Honda’s First American Race Car

CAR: 1969 Honda N600 Baja
ENGINE: 598cc OHV twin-cylinder
HORSEPOWER: 50hp
SPEED: 90mph (est)
WEIGHT: 1500lbs
FUEL CAPACITY: 15gal
RANGE: 225miles

Honda has won more Baja races than any other manufacturer. In 1962, their CL72 Scrambler made the first timed run from Tijuana to La Paz, with Dave Ekins and Bill Robinson Jr riding. That run started an avalanche of Baja competition on two and four wheels, which led to the first Mexican 1000 race in 1967. For the introduction of the first Honda car for the U.S. market (the N600) in 1970, American Honda built a special N600 with a stripped interior, a full roll cage, fuel cell, long suspension, special wheels, and an engine tuned with factory racing parts. Ekins and Robinson drove, but technical problems cut their ride short. Regardless, this was the first factory-backed Honda race car to compete in America.