As a nine year old in 1970, I had wondered how my dad's ancient 50's Hillman Minx was going to get us from Sheffield to Southsea (270ish miles each way) for our family holiday (plus all the excursions in between). When he came home in a bright red N600 (rented) his plan became clear. Neighbours flocked from all over to openly laugh at it as we crammed in our luggage and expressed grave doubts that we'd ever return. But we had a great holiday, the little Honda thrummed along the motorway with our parents up front and me and my little sister on the back seat resting our feet on the luggage in the rear footwells. It never missed a beat the whole week and while most people I knew continued to sneer at Japanese cars for the next decade or so, I knew early on they were the future. When I learned to drive and passed my test 12 years later, it was in a Triumph Acclaim - oh the irony.... Thanks for the memories Ian, the sound alone brings it all back!

My friend had one of those Honda’s in high school, we had a large wind up key with a suction cup that we would stick on top of the car. And when we would stop at a red light, I would get out and act as if I was winding up the car.😉

Massive Honda fan here. What makes this so great is Ian's joyous enthusiasm, really puts a smile on your face.

When I was in high school back in the 1970s my friend had a N600 saloon and I had an Austin Mini. We used to go bombing around together- we made quite a scene driving two minuscule cars around our town the Midwestern United States.

I bet British Leyland laughed their heads off at those. Look who's laughing now!

That's one thing I love about older Hondas, manufacturers of the time turned out cars that were built with "That'll do" in mind, but Honda basically said "No, it won't, we will do it better!!!", and they did, so much innovation and clever engineering, coupled with reliability and quality, it's no wonder they became so big, and, as far as I'm aware, they have never been owned by another car manufacturer, which says something... :)

That gearbox runs better than some fitted to brand new buses today.

There were thousands of these back in the day in Australia. The same with the Suzi 4x4.

In 1986, I was given a lift from Boston to Norwalk Connecticut, about 170 miles, much of it on freeways with huge Mack trucks bombing past us, in one of those Hondas. It is probably the most vulnerable I have ever felt on the road, and I am a biker!

The Hondamatic in the Civic and Accord in the seventies and early eighties was a semi-automatic, so I'm surprised that this is fully automatic. Fabulous little car!

THE smallest car that i can think of,to have a column change gearbox. Absolutely love it.

I'm glad to see Noddy's car is safe and cared for. I noticed it in the background !

During the sixties and seventies my parents lived next door to the local Honda dealer owner. His wife always had the latest car. She had an N600, a Z coupe (remember them?), various Civics and whatever else was around. I always thought that they were cool even as an early teenager at the time.

Amazing little machine! Makes you wonder what could have happened had the BL and Honda joint venture deal happened 5 or 10 years earlier.

My first car was an N360! Rescued from an empty house and rebuilt by my Dad and me (40 years ago when I was 15). I never got to drive it on the road - for some reason my Dad gave it to my cousin who I think drove it into a grave in a field somewhere!

Stunning little cars. We had these in Zimbabwe in the 60s and they were much loved by owners there. Tough little machines. Thanks Hub Nut.

I’ve allways been a fan of Honda,as a motorcycle mechanic.every time I change cars I buy something else,then go back to Honda again.I have a early 1999 Honda HRV with CVT gearbox just so reliable never fails to start.

Hi Hubnut. Yes I remember these. They sold well in Australia as the Honda Scamp. I was a schoolkid at the time, and my recollection is that they were a vehicle of choice for female school teachers. Indeed, the Civic replaced them, the first Civic being a little rounder and more refined, but not much bigger. Cheers.

Steve, a guy I worked with back in 70 - 71, had one of these. We went everywhere in it. His was a four speed with the gearshift coming out from the dash like a 2CV. Seems to me it wasn't synchronized. That little car could do 70 mph all day, and even being air cooled, the heater worked well. It met its end when Steve got tee-boned at an intersection.

A good friend of mine’s sister had one and she drove like a Belgian, because she was one. Her little car never put a wheel wrong and she loved it to bits.

