Small Car, Big Dreams: Restoring Serial One, the First Honda Car in the U.S.
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- This year marks our 60th anniversary in America. To commemorate this milestone, we’re looking back at the restoration of our very first car imported to the U.S. Watch Tim Mings bring Serial One back to mint condition before it went on to live in the American Honda Museum forever.
More info: www.serialone.com/
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Shout out to Honda for not adding a ton of ads on this video.
Bro they played the original n600 ad like 5 times but
ThAnKs FoR nOt PlAyInG tO mAnY aDs!
This video is an ad
@@TheScottishSprayer A damn good one
The Scottish Sprayer
Ur picture is an ad
@@randomrando8350 lol for a company I dont even like lol
“It’s very possible there’s 100 hours in this, sure, but when you’re having fun you’re not keeping track.”
Very well said, sir.
I have one of the bicycle attachment engines that they're talking about at around the 4:45 mark. Its a 1947/48 Honda Type A, and as far