Visit to Honda Collection Hall, Motegi

[samoht]

In hilly countryside about eighty miles north of Tokyo lies Honda's Twin Ring Motegi circuit, which we all know from GT. Within the circuit grounds, Honda also maintain their company museum, the three-storey Honda Collection Hall. On this most recent trip to Japan, I finally got organised to visit the museum, so I thought I'd share my pics, along with a bit of background info on some of the exhibits.

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The S500 was the first Honda car; initially designed to Kei-class regulations, Honda decided to extend the boot and engine capacity, from 360 to 500cc, to make it a 'proper car'. The roller-bearing crank, sky-high redline, and independent rear suspension using drive chains down the trailing arms all show how Honda applied their motorbike expertise to the four-wheeled world.

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This was the original plan - S360 Kei sports with cropped tail (never put into production)
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As a company, early Honda seemed torn between founder Soichiro's instincts and the needs of Japanese post-war society. Honda-san was a true petrolhead whose priorities were revs, power and speed, and whose passion for racing, both at the Isle of Man and in F1, matched that of Enzo Ferrari. The rapidly motorising Japanese society of the sixties and seventies, however, needed economical, practical vehicles. The upshot was Hondas like this T360 - a practical work truck meeting the Kei-class limits, with the same roller-crank engine revving to 9,000 rpm and putting out twice the horsepower of competing Kei trucks.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RNj5xbRVCeERQYGN6zToC0HpktahXKDuefvPDT0szTI-B6LmdnqCh0PfSic7oTlB9jUmk_i9WhgtZuo9teP1sqBoyoJzzN EpbJdEL1QxUZAqkXc3_qVwjtSKaJDOrPgdMATXiUSc5EmfI4SR-5HnN7DW6tbwb3bnPuh7RSsf4KBrA1_hhZo-hzTTFZnjTsjiWZIJr3r6qzZMzs8p_DE-Z1zhax3RvrLcQFmrzl7eB1ShjLUjkoawUDQVoVPRug9M0uSCKf qY8mMFxEp2W3FmZQGsqpUGlDFCj6n8zysxddPJ5pIn0GL1mJvR bsWZY_qauNABMX_AumN5Lq2fJ_xfdfglFvou0IZBEuicnXIMup azlsxLv8NAfDg6nE9f6K6b-LjiFNd5MO7TWjzBzW4jQaZu-e6ofvD2FCjnTFTv2drB5_UQtAPrHCzkrSREOTI-Km9ZqH55OFRswUb7Q1OaQ7UKZrFtjg-DvwGsiq-1hZMRHUPxRxePWYQjQZYDCZjzHT7bDWrRlMSY0ONEYGFSU2As1 d6ipMMOinUHuimGFgaQ3ODbGYQLRLkjqpxexsu9rIHBjjfDhdi RhTxbE-Y3WOqHKPFe3Ttg2jGmcM86c9tpaxzgSxNXbUhHGafKReEBou6h ulzXTuoSyBnUBJSKtxHrIKDPs1A6hp0Ljo3pqWDfRmvwgi4JU6 GYJcdp1f8jiIMxlrnK5kdnC5sl-CZe2byD3g=w958-h719-no
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[samoht]

