Honda Prelude at from 1987

Check out the four-wheel steering

Honda Rube Goldberg Accord ad – ‘Cog’

The famous Rube Goldberg-style ad for the Honda Accord. It took 606 takes to get it right

Honda 1300 Japanese commercial

We’re not sure what year, but this Honda 1300 ad is in black and white

Toyota MR2 coming back as a hybrid

There’s a feeling among car fans that hybrid vehicles are going to kill the old fashioned driver-oriented sportscar. But many skeptics were silenced when Honda took the wraps off of its CR-Z coup concept recently. After all, anything that could bring back the CRX hatchback with extra power at no extra cost at the fuel pumps has to be pretty good right? Now it seems Toyota wants in on some of that hybrid sports car action.

Recent reports out of Japan are suggesting that Toyota may be working on a reborn hybrid sportscar of its own. The company once known for its sports-coupes recently unveiled the FT-86 concept, and might be ready to follow up with a gasoline-electric resurrection of the cult classic MR2. The budget-friendly mid-engine/rear-drive sportscar had a big following right up until the third-generation model was discontinued two years ago. But if the latest reports are to be believed the old MR2 is set for a hybrid comeback.

While details are scarce it’s likely that we’re looking at a two-seat two-door coupe with a gasoline engine mounted behind the cabin, coupled to an electric motor in a more performance-focused version of the Toyota Synergy Drive popularized by the Prius. Reports suggest it may use the MR-S nameplate in Japan but could come to NZ as the MR2. That’s all that’s known so far, but if it all goes to plan, Japan’s beloved budget mid-engined car could be coming back with a spark.

October issue of Classic Car magazine – out now

The October 09 issue of NZ Classic Car magazine is on the shelves now, so grab your copy today.

In this month’s issue our cover car is a replica of Tom Walkinshaw’s famous TWR Jaguar XJ-S set to be a safety car on this year’s Drive NZ Classic Tour. We also feature two other safety cars from the upcoming tour, a Daimler 250-V8 and a Range Rover Vogue. With summer approaching it’s time to get your classic looking great so we have a special feature on retrimming your classic and a guide to checking your car’s engine with a compression gauge. We catch up with Denis Bulloch a dead keen Cadillac collector and profile next month’s Targa NZ. In our future classic section we get the low down on the Volvo 850R/T5R Estate and our buyer’s guide takes a look at Honda’s sports cars.

All this and more articles, news, reviews and technical support to keep you informed on the world of classic motoring.

Honda proposes Jazz engine for Formula Ford

With Formula Ford celebrating its 40th birthday this year, Honda has just stepped up to with a proposal for a new engine. The entry-level, open-wheel class has been using a “Kent” 1.6-liter since its inception and with the now dated four-cylinder unit out of production, it might finally be time to move on.

Last weekend over in the states, Honda showed off a prototype based on the 1.5-litre engine from its 2009 Jazz installed in a Swift DB-1 FF chassis. The fuel-injected, electronically-controlled powerplant would require considerably less maintenance than the Kent, while also consuming less fuel. If it all goes to plan in America the new Honda powerplant, a complete kit including the base L15A7 engine, race kit and mounting hardware should sell for around $12,000 USD.

The old Kent-engined Formula Fords will likely still be around for many years in the states and here in NZ as long as Formula Vees are still running, but this new effort by Honda could be a sign of a new era for the class.

Brawn GP auctioning off old Honda F1 cars

This year’s surprise package and current Formula One Championship leaders – Brawn GP have announced plans for a selection of race cars that are no longer required to be sold by Bonhams at the Silverstone Classic Historic Race Meeting on Saturday 25 July.

Historic race cars, scale 1:1 show cars and a range of items from the team’s collection are amongst the lots on offer. The Formula One cars to be sold date from 2001 to 2006 and cover the ownership periods of the team by British American Tobacco and Honda Motor Company. The cars have been driven by top drivers including former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.

The race and show cars will be in rolling chassis form (without engines or other ancillaries) and estimates are expected to range from £7,000 – £22,000. In addition, up to 100 lots of memorabilia will be sold including race overalls, component spares and merchandise.

Commenting on the announcement, James Knight, International Managing Director of the Bonhams Motoring Department said: “We are very excited to have been appointed by Brawn GP to sell these exclusive items. All Formula One teams accumulate a fairly large collection of race chassis over the years and the timing of the Brawn GP sale could not be better. The team have been the undoubted stars of the 2009 Formula One season and this sale enables collectors and their legion of fans to acquire some fabulous historic lots”.