Honda S800
The Honda S800 is a convertible or coupe combined with longitudinal front engine and rear-wheel drive lying. This sports car came in 1967 as the first Japanese automobile on the German market and was built from 1966 to 1970 in the factory Suzuka.
Development
The Honda S series began after the pre-production model S360 with the S500 in August 1963, which came on the market as a convertible with a water-cooled 500 cc engine. In March 1964, the S600 Cabriolet and 1965 S600 coupe followed.
The L800 and P800 from 1966 had a weaker engine of the S800 and were vans (combi or flatbed ).
Prototypes
The S700 prototype from 1965, with a 687 cc engine and 72 hp at 9500 rpm SAE was not produced.
The N800 prototype, with a weaker engine of the S800, was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1965 as a possible sedan, but was not produced in this form.
Idea
At the Paris Motor Show 1966, Honda introduced the S800 for the first time the European public before, then on London Motor Show and the Motor Show in Turin. In Japan, he had already been presented and sold in January 1966, which is also called Esuhachi there.
In Germany, the S800 was presented to the press in Hamburg on 6 December 1966. At a further hearing on December 10 in Hamburg in the Hall of Nations, planet un Blomen, the racer Hans Herrmann had been engaged for the promotion and there were vehicles on test drives. As of October it was exported and after the construction of the dealer network, he was also in Germany as from 21 March 1967. This Honda S800 launched in 1966 as the first Japanese car manufacturer in Germany and was able to sell significant quantities ( 1967-1970 1.200 ). The S800 was the first Japanese automobile, the "sport auto, motor und " tested the magazine. On the occasion of the type approval measurement of the Federal Motor Vehicle Office at the Hockenheimring Ernst Leverkus could " no brainer " by the magazine " mot ", drive the car.
Officially, he was only sold in Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, England, Italy and Switzerland.
Technology
The small water-cooled 791- cc high-performance motor cast aluminum made up to 67.2 hp ( 50 kW) at 7,570 min -1 and was, longitudinal and 45 degrees placed to the left around the longitudinal axis inclined in the engine compartment to allow for a lower installation height. Mean piston speed at rated speed was 17.66 m / s The specific power output of 84.9 hp / l was in a production vehicle is quite high for this time. For the bearing of the crankshaft, and connecting rod bearings for the Honda used exclusively needle bearing, which had in addition to smaller friction losses also reached lower lubricating and cooling problems. Four Keihin CV carburetors horizontal (type CVB36N30A1 ) supplied the engine with the mixture. There were 12er spark plugs NGK Type D8ES ( DR8ES -L) and D9ES for tours, as well D10ES ( DR10ES ) used for racing. The firing order is 1-2-4-3 and the valve clearance (intake and exhaust) with a cold engine is 0.2 mm. The climbing ability is according to the operating instructions in a convertible and the coupe 25 % to 23%.
About a synchronized four-speed transmission, the power was translated. In the first type - Mark I - the S800 convertible (model code AS800 and the product code 516) or coupe (type code AS800C and the product code 525 ), the power through a propeller shaft to a differential and via one intermediate shaft and chain left and right on the rear wheels transmitted. The chain boxes with oil bath were supported as a swing through coil springs with telescopic shock absorbers inside the frame. The car therefore had an independent suspension. This design principle kept at Honda almost for the whole sport series. Only 752 Cabriolet and 242 coupes of the S800 was built by this early version in four months.
The S800 was from May 1966 Mark II, a conventional rigid axle on trailing arms and Panhard rod. Exactly 604 Cabriolet and 69 Coupes were built with this version until the drum brake was replaced by the disc brake on the front axle. The front wheels were out on wishbones and damped by shock absorbers and, sprung by two longitudinally located torsion bars that were mounted in the frame. The three-spoke steering wheel is made of aluminum and has a handrail ring of plastic as imitation wood. This sports car has been offered in two versions, a convertible and a coupe. In Germany was, according to the prospectus, the convertible in the colors red, white and yellow, the coupe in red, white, yellow, silver and later in gold metallic. The interior with leatherette seats was always black. As an accessory there was a radiator cover, cigarette lighter, inspection lamp, arm rest ( convertible), passenger sun visor, bumper horns, plastic hardtop ( convertible), Porter ( convertible) and tarpaulin ( convertible). The rear lights of the first S800 MK II, which was sold in 1967 Germany, got by the German TÜV approval only after 2x2 round German HELLA taillights were grown. The round reflectors were grown separately. The execution of the Japanese rear light, with flashing lights and in the middle of an integrated reverse light retroreflector were only two-chamber lights.
In February 1968, the S800 Mark III (type code AS800A and the product code 531 542 ) was produced and presented. He now had a dual-circuit brake system, a carburetor with accelerator pump (model 1000-338-00 ), recessed interior door handles and openers, and placed in the front grill turn signals were elongated and larger. The rear light units as a three -chamber lights, with side by side placed tail light / flashing light brake light (yellow) and reversing lights were now the same in all country versions. The front and side windows were more powerful for safety laminated glass and the heater. Only in the Japanese version is a radio was installed. Under the name S800M Honda equipped the car on with regard to the American market: Side turn signal with reflectors were an outer appearance feature. However, Honda failed because of the relatively strict U.S. emissions laws.
