Time travel back to 1966 and look for a small, two-seat roadster powered by a four-cylinder engine. Thoughts of an MG or a Triumph probably come to mind. You might even think of an Austin-Healey or Sunbeam. Yet, halfway around the world, Japanese car manufacturers were creating their own versions of these British light sports cars. While rarer in North America, Japanese roadsters from this era are highly collectible. They capture the essence of British motoring while being less prone to reliability issues than their British counterparts. This Auction Dilemma looks at a 1966 Datsun 1600 roadster and a 1966 Honda S800 roadster. Both of these 55-year-old cars are slugging it out for auction bids at bringatrailer.com.
Very Clean 1966 Datsun 1600
According to the BaT listing, the seller purchased this rear-wheel-drive roadster from the previous owner, who had the car for 30 years. This previous owner is a retired Nissan (Datsun) dealer who restored the car in 2017 at his dealership. Refinished in factory Cherry Red, renovation updates also included new beige upholstery and a replacement soft top. Due to the car's age, a vehicle history report is unavailable. The seller is reporting about 66,000 miles on the odometer but is uncertain about the original miles. This 1600 will sell with a clear Pennsylvania title.
The listing reports a numbers-matching 1.6L four-cylinder engine with dual SU carburetors connected to a four-speed manual. The car rolls with new Hankook tires mounted on 15-inch Panasport wheels while front disc and rear drum brakes stop the roadster. Exterior features include chrome bumpers, bolt-on windshield, hood scoop, and polished side mirrors. A three-spoke wheel, 120mph speedometer, gauge package, heater, and AM radio are just some of the interior equipment.
1966 Honda S800: A True JDM Car
With right-hand drive and fender-mounted side-view mirrors, this rear-wheel-drive S800 roadster has characteristics that well represent its Japanese origin. Offered for sale in Canada via BaT, the listing reports that the car was purchased new in Japan by an American serviceman and imported to the U.S. Later on, it was brought to Canada and acquired by the seller in 2009.
This is one of Honda's first automotive platforms and the motorcycle influence is readily apparent. The "800" in the name references this car's tiny 791 cc air-cooled engine. Soichiro Honda was a big proponent of air-cooling because of its high revving potential and true to form, this car has a 10,000 rpm redline with peak horsepower of 70 hp at 8000 rpm. And if that isn't motorcycle enough for you, the car has chain drive!
The seller reports that he replaced the driver-side door, and the previous owner performed rust repairs on the lower fenders, quarter panels, and floor pan. The car was repainted in white, which contrasts with the black-vinyl trimmed interior. Additional condition information references a replacement trunk lid sourced from an S600 and existing paint bubbles on the hood, quarter panels, and lower fenders. The trunk interior has noticeable rust, and the heater, wiper motor, and washer fluid pump need repair. Total original mileage information and a vehicle history report are unavailable. The odometer shows about 29,000 miles (or 47,000 kilometers).
What's The Best Drive Side? Left or Right?
This 1966 Datsun 1600 roadster—which appears to be in very clean condition thanks to recent restoration work— adheres more closely to the British genre and is ready for top-down cruising. With two days remaining in the auction, the current high bid as of this writing is $12,750.
While in need of some work, this 1966 Honda S800 roadster reflects some of the modern Japanese automotive industry's earliest work—a classic JDM example for sure. It's current bid as of this writing is $13,750 with one more day on the block.
Source: bringatrailer.com