Simultaneously with launching their first cars, Honda decided to prove themselves to the world by competing in F1, culminating in winning the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix with Richie Ginther in their RA272 (this is the sister car in which Ronnie Bucknum came fifth).
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X4E0sucsxIwl6E8qdLjwAtu6KNZgb6hf7Rb10Yy8QUdUN3eNyw 3NOyS8CQhQn5XT3t9TZi5t7z9GAgUeULusTYTBHcjjRknpT4ky RR6Gv0VdEc-m84wyOyrGUZycWfAwLu-vn0huQaQr0VIZ37MBI99LqIdCD4ebdFSzleJFiFSxXWKq8rFcw vwSypNVSkiw6XP_fy9E-TC4reolgDoj5y5gwJSQMF5PmaQFGiQuTCRFpicQ9xWOUN7TaOB WYFfeCMIhTWXtItS-rQodcESyKjXxDzuuGK3p06m9V5V3dKNzaJEryNzSRvLW8vxv4v uxvVxFFYQBhdPlwIKQYkjCdDH67W2fL4bFvHKlwzHJrS8MT8mC 5mpIQHqOM95IGcxoiWqxNNMVBnRUnWj3Z9lTxAz4d-kmV1bZ8RDDVTbbXjEFYqrjt0OJ3FAaDKyVrdSGI-fMUAtKUbknc-c9xWP8cZbDxZrut4PaT4IERW1R9txOJ_Xl5DxGalMfht_bWw7I rFiPVb8Eis9JTwTJDk1pm8TX2lU9mwUONtv3eGB29RDmXDDmTD f0gMLQXNJv1O-2B-WnssV3-2qOIy2OYo4zC2rw3swuzj3VyPr2y5EnlpPZjKGAwxVBIpp7WXH fVeU6hhMptD59fQ8VLyw5CZbrHStbbQ8-Mi1WnN8iwi3hrCha8-P-XNw9bWU_RcwBs3viZbydWIf30qQNchWP8-43uzCujQ=w959-h639-no
The transversely mounted 48-valve 1.5L V12, making 230hp @ 13,000 rpm and often leapfrogging rivals off the starting line
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The Curtiss aero-engined racer that Soichiro was riding mechanic in for his boss at his first job
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From humble beginnings... military surplus generator, hot water bottle as a fuel tank, adapted onto a bicycle for mobility in post-war Japan
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The N360 Kei car with its powerful air-cooled engine that established Honda as a car manufacturer. This was the right car at the right time, and its space-efficient FF packaging and power advantage over other Keis made it a smash hit for Honda.
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Honda's success with the air-cooled N360 led Soichiro to become fixated on air cooling. Having secured their place in the Kei market, Honda's next step was to follow up with a full-size family car, to capitalise on Japan's growing wealth and to have a car they could export to the West. Soichiro insisted on air-cooling, forcing his engineers to create a clever ducted-flow engine for the H1300 saloon and coupe.

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However, the ducting added weight over the nose, the air-cooled engine couldn't provide cabin heat to clear the windscreen on startup nor meet upcoming emissions regulations, and on top of all that the car proved expensive to make. The engineers, together with co-founder Fujisawa, got together and forced Soichiro to step back from leading Honda engineering. This freed the staff to launch the first Civic, complete with water-cooled CVCC engine that met the US 'Muskie Act' emission regs without a catalyst, stealing a technical and PR lead over Toyota, Nissan and the US Big Three.

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[samoht]

The middle car is the 1967 RA300 that won the Italian GP that year - by this time Honda were using a Lola-developed chassis
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/M8GYvyfS9drjOjnwL6Rvy8FaXkNxW1lx5hYR6Td87oo8pP7jtw Rmkgf1OMVmo11yrArAnzl2gPWEO_Unliv_NvoUDtDzAu_1LPCB hJL1HnCNfBtek47synrHy0qsU22Td47cbK_MLundhE7bMLkoNo J1hQQTxd6oKR-C7tdIXkEM2GsUO3ejNMjLkovrbhsqRkMIGHwZMM84EjT6k7f1Q v-35dG1sLXqfy23FFWWYQdmmlQ7i-PmjaA0PXsY2BU78dyz0tRE3dJcMxCRVE_ZVQXjA6-aTCkwM0HkHkuZvCuCjYp5UyP3sCxeNFU34UUsi2MAWWbo5D0k_ mBA7vy-YX9bH87550YVCNNmTiemC1Kc5-NgGSnNKq39qEUBC0wp5e7LLfhFQvvTc_mLOkwkhini3RSprlAY m1JDFdDMWweMLae3ibhSOQb1ZF-cBmhQn94nNs9RUS79kiVRdRzRdZC90iHPm1GOFe4g9Z5QdmQzH cTzihyl9mVtcYsfg4J7TuxcdgH7WneLW19RxD56ZEsQ9PjOyTK UdbJpezuKqx6PRMZA-7aul2nQcyJk5PI_gElwMS_K8xjur01bwrc2yYSv8_hvcHpHyxL xKc8eFM-zMH93my3qDNZ5-6SRM0XxzKkZapicZGMH2XFU5DDUm_6Xr96I06Ij9OEG2NzYL-bamTRaRVX46O_bypze6PO-seR9gXqu56i3MwHjcTqmEnANwA=w959-h639-no
On the right is the updated RA301 of 1968, complete with early aero. This car's development was limited due to the fact that Honda's air-cooled faction, led by Soichiro, created the rival magnesium-bodied R302 with air-cooled V8 and entered it under the name of Honda France. The fatal fireball that this latter car went up in at Rouen led on to the end of Honda's first stint in F1.

