by sales on the mainland in 1970.
- First year: 1969
- First model: The N600 sedan and Z600 coupe were the first Honda automobiles sold in the U.S.
- Initial sales: Sales began in Hawaii in December 1969 and on the mainland in 1970.
What Honda made its debut in 1976?
The Honda Accord - first introduced in 1976 as a three-door hatchback - has, in the intervening 23 years, produced a series of six outstanding model generations. The key theme in its development, however, has always been the same; to ensure harmony between the car and society.
