The first-generation Acura NSX is considered one of the greatest driver’s cars ever built. However, enthusiasts are divided into two camps. Some prefer the early, purer models identified by pop-up headlights. Others like later models’ performance upgrades and refinements, such as this 2005 model recently offered on eBay in Bonita Springs, Fla.
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Formula 1 Tech for the Street
Either way, owners get a feat of engineering. The Acura NSX was the first production car built with an all-aluminum monocoque body, resulting in an incredibly light curb weight of just over 3,000 pounds.
It was also the first to use titanium connecting rods in its engine, allowing it to rev at considerably higher speeds. And it was the first car sold in America to use parent company Honda’s VTEC variable valve timing system, then considered a holy grail technology merging power and efficiency in one engine.
The Acura NSX is a joy to drive. Its aluminum suspension was so groundbreaking that Gordon Murray used it as inspiration when creating the McLaren F1. It provided unparalleled handling but not at the expense of ride quality. Everything was designed with the driver in mind, from how the F-16-style cockpit provided a commanding view of the road to how it started every time with the consistency of a Honda Civic.
Other contemporary supercars might have had bigger engines or flashier styling, but the Acura NSX was for driving in as many situations as possible. It was balanced enough for curvy mountain roads, comfortable enough for extended highways and city traffic, and classy enough for date night. It was never too loud or so demanding as to leave you stranded.
Barely Broken In
That’s why it’s almost sacrilege for the NSX in the auction to have covered less than 14,000 miles in its lifetime. The Silverstone Metallic paint over black leather was about as dull a color as you could get on the NSX, making it perfect for stealth supercar activities like actual driving. (If you want to pose, get a lime green Lamborghini).
This final-year Acura NSX has everything Honda engineers could throw at it. The car has the T-top introduced in 1995, the 290-horsepower 3.2-liter V-6 introduced in 1997, and the revised suspension and wider rear wheels introduced in 2002.
The styling may not be as timeless as the earlier cars, but it’s easy to see why examples routinely sell north of $150,000, like this prime example with an asking price of $199,995.
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