NSX-R NA1, with lightweight mesh engine cover
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/V9UdykBuLXz2nrTayt9YxVAJClPhavepYNimbpkpFUW9I4H2vl wtPSDB0hMu4kx0O8HEcGwDpz2jrPVYTa4T90EvadY0j0o1u18-0p9HsVDPHNln05tswZW9ckxz4tLH2hXJg0F6ltM8x7CjAxpp2v 1uyV8mOWUplkrGeIVSJwnvztuX8E4Zqc-Yvvlha5YyscXRfRI28EmP6ja0FhkGtzuY1q8Glyg3KCYqLBImk QfodjWMR8nGYBzAre3g7xkJ4mngetBMpYkoRPNsJzGOVpkRe6G nk86hzpCPwrwxaRrWCe90hY7P5csopbhp9-YkWzh9Flr51GixGu6nGGt07lvR2ipYVnrvdT0B0DhelQd6Zb7-pivrchbEWxh58zjNyEzB7OUtxGfluzlElWjm9Zp5bjmLlDRN3W ABGQuuI5xeFiWTctg0-AskNStnOUBrjjsnzB3JowSF0fhC5xx68xxc5jYN8dQp7kfaUII Kt4d3MAr7vzK-qT6pCW2p6BUdgWS28QPV9Qy_kpEY93lYofWgGFi1FuPzeJpW2o hFk9Z1RftZRSYU_yHuMq3uORy01ZVxfgq9SIg82XVLFiU0P8nw jQFztjD4EciJjwwvjSXE00zQCoGtDiNU54211rXYJbvvJdL0zU RSDj-nPPXMsfWBN5U9cRAcFvNRAtFwkePmydHQNQnkdYtSmiPE-gBnlPGudh1au2Hjc-M0f-CeU6Pqkw=w959-h639-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/n7zajEn5LiKrURcwTrgvNcfy957aikPWsnBoIMNXk01uHGCfKI kadLloiFo9Rbo3KIIux1m7ODKeQ9Cb8ANSlaWJgcFjN8aLsjCz UH1ZX23jA9P-zh74UqplgBOBU_dOQSzwO-SAKP_nisnmEKCcPiDMXHQXY7jas-4CQRpjUWWUdwObm6mTmiJylODUw134CKnLVEkCGOmNCiAD1gfF cFZaocFFifAuK-bxxdD1C8sau8TYuNnaxVJrNlPDQI96zkODR_Nz0O3xaVBRc5WP V4qcFJB6G9PfB7-ahGz_NVsKIZYXponmIxBt28-n5sg7U2dvcSgxM2TBjf5x5-VDH2qqNJrroBWabIkBYPmKAkKLUnUA3bfrOoxtC7xdeDO4LWV0 tc4SP98qpp4LqJUyX4CGJAnmivd9ToKnc93xOtPVhJ2_H5K-WeGSH21bTrUQ1YmyKYN8Yzi8ZyP9UeqBDlVgew_vaX2zmyWHUf HEU5khjEprLGTSiw6YP30XyzqZpwvSZpm7Qox-ZUVQYNJ40dm9kDZGHeO7iGRG8Haeu8Y__skn8L0w9d-SeHStwECm20kKWpcgIYMODezi0ogVxIbF_p4ZanG3bNkYovKIe aaVMLGX9cK_BmxUs61SmEzdO3_8memhA8-zrnQDc1_JVmTG_lE9DM2UP2HSWpu28CLuUhGC5auLG7AN1lasm lzJCSZdFI_ya44YhT1DjnQpQlR_GA=w643-h965-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Pg29hb6ATex2IKl78y-ewJL8PSBqC9uqJ3buR1L9JBOBC87X0HyRTr74wnSmq-YYXQFb1qjsiNfZnTPiE_ApGp0WsTHO1l5KwSiM-qPXp2VzjZP2PGIOsbdhqEpdci01Kxv-CIYuw7tdK401ibhNftONZVVpdha5QE4EpNs9-TlzsZ_xjyQZo6A1uHvNX8N7BujUpKKcE6uCP83q-oRpemXlq0o5yKIPM2DSJYLzNLuewfqE4GPIx5FlnUn3f9xxsML rHKABFyjZK-YXw2OA0fK8blTf5xk0SvjuMSrnrB_ZcqrLvzkHAH6b0K9bzi3I rhnFEbPOdRE0KL-WvpyUNGtG5F-9uhW-Zg9xe0qaP7YTk8oBHDZ5R4KwnrCJX_Tk1ZUd-dmjv8vxUd6980QGhZuxuZgYAU1pSMRb3e1gSr4O4yKwC0EqGpU a9Dsu8nYiB4kkQkCuWyENSycxTX4WQPvcHlHVFCQDBgHo6E_FJ PW9MtkiFycRdSote41SZbgKI5KIsxQXlz-KCRVUST9vD7XN8XPTxipXDyXYcKyl2GQaKUG7UpZVZNAYD8BkX ycyhX8mupMs2fxFiOitStqOnckTlZu0VPQT9GSKucmYgEF07gD Ju2E91p9AMETuKeYKKN1DOHNhAwD0TAndaX2TRmt4Jihevl--EGYFKDLCZlK-7aw3jE5e7A0_WtFt2yWmpsjizPJIf6DgRtDRYUYEG4h6Hw=w95 9-h639-no

