My 1968 Honda S800 Re-build


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How do I start.... this is how i wanted mine to look in the end (this is a mk1 s800 as it doesn't have courner lights)
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Well i have always had a soft spot for the truly original Honda road car. It was the first ever car imported and sold in the EU and the 4th car Honda produced. They started with a S360 that was just a tiny van. Then the sports S500 was produced, face-lifted to the S600 and then finally the S800.

The S800 features a small 791cc engine. What was truly revolutionary in the sixties was it had DOHC, roller bearing bottom end, all alloy head/block, 4 carburettors, tubular headers.
All this engine spec meant it red lined at 8,000 rpm, could take it to 11,500rpm and if really brave would rev to 12,000rpm. This was F1 technology at the time! Oh and it came standard with a heater and electric washers and starter lol.

While I was just browsing the net, not really truly looking to buy a S800, is when I spotted one that had been dry stored since 1977 (35 years). In 1982 it was stripped down for rebuild, restore and repaint!

It was white from the factory, repainted an awful mustard-gold-yellow colour then back in the early eighties had a “mate” do a £10 re-spray :0.

Many many years ago the body was lifted off and had a full chassis, suspension and brake overhaul. The body was refitted and the rolling shell was sent to a body shop for the engine bay to be painted the original colour. The previous owner, at age 51 finally ran out of enthusiasm and came to realise he was never going to get it finished. He put a post up on the very quiet owners club which had only very limited interest until I spotted it.


This is where my story starts. It was way up past Edinburgh so had to take a gamble and buy with just seeing pics and verbal trust. Paid for it then got 99% of all the bits packed up inside and booked a shipping company to bring it down to Reading (only cost £267 for door to door).

This is the first time a got a glimpse of her.

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Looks cool Duncan

Cant wait to see it in the flesh
 
one hell of a project mate! , am i right in thinking these have chain driven rear wheels? or was that the s500?
 
one hell of a project mate! , am i right in thinking these have chain driven rear wheels? or was that the s500?

I think just under 1000 were built with chain drive and then they swapped over to the normal drive shaft :)

Edit: Also the S500 were all chain drive.
 
Corr nice find never seen one of these before, looks like a mini Shelby mustang from behind lol.
 
one hell of a project mate! , am i right in thinking these have chain driven rear wheels? or was that the s500?

It was only the first S800 in Japan that had the chain driven rear wheels
 
Cleared out all the original parts from inside inc windscreen and spare engine to reveal this.

Someone left all the old masking tape around the engine bay:confused:
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Twin rear tail silencers missing
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All the chrome to just get re-chromed, original lights were supplied
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OSF inside courner of bonnet rusted so hinge is very loose
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I was given a brand new rad and OEM rare new water hoses
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Check out how clean she is underneath
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Full carpet set and seat covers required. Not too expensive:)
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Roof lining should clean up well as did a test spot and cleaned up well
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No rust on floors
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I really want one!!

That is some real retro goodness
 
I am thinking of getting it "soda blasted" to remove all the old exterior paint. Does anyone know about this process?

Come on Mr Honda parts Boyle, i need a bonnet for sure ;)

Dunx
 
I am thinking of getting it "soda blasted" to remove all the old exterior paint. Does anyone know about this process?

Come on Mr Honda parts Boyle, i need a bonnet for sure ;)

Dunx

Im doing my best mate

Waiting to hear back from Japan
 
A really nice project , engine is a little screamer in these :nice:

Just checked , the bonnet seems to be unavailable/discontinued from Japan.
 
you going to dip and repaint it? i looked into acid dipping and e-coat and it worked out around £1400 for a larger hatchback car however it needs re-dipped and coated if it needs repair work otherwise it'll just rust again

Paint Stripping, Rust and Underseal Removal for Cars and Industry by Surface Processing Limited
Paint Stripping, Chemical Dip for Rust and Underseal Removal of Honda Cars by Surface Processing Limited

The main prob with acid dipping is it takes off all seam sealent ans all anti corrotion treatments where you cant see. Also there isnt loads of rust to cut out, cant be bothered with taking the body off and the engine bay is already painted.
Soda blasting uses Bicarb of soda and is alot kinder to the panel work underneath so they say

Dunx
 
That is old skool cool! Ive gotta come over n have a butchers asap!
 
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