At first glance I’d have sworn the car in the photo is a Datsun. At second glance, too. But it is a rare – in North America – 1972 Honda 1300 Coupe 7. The story behind it is quite fascinating, for this was a private project of company founder Soichiro Honda and the last one with which he was personally involved. Mr. Honda, who raced cars in his younger years and built fine motorcycles, was eager to display his company’s technological prowess with a truly unique automobile. Although the Coupe 7 looks conventional, under the hood is is an air-cooled overhead-cam engine featuring an aluminum block and cylinder head, and dry-sump lubrication. It had front-wheel-drive, four carbs on a Coupe 9 version, and an unusual cross-over swing axle system. Most of the 35,804 Coupes were sold in Japan while a mere 1,058 were exported, largely to Australia. If you’d care to learn more about Soichiro Honda’s Coupe 7 and Coupe 9, there’s an excellent Web site which also displays a delightful 1:43 diecast model. It is one 1300 Coupe you can, at least, buy here.
December 12th, 2006
Mr. Honda’s Private Project
3 Comments »
Comment by Hugo90
I remember these in Australia in the seventies. I believe I have a brochure for one in my collection.
– Hang on to that brochure.. it’s worth quite a few dollars. In Canada the first Hondas we saw were the early Civics. My ex bought one and I was amazed at how sprightly is was with a 2-speed auto. In the city, of course.
Philip
December 24, 2006 @ 9:47 pm
Comment by Aleksandar
I will like too send some photo from Viktoria Falls (Zimbabwe), I was with my Honda Jazz!!!
please contact!
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I have heard about these before and though I have never seen one in the metal I would say that there would be more than a few that were still loved.
A shame that we don’t have a very good club scene for classic Japanese cars in Australia.
– Thanks for your comment, Ben. Here in North America Japanese car clubs are not as active as those devoted to European and American vehicles but I think their problem is lack of tradition. Potential club members prefer cars with a history. Hopefully that will change.
Philip
December 12, 2006 @ 7:35 pm