The Beat was a spiritual successor to the S360 Kei sports, complete with high-revving naturally aspirated 660cc triple, zebra-striped seats and motorbike-style instrument binnacle
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PJDgezYgUt_Q6iln_rnSwAq_aKvc22RyUPo-W_TgeBRyU3W710Or32YjCRC4vX0WTjGSa5g8PysYtDF_9Z_aXJ WFXmojNzwZyO4gdJByc7IMJFmGM5q7OZc1CtYqqYHG5d_PF4e0 jWOigi3SPFPefmSkOdUjR13ZKnhE-LOPemj1K8N63JHPtJpxWNdUYtf3TCazFrZADNzxqzNPMMwcqWv FdLRE8qo2A-LhJ__su5sT3s50l08vQfc2py1rEqMA72oxaLeKA3WE54g40Cby AhLUYQ7UZJGLO4KQmzoUXrrr368xlORl1quJ-tK5qIOeFAE4roS5wAqHHzlWnesa8U8w9OdMC6xsXmAejEbamQh wmHc8j_QRT41mZ8v0n5jmakXA3vnE007ycydRs6luxMDk0i0af GLdiPNngdNPWTjYBZv1Rhy3OQeKEpF7R8KLJf1WOwbAZUhD6Dc eeDzlL-sk1MHy_79M6HQN28G8MbX2LUX8s1mw7TJ-smNsgzIZQJAVekrfb8YXMYKie6cXB-NTevGtMhrvdcp7OXOgbFy3mZt2WPGb2f4nOHNQR7pDxdhNj4MX wqM7hBIEEmvi8gmEkIwXNvQDVjp4VnehstwZiXCjARZ9L2Z1uR x9VTfx8hUzoZKudy-460ZD-4aBVQSn96VffFNCXmxFiuzHpxJoYdhv0FQF4cF5pfxkF0dmW7d 7L7jP2nxWLJecFwSBryiViQ=w958-h719-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wzGMHxIaoNaUbjddXOpWXaTCc1tR5bYg5iElOzn9nqxnKHG5SR-jEr3iw-Setypu2w5YYhlLZBktP7AqmB-96vnwDh17h9TuEEyiyxeL2de3wv3z1tSn_kAQ1gD0BtQyGMAyp 2RhJ7Imhwij8zB_q-RuQFjOjgkqXUI5du5V1q0ppgKpNPupJdM1nhBKijmHN4k67j15 1kJyCbsZPqj68IUDKLUOFhtxmcjdBavQt98fgXkc_WJ9l-GV-AdtfFD6IShT3kJn5A02wSKT0iw6EUeZe4fIgosXHp43-7DopYSlvNxC7eDDaKttLxciAdJeFaZWDPjN5yhF7bElpmkiXGq Zs53TLBpcueyyOz-c7Q5AVRwZ5GZftxEvGYd2fm4QveI-l3T2V6o-5WyclhP4Y8rR_ySJ2E0khfKw1iBr_dcdOTd2EadLdVPv1GnLSi cGSWeriEkleaIIco7rMvAz7o-xRHkCSZ6TDXLyb7dc5UcbTeNWAD_q6zZHkNYpf77PADEAlDp7T YAfSac9rzPCRmm3gw2CZ00Rd5yn1tiY0KuVCMzqPYBUDGVdub5 813vZosV7tOQMMRV94W6_RwLBUBfgJKWosH4LZdU86CBOj3bGV si7guA8oS9EgNh2jEl7LWpXP1ei5uXM1LjSO2HQtIh4ywKlpe7 PpTyXBWISJD3j_JGnaFlWY_ZYF_JHhjkymx-49QGvaVpUT8vyYuWs-FI21w=w959-h639-no

