It was a chain drive in 1964. Looks like it was designed by motorcycle engineers. Note too that the crank bearings were roller bearings. Interesting read in my opinion.

Honda S600

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Jim

Yikes 7,000rpm at 70mph.

I agree with him on torque. Thats why I like diesels and v8's!

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Odd car. I love it!

78.7 inch wheelbase. Wow

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

It might be quirky, but style wise I think it's a classically good looking roadster, sure better looking than those Datsun ragtops of similar vintage.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Also interesting is the font used for HONDA on the valve cover appears nearly identical to the one on my wife's Element.

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I'd drive it. I used to have a Ninja 250, so I'm used to the idea of 10,000 rpm in top gear at highway speed.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Very cool! Once you figure out how to drive it, it's probably a blast to toss around.

Re: the scream of the engine, I'd imagine it's not unlike attending a Legends Car race. 20-25 Yamaha 1250cc's wailing around the track at the same time makes for quite a racket. I've done Sprint Cup, Modified and Super Mods and the noise doesn't bother me. Once the Legends Cars come out, I'm reaching for the ear protection!

It's probably an easy drive for someone with a motorcycle background that is used to the high rev's.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Found some video of one, looks fun, sounds great:

Jenson Button in Honda S600 - YouTube

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Not the S600 I'm used to.

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

A friend of mine had one of the 1970 versions. I know it was front wheel drive but I think it was a little more conventional that this one.

It was OK from every aspect. Ride and interior room were better than you would expect and it got about 45 mpg. Reliability was not a problem, but they tended to just fall apart at about 60,000 miles.

But to be fair so did every other car on the road except for a Mercedes.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi