Honda’s racing roots run deep. Soichiro Honda, the pioneer of the brand, oversaw the construction of a test track in Japan in the early 1960s that became known as the Suzuka International Racing Course, and for short, the Suzuka Circuit.
While the 3.8-mile course was initially used as the company’s private proving ground, it went on to host events such as the Japanese Grand Prix, endurance races, and even motorcycle competitive racing programs.
Honda’s pride in track-based engineering became evident in the development of a roadster called the S2000 which was first known as the “SSM” concept in 1995.
The Pick of the Day is a 2005 Honda S2000 that wears a shade of paint named after that special racetrack: Suzuka Blue. It’s advertised by a dealer on ClassicCars.com in Seattle, Washington, with an impressive pedigree.
The seller states that the prior owner was in his 60s and owned it for 11 years. He kept the Honda true to its original configuration, which includes the rare optional factory hardtop in a matching shade of blue. Today, the car has only about 88,000 miles, which for most Hondas is barely broken in.
In Honda enthusiast circles, the 2000-03 model year S2000s are referred to by their chassis code: AP1. A mid-model refresh for the 2004 model year brought about the AP2, and the S2000 was retired after 2009. The updates for 2004-onward included retuned suspension, revised cosmetics (tailpipes, taillights, and front/rear bumpers), and most importantly, some engine tweaks.
Among the engineering feats of the S2000 was an engine that delivered the highest horsepower per liter of any mass production, naturally aspirated engine vehicle at the time. For the AP2, the displacement was raised by Honda to 2.2 liters, and redline reduced from 9,000 RPM to 8,800 RPM. Along with this, peak torque increased by 6 percent while output of 237 horsepower remained unchanged.
Today, the marketplace for clean, original S2000s is hot. The seller acknowledges what a rare find this Honda is.
“Pride-of-ownership condition throughout,” the ad reads. “You must see and appreciate – drives and looks like it has 40,000 miles. If you have been searching for an S2000, you know that it is almost impossible to find a full-history, never-modified, never-tracked, never-raced, all-stock example.”
This high-revving Honda roadster is up for grabs for $19,998, but act quickly because it might not last long.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
July 30, 2020 at 08:01AM
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Pick of the Day: 2005 Honda S2000 that reflects its racing heritage - The ClassicCars.com Journal
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