Remember when Honda was at the cutting edge of environmentally friendly tech? It wasn't that long ago
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nzRTIL5JsZXwbLw_mbs8Iq1Tljz2v6WKFklCb8JPBTiG6B6n6o qcoFXVYuoCPnC0nl55JnjYrcjoUX2n5Fv0gOqhhS8gyiEDRtxv RsSAw2PzXsAistgBFUziw7NArS1KCqMOEsFJxiRE9fnn3OwTNC _I_2PoaNEeC3DbLp_cxNrJ7mDqDlxMJEvtde2oRQ6uLFfmczzY 2n3V0jDStz9SyDiMKiuWBYqyS9I7IcgSHWijYXIjB5ywd0fxOO _7H2KGLoTvRafWvsf3NKEYSylykV4gCAe-Ei342_2N4vM6qZnF6pfwqLheKgcyNZ7hTEFCXG-Z6NeUKuVLhYzOLIdcovu1aUTnXWarw3Zy-N8ZIsdDVmkKVdRJrPNpFAwj2W2wzcEgbk3Ly2DCveMqRe7b9p2 P_96RBX7hEP9uaRf0NRSGhL7ys5Pyb4kbL69zcVRi5XjUwRSqu iU2o60cnNccskAnXNkWlXdR7rKIofgQw2bwXDoW8bESiJYEnQ7 jk5vCBx-Ow01UuYFygSyJuIeqRzPNA09KBenu6qyxVhyERv54DFpzsEp6-kJQ8i7XHEXmZ3nXH-BcpOvPvTXPfgAVZiwgzRmcqDEyCpZrfKLiVcQqn5OVPYJP93rD JFkS_FXoS7OD5Lo6typnNITf_xDRMmbSzjDsmtVAtyKDrliOQh MCaawK6IrYPhfGvpmJL0lun-eNF8pfynEG_dadfJ4gbpcCAA=w959-h639-no