In connection with the motor there was a curious incident: after Honda stated that the engine was easily hold a speed of 10,000 min-1 because of its needle- bearing crankshaft, the Technical University of Braunschweig tested this on their test bench. It increased gradually the speed until there was a loud bang at 12,000 min -1. It had, however, not about broken the engine, but the test. At least that is handed down. Undeniably, the enormous speed stability of the engine, which was a beyond compare.
The S800 in motorsport
May 3, 1964: In a season-opening race for second Grand Prix in Suzuka, won the American racing driver Ronnie Bucknum in the class of GT -I to 1000 cm ³ with a white factory-backed S600 convertible with red hardtop (No. 15) and thus came as a driver in the Honda formula 1 racing team. The international racing debut, opened the New Zealander Denis Hulme, future Formula 1 World Champion (1967 ), on September 6, 1964 at the 500 - km race at the Nürburgring. With a white S600 Convertible / Hardtop Gran Turismo sports car (No. 88 ), who had to take the handicap on with about 630 cc to start ³ in the Gran Turismo class up to 1000 cc. He won in this category with an average of 106.3 km / h
May 28 1967: The team Barracuda, with drivers Carl Smet / Hughes de Fierlant, won with a yellow S800 Coupe ( No. 125) at the ADAC 1000 km race at the Nürburgring in the Gran Turismo class to 1000 cc. The 34 laps they drove in 7:04.26,4 hours and with an average speed of 109.8 km / h
September 3, 1967: The Japanese Tetsu Ikuzawa won with a white S800 RSC Convertible / Hardtop (No. 58) at 500 - km race at the Nürburgring in the Gran Turismo class up to 1000 cc and was faster than the winner of the class the sports car up to 1600 cc. The 20 laps he drove in 3:45.17,8 hours, average speed 121.6 km / h For the fastest lap he needed 11.04,0 min, average 123.8 km / h The engine should have made 108 hp ( 79 kW).
August 4, 1968: winner of the GT-1 class at the 12 -hour race at Suzuka were the Japanese driver Kuniomi Nagamatsu / Yoshifumi Kikura with a yellow S800 RSC Convertible / Hardtop (No. 25) with 872.8 cc ca. 108 hp ( 79 kW) made at 10,500 min -1. They took third place in the field up to 3000 cm ³ with racing cars.
As of April 1967, there were serious sports racer with complete S800 homologated competition kit, which had developed the plant for three times the price of the base model. The empty weight was reduced to 695 kg, the bumpers and the unnecessary parts were removed. The vehicle had a permanently mounted hard top, a roll bar and magnesium - alloy wheels. ³ The engine with 818 cm had a lighter crankshaft and dry sump lubrication. The power increased to 90 hp (66 kW) at 9,500 min -1. This performance was broadcast over a non -synchronized five-speed gearbox. The top speed was 180 km / h Only a dozen of these racing models came to Europe, half of them in France, where the car was mapped in a prospectus.
Successor
With the launch of the S2000 roadster in 1999 Honda revived the old sports car tradition. From the name establishes a close relationship can not be denied that technology and the speeds are similar.
Model Overview
( 730 kg coupe )
( 755 kg coupe )
( 13.9 s coupe )
(30 liter Coupe)
(Super Plus 98 ROZ )
(Japan only)
(Japan)
(1967)
( Number of items)
Production summary table
Vehicle inventory
In Europe about 7200 copies of the S800 were sold within 4 years, including 1200 in Germany. Of which there are, according to a 2009 survey of CARSABLANCA.de, total approx 108 vehicles with 49 convertibles and 59 coupes in all states, the vast majority in running order.
In Japan, S600 and S800 12,000 vehicles were from the S500, sold, of which 2,800 copies were still in 1978 in the possession of lovers.
The S800 in the media ( selection)
- In the comic book series Spirou & Fantasio the title characters drive in many of their adventures of a draftsman André Franquin in great detail reproduced white S800 Convertible.
- In the French movie La Boum 2 (The party ) from 1982 comes before a white S800 coupe.
- In the French / German film " The Girl Cut in Two " Original Title: La fille en deux coupée 2007, drives a lead actor a silver S800 coupe. The movie is directed by Claude Chabrol old master.
Quotes
" The Honda S800 is an unusually inexpensive automobile; where else can you get a proper sports two-seater for less than 8,000 marks. The fact that the Honda is a true sports car and not only looks like he proved by its good performance and an engine, as found rarely. In addition, since the processing and quality is good European standards, its sales success will be difficult to avoid in the long run. Since it does offer sporty handling and a sophisticated engine technology at a very reasonable price. "