You really are spoiling us all lately with your superb content Ian 👍😎

What a fabulous little car. I've always loved the engineering and history of Honda. That engine note is really appealing and I love it's enthusiastic buzz. Some clever engineering gone into the car too - that automatic transmission is amazing and it's lovely to see this on the road still. I love Minis but I'd rather have this. Definitely shared your enthusiasm with this one Ian!

You just want things to work in a car,and Honda just make things that work.👍🏻

What fun. My dad had an N360. My wife and I drove it from Melbourne to Sydney and back for a friend’s New Years party. Hilarious!

I remember lady on my street having one of those little Hondas when I was a child in the 1970's. Her's was also a K reg and Red

I owned one of these. Bought it around 1971 or 1972. My husband worked with a guy who bought it for his wife. She wouldn’t drive it because it was too small. We bought it for $1,100! It was originally sold by Robertson Honda in Hollywood who said it was “the first Honda 600 sold in Los Angeles.” They had sent it out to a custom car painter (I think it was called “Rembrandt), to do a “road map” green paint pattern on the white paint - very distinctive! My husband and I drove it everywhere, including several trips to the San Francisco Bay area. I loved that car, but when my husband passed in 1990 I sold it to a guy who drove down from Northern California to tow it home. I would love to find out what happened to it!

Lamborghini LM002 to Honda N600 - fascinating collection, very much to my tastes!

As a Samurai owner I'm already in love with the LJ. Edit: finished the video and I'm now in love with the little Honda aswell. You seem to genuinely enjoy it. I can see myself enjoying this dinky little car aswell.

I think you need such a Honda in your life 😉👍🇯🇵

Less is more, suits here too with Soichiro's engineering🚗

I have always loved the Honda N600. Great sounding engine and looks a hoot to drive !

I remember seeing lots of these little Honda's around in the 70s, mostly orange, cute little cars.😊👍

Any little car with an air cooled engine has HubNut written all over it, but these remarkably clever engineered cars notch that up even more.

I would love to see a HubNut test of that LM002 I saw lurking downstairs.

Just totally amazing! Have loved Honda since 1983 when my uncle bought a brand new Accord. He made at least 100 000 miles in it before the rust became too much!

Squeeing with delight and nostalgia at this one - I have childhood memories of my brother's N600, which eventually became a restoration project with a couple of donor cars. I recall growing up in a household with bits of Honda Scamp just about everywhere, and that little twin was my childhood introduction to the inside of an internal combustion engine. With the head removed, the classic technique was to suspend the timing chain from the bonnet catch with a length of wire, so that it didn't drop into the sump (and possibly the gearbox) never to be seen again. To quote a certain someone - "Good Times!"

As a motorcycle enthusiast, I've always been a fan of Honda and their innovations, but it took me faaaar too long to truly appreciate them as a car manufacturer. The N600 is one of VERY few cars where I would most likely seek out the automatic specifically. To anybody who hasn't fully researched the history of Honda's car manufacturing, you should. It's a genuinely fascinating and inspiring series of events. As the proud owner of an automatic 1981 Civic Wagon I can vouch for their quality engineering and remarkable ability to make a car with under 70hp feel every bit as capable as anything else on the road.

A beautiful car. If I knew more about maintaining it, I'd love to own one.

My brother still pulled an easy 75mph in his N600 in 1969. Insane for that time on Dutch / Belgian motorways.

What a great little noise it makes through the revs!

God, I almost forgot what Ian looked like when not grumbling on the floor under a car. Lol

Would love to turn up at a car show in this. Absolutely magic. Lovely thanks Ian. That had me LOL.

What a gem of a machine! Loved them when they were new and even more so now.

Very interesting car that, wouldn't imagine there's many of them left, not only the UK but worldwide. A well thought-out car from an era where they thought things out, properly 👌

Well done Ian. You’re really hitting your straps with these latest reviews. Most enjoyable to watch.

My Dad bought a N360 , with the 360cc engine in 1978 and gave it to my sister and my brother in law as an engagement present. It blew a plug out of the head one night as my brother in law was taking my sister back to Cannock chase college one Sunday night...Very Hubnut.

I’ve never seen one that hasn’t got rust. Delightful!