DC2 Integra Type R with the lower-profile JDM headlights
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GkkEGrIsd_PmGZu_Ota2QkMO0gDvKP7ucxfkEYINnrUHLfrvKE KwXSUhe8Wp3NGc3D2xbnKmVJF_k2M-SqjLykCmQpup_F2cCWuQTAIes3WiWdbaWXPXADb4ge1BYWf6BX m7oq8riMeQYVy0rlsO0DCz4UUg_4ORjdkH10QDntlNbUvo-q7V9FZZU9xk6GYSUC5yFHH-yHCnii5BPAyhkjbEdveWbh-VHfgY3icXB3iQgkv_qzq3XKhmIWTNKWlFzAnNeYeooA0DOXZDC OmWzTAQwWXJuzUHYt-Sp_HFWhRHQvv4PToTkWVhcApffEQwO7zBVq4_xUwPst7DL7Bo8 rFQnB5TDh5ZMIfi3TUjIQAKnHmFvKDa6rrIm-6FXekS8cmd_V0wW4UGbI7iWEPr5KNawMGWTHTlt5jIr8qQbrV5 L-_gUtYuut06FUN0r7a7JFm3C57mnvgfLMqsD-7JS1X0bt_EabuW4SWzmMrCA76WUvjg-viIaD7KY1PjbpPNpJ9gi-dcsg7rNJtcQV8IrIWMpDAkLLvpoRw1qBlIKVvwmqOPt8kJmL2Y Twf4zcGTtqOkRCOvj30XGiP1i9-ZuAu3ql4VuK6jLy1hCD_6vTJMKyqiyvkbEcBpvmPpr-h-xqbuxa1umhZ-5ePAZTK2yT0zUu0SX8VkoBEfuIiqZrCETI_O_s2jjNcFrlmbcA 0b7ExIILPb7CE8tWdNKsEZ_N7myw=w958-h719-no
and sibling EK9 Civic Type R
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OZjy2prfJXhmQtXNcCA94onCAcQiDVG9xwYIp6Ia1C4H-h24ss9QvFJgPFPcRNDJppumcQW81ubLrx8k3WLqALpj8JpnQMB PdZa7ZhojuoZfWw9VtC6hGqJeZpwoag8H_nFG3fbVqQx3-IyUJGhEgvkGUd0X8WHpgIj0TupDz2MdG9pxMUqAkRUkqTPi_B4 tkXXI_QCn-n6GvrUBioxqYt4kxfJPT4A00ulZf3M7KL-LzuLcW8jM_SVPkGolOHRSbmp072crblqLq7NGLyCSFtlvE-HRZLCl7uADIGYa8LYZFUR4I7hiDz2SGN2zHoH0oohDUVU_bJwO 4VJXMy7YY0hEbsiRqxKJS1KrP3RwAJI7wtN5BmlcSgMo_9cJnB 6qdn1QULhkEdISpOyUvvpFJtztaOAusB51fWw78XVvir5aLsR8 4iMdR9deTeiQItrfYbbjmKQ-6So_WF7h1cBqMM8HfM57DmBkbiErxT3Frhvlcd7fxRUdjg9JPr Ta45HmpZxYdd74vKvkbT4ByBtMvr2H6EvP4WsBw7Mw6OmmEnS6 RBoCEPewTo3vBKEw0UO9eId61xzDKnmmAgpQK7FL5bO1mdYj4P zJ-HKN5ZiyXDE2VUkTckW2FuEHU-BGT16LXkVR5SdnEqjPEyUlvOXmhhUBhyXevi2KAv_P40nd-fNWND62J7YEbplr3-sLxwJjKWZk3sJaQkqqHPMOjUbAbW-bPA=w958-h719-no

One of the nice things about the museum (at least mid-week) is that it's not crowded
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cY8y2FF4jSTWAqRPaOQHrGB8LiBbbtX84B6tlrHjI4OfmGPeQA J76eNwBevFVWrPX4hBANFv2YZQIQrYUGzCC4SilVreDZROmeAB mmRNADEHB7CjOGnGiDYkea7pRTGkyMvxFfJ2ef47tU_Eq4zYh2 REFTuV_9sc6jMp1vso8VMfcc8R_ozEREhxINuqRJcR3yRnlwuq ZaPowsB0tuG0cBYCxLoh9ZqdGs5zJx6SOVOOvZ_guQZslBi4Ji inM8rmIUaIN1_3VSUOtl130Cbom1Qb3cvWR2fyhbWJHg6Bx-ixFpNEZKR_Xa3pLJgtTw1NCKCpbQJzig6yzY2fdkEYFfTyXTSs oGKwQjHqD2Pg8YsL9wENvHnLkXOcCkFjA6_hM-H-UBS1HV3QBeZLi06AYUto9gJmV3iVZQqElEO97cpHgdRvC_KaXn DjCkKDHLH16rPpWI_1bB2py9sK1lzpGNTtBvv0u9IF50tyrnFR Y7c1s6D-q0q9Ph7YYcCKjS3DRZwVRLH7m2GBIIWFWSiCvfp2jTHJrIn-s4tkUnJm7jG8VFqF5jD-jSnDkezD8dors6upKqX_RlAC_i5daHsZoa58YnWfMtFm7xdmt-udvioI9BwhKTETdjLHHfweDjQAuWzd4m6RQdb0XLxAnT-HY6EivDfCiwglPU9W-7fQzj3itwUrcPnmlPrdD_56wrUmgtQ9a4IRgxE2ms9looBf5UA fWA=w958-h719-no

Sculpture representing Soichiro Honda's first business, manufacturing piston rings pre-war
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jhZdSrCwdHoD_KJiZTNiUvUk6ZT3BUw3P1H-Pei9sB8JRGnxX99PBdbH-9CeyNTfcCG_K_frqWbA1gHiIsPlMWNqZ3sQPslCyvMBVy_OOZ6-AGcsNEs66NbqDgCAhOv38D6NNoNqRjDHAFLlgpuPyuMPua2lUG t7CmFH9u1-iPr6Jz3MSjtDDYEMTQujXzwsgvukbXOuYHO1Hz83Ga-Zh6vOLqCCJRnefeLIJN3DwDaeBAYWTz6QP-qM7q3_Ax_ugU_3Bc3nVle-NZUNTGqTzxNX07Db66jjWZuMyejdUpwJrChuIaJlhBT5aKgvkr eS23Lmr4c4fNl-s5lxec06Jb147UlViCfRkWM1JNTfBcdxbESGhc14aRtOo3LzV0 fKfOByPH29iNty3hkpq9aKo8ET3wG0yifxtYid4idGx7jYZYon qTNMjywuAzF0B9qqz0tfCDMLMhabdXtZfnk5WDl-C7OchCP2FuFtqDpoKsyNviTQXliUbef0Njcl6SqsaIePI70wUX zktKmssYtNEaIhbVQPW1V1DBCuGbGQaGVepwycWkIbeQ0v6F1Q PLk_ZSTFklQ6hSVx7C6lsisTR5jFyas3qLjD2l2yxdMShSxz36 rkCnl2flTQUrNrx1Rj_lCaQu7-RXO-aFkMD5M6-drmSxZ1a09mqvdLNENGfnoOQaz5eG8Rc8_5sQFlky9elNgal-pBOJ51Kz_Qz-aVI-p3hg=w643-h965-no

[samoht]

If you get the chance, I'd definitely recommend the museum; everything is translated into English, and it's a nice collection of rare and important Hondas. Not pictured above is the half of the museum dedicated to Honda's motorbikes, which I don't know anything about. I recommend hiring a car, either from Tokyo as we did, or probably better to take the train to Utsunomiya and hire a car from there. Visiting really needs a whole day, by the time you've got there and seen everything; we didn't have the chance to check out any of the other stuff on-site.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aN9rApUneZU0-6gMJTLcZVZFv9jumQI70xXvCPcTiVNiMubW9w_hj1c1FW0YJRv ae-EfnP9R-LzKr1dm46XzCqY5q_cuTAn8IM47nXGZuxWTe44PnzvARhTedYX A4LjbjzktiOa2u_-7KYruBZt4nFCzUhXlyA530CFd3_NhM3eSucDi_ytae9k680AaM YZEx3jsZ_TnYnXKBvPq0iZmkrL7nAHA71dF7y6Ug3c-9rkC5F0P1U6kmvF38rfQ3HclAybwWshYrnuwX95TuLlcHVVQVt vePl2uqBawlInJMo2O4eP0ZlRT7n0YFeQ8MmhRL9RIto46IqJ-9W6_F7mgfNFntapBhNED2NdBy_y28b7ZMpKOfTICkkDeOyZMis TAh8QSzLbD2HNiZhqomumkSgRvpCxEuKlqlFq6MfJ5ShzfhbC1 X7j8VW_xzOCrorwJcdPYwuxhJzQGsTG5HSHHfPYI5QU5fioG2K XI_yMGSS7SgiUc9etyTFWYF2qWfcXOMTKvlhKyeQvwSZq6he3a rmMZHgVk9ICiRKIIziDOqYin4bUtgfrqjG19U6LW2Q_dW8dX1K YCSmUDWkBSucpcoXHqeiZymT4GxqXYhTvo8eJXNxRlUSXWEpJM McPnvHoR_XhqtWueoBYrMn-q-wV_T3ztWwWgtzC-Ee2hhvHR6iFlwJx0gRK_J3tLZzRT4bicOX4w6-TvHW3OSLXTwqjP5PNZjA=w959-h639-no


PS all my photos can be seen here https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOQ8NjKmaP064QPah7M61_oCBeE2vnbfQqW-nA48bOaP4ja4FtKoowxU96M6LeI-A?key=RllSZDY4cEhFQ2tUYUY4M0NzMmdRNURTRE5lS19B

[Post split into four parts as Google Photos' long URLs meant it exceeded the 10k character limit per-post.]