Love the car, and the review! I was under the impression that automatics generally used to sap that much power back then you needed a huge engine so that gearbox is pretty amazing, surprised it didn't become the standard technology. And love the fuel cap lever location as much as you do, so simple but so clever!!!

Fantastic Ian ... Going from strength to strength on these latest vids . Your knowledge and presentation is truly first rate 👍👍👍👍

I got my license in 11th grade in 1971 and this was the car I wanted. They were selling for about one more year before discontinued in the USA. Anyway, the mama and the papa said fuhgeddaboutit. Too small and dangerous. In 1982, I bought an avocado green 1972 Honda 600 Coupe, which had a lot of electrical problems but was the most fun car I ever drove.

Hi Ian, another interesting little car and a great road test, can't wait to see the next one,

10:00 min mark, watching the grin develop on you face as you pull away in the little Honda. Lovely down to earth motoring vids. Can’t believe I’ve only just stumbled on your channel.

What a dainty little marvel that Honda is! Thanks for having shared Ian.

Your passion made this a real drive along experience in this lovely little car thats in a class of it's own. Thank you.

I used to deliver Newspapers in a little Suzuki like this one. Great fun but lots of smoke. I also had my eye on a Honda N600 at a house I delivered to, but the guy would never sell it. Ahhh Memories ☺️

Absolutely love these. You can imagine driving one around Tokyo. Perfect little city car even now with the Hondamatic gearbox. Like a very jolly go kart.

I love how the latest videos have got a little bit more polish I love it

I would love to own one of these, sadly no space for one!

What a lovely video!!! You made me fall in love with this little car!!! well done Ian!!!

Great video. Keep putting them up.

Great video of a wonderful little car. I love the kei cars for their astonishing engineering and the fact that despite being based on such a tiny footprint to fit kei car regs there are so many different variations

Super interesting little car and so nice you brought one to us. A mates mum had an orange one in the late 70's, but I think that was a S800.

I, too, am a Honda enthusiast - bikes and cars. I reckon that one of these and an NSX would make a fine stable (oh, and of course, my beloved 400/4 of fond memory). Thanks for an excellent video.

Great little car, looking forward to the Suzi video.

Another 'Classic' HubNut episode..It's been a while Ian no idea why your videos dropped off my feed...probably got about 40 hours worth of HubNut to catch up on...Love early Honda's...CHEERS!!

Cool little car that is ! - You smiling a lot !

Love these little Kei cars, they should be a thing here too

Brilliant video Ian 👍 lovely little car

Ian this is a fantastic video. Very interesting cars!!

Another fantastic review and I remember seeing these on the streets when I was a kid in orange!!! I love your enthusiasm and seeing you get excited driving these delightful little cars. Now Mini or Honda?? Hmm Honda please!

Spot a VERY HAPPY MAN!!! That looked so much fun!

I had a Honda N600 in 1978/9 and it was an incredible little car, many nights out with 4 of us in it and it coped really well. One night we came out of the nightclub and a tyre was flat, changed it really fast by just picking it up. Three to lift and one to swop over the wheels, no need to mess around jacking it up.

Good to see you back doing what you do best Ian, enthusiastically reviewing ordinary cars. I feel a return to watching your content coming on

Yep I can remember them knocking around in the 70s Orange for some reason it doesn't seem a bad car , although I have never had anything to do with one , fantastic to see one again great info Ian 👍

Always wanted to know what an n600 was like. Thanks young man.

What a great looking honda.Great video IAN as always.

Great video! What a fascinating little car.

I owned one of those, a manual box though, back in the 1980's. Wish I'd kept it!

Great video Ian. You did the little car proud

My mum had a Honda 360 Scamp manual panel van, it was a fun car to drive, also it was her work car, she was a courier.

Fabulous, Ian. Thanks!

I like the wunderful engine. Honda is the largest engine builder in the world.

BTW, another element to the story of Honda's CVCC technology (and also showing the "very, very Honda" way) was when their 4-cyl engine met the then-upcoming federal emissions limits here in the U.S., GM's response was, essentially, "Yeah, but that works only on those small-displacement engines" (it's worth noting that the U.S. Big 3 had all been whining that these new emission limits were impossible to meet, would destroy the industry, etc). With that, Honda quietly bought a new Chevy 350 c.i. V-8, designed and made CVCC cylinder heads for the engine...and submitted it to the EPA for testing. It passed. Easily. In fact, I think it was cleaner than Chevy's own engine. Fact is, GM didn't want to invest in new heads and, like Ford and Chrysler, were counting on being able to just clean up the downstream mess with add-on catalytic converters.

I have a big ❤❤❤ for the Honda brand. Never seen this one ever before sadly. My uncle had a 1975 red civic also with an automatic gearbox. I had a 1988 Civic 1.6 16v which I had for over 5 years. Now I drive a Honda 108 cc scooter for almost 7 years. Its just amazing how well everything is engineered and build. Solid as a rock, never lets me down. Great video btw Ian! Thanks a lot for sharing!

My wife and I bought a slightly used N600z. The hatchback model . It was a terrific car. We owned it in San Diego, California. On one occasion we drove it across the Grapevine into the Central Valley of California to see a classic motorcycle show. There were four adults in the car and it would do an indicated 70 mph. I sold it to buy the second series of Honda Civic with the CVCC engine. That was another great car . My wife and I drove it across the USA. I kept it for many years and it ,too, proved to be very reliable. Both cars had standard transmissions. If you could buy a new N600Z I would want to own one. I was always as happy driving the 600Z as you were driving this example of the N600. Thanks for a great video. It brought back a lot of fun memories.

Love this little N series Honda. My Auntie did drove a 600 Hondamatic in 1970, she trade it in for a light blue,Civic Hondamatic at the Motorfair in Brussels ( 1972). Ungelievable but true...she ( my Auntie )did go on Holliday to Austria, in that small N600. I still wondered how that poor tiny engine could coop with her driving styl. Cos...she drove it if it was stolen. Remarkable fun times we had in the passenger seat 😂

What an enthusiastic review of a wonderful little car! I've been interested in Honda cars for a long time, but only started driving them a few years ago (1987 Accord Aerodeck 2.0i, 2006 Accord 2.0 and now the new Jazz Hybrid). I'm hooked, probably for life. Their in-house development of unique engineering solutions still set them apart from other brands. And despite this, they are still a major global brand without being part of a large (originality-killing) automotive group. Both thumbs up :)

What a lovely piece of Honda engineering at it's finest. In my opinion, Honda need to more of this with their current line up, but you could argue the Honda e delivers that to a fairly large degree, but the civic of the 70's and 80's featured well thought out quirks and the Accords of that era too.

Remember them years ago.your smile is like a child in a sweet shop.love it.🤗

I am so grateful I found this little car. It looks so awesome 🤩

Watching again and remembering with great affection my 1969 Honda N600 Hondamatic. We had a manual one as well. They were brilliant and 75 mph plus was no problem believe me!

Excellent Ian.

As an N600 owner I approve this road test

I adore Honda cars. Great review mate. What a lil Gem! Looking forward to the next video 😊

The number plate should have given you a clue as to the interior of the boot....what an engineering gem.

What a little charmer! I’ve always liked these. All the car you need! (mostly)

What a fantastic little car for its time. Looks like Honda were thinking of this car when they designed the new Honda E electric car. As usual a brilliant video Ian. Thank you 🙏

Really enjoyed this video, probably as much as Ian did making it. When I was still in school in the 70's my friend would get dropped off by his dad in one of these diminutive Honda's, either a Z or an N, can't remember which. My friend went on to buy a Suzuki swift with the nippy 1.0 3 cylinder engine and digital dashboard which was very advanced for the time. My first car was a first generation 1974 Honda Civic 1169cc 4 speed manual which had a lovely sweet engine and smooth ride which was far better than it had a right to be. Watching this video I can see all the design elements which must have originated from the N600 like the top hinged boot lid to the wooden dash inlay. My Civic is long gone but I still have the scissor jack with the Honda logo still in tack, it is one of the best engineered scissor jack's I have ever encountered. Would love to watch you review one of the first generation mk1 Civics.

Ian, Is it your mission to drive every air cooled two banger vehicle produced? You must be close to reviewing all of them by now!

love it, love the acceleration sound . I had one back in the 80's, but a manual.