[speedpimp]

Thanks for sharing Samoht.

[Rare White Ape]

Glorious. I wish you knew more about the bike stuff, as their achievements on two wheels are as important as the four wheel.

[Rare White Ape]

And people complain about halos on F1 cars!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/iGvMktQnl0O0J1PilucdEGBy8wdjiB9Sb8R969G81bRDAdq-jSZbTgamKlaXwt5htzXTqIrYIiSP-dOOUrGWeFSzPOsBXzgE9bpYbkrf987C6mBMJHgVw8NFC3cndDs QEL5NYJ1Xblon-DAIsTr3dNXhicn_wg

[George]

Very nice. Thanks for taking the time to share pictures.

[XHawkeye]

:up: :up:

[Yw-slayer]

Incredible! Great write up, appreciate the effort. I'll be in Tokyo next week, not sure I'll have time to go there and tok Megaweb though.

[FaultyMario]

Thanks, dude.

[Dicknose]

Id argue the bikes are almost more important than the cars... the have been the dominant manufacturer for sales and race results for maybe 30 years.

Looks great - Ive done similar tours at BMW, Merc and Porsche - just amazing the history of these companies.
On my list for my next Japan visit.

[Cam]

:up:

[MR2 Fan]

I've been to Toyota MegaWeb in Odaiba, Tokyo which has basically a HUGE new car showroom, lots of interactive exhibits, you can test drive cars on a private track (IF you have an international license), and they also have a historical museum nearby which has cars from lots of different brands, kinda nice for Toyota to show appreciation of other brands, not just their own.

I've also seen a Nissan showroom in Yokohama just near one of the main train stations, but no historical cars from what I remember.

[Crazed_Insanity]

Never been to Japan, but will definitely try to visit this museum sometime... thanks for sharing! :up:

BTW, I can't believe Honda Museum always get shafted with the lesser of the 2 F-1 cars... Even the famous McLaren..., they didn't get Senna's car, but only Prost's?!?!?

[Rare White Ape]

The exhibits change tho, Billi.

Go find the virtual tour on the museums website, it has the #27 MP4/5B that Senna drove. Looks like it was recently swapped out for the Prost MP4/5 from a year earlier.

[Crazed_Insanity]

Oh really? Didn’t know that... is it customary to swap around cars like that?

[Rare White Ape]

Museums are always moving exhibits and sharing them around.

[Dicknose]

Ferrari world has empty spots - I guess the sheik was driving that car for the week

[Crazed_Insanity]

That's crazy..., but I suppose it's easy enough to move cars around. For sure nobody's gonna move the space shuttle out of the California Science Center!

[Rare White Ape]

Yeah obvs big exhibits like that are pretty well glued in place. But these mechanical Picassos get shared around, taken to events, used at Goodwood.

If you visit the McLaren Technology Centre on Google Maps you can take a virtual walk inside and look at the cars on display, plus peek into the service area where Classic McLarens are maintained and kept in running order.

That is where these particular cars will go in-between trips to museums around the world.

Porsche is very liberal with its collection. Old Porsches go on world tours to dealerships and classic racing events all the time.

[CudaMan]

Fantastic photos and story, samoht! Thanks for sharing.

[Phil_SS]

Thanks Tom! Awesome pics and notations. :up:

[IMOA]

Certainly some of the main exhibits are the same as when I was there (I think around 2012?) but yeah, they definatley change. I've seen some of senna's old cars regularly at the F1 in the Honda exhibit and looking through my photos I do have photos of #27 in the museum :) Even looking at the ones I thought were the same (the 60's F1 car and GP bike taken from above) apart from the fact Samoht and I took an almost identical photo the F1 car in my picture is #11 driven by Ginther, not the #12 in Samohts. So yes, they change things about, even when you don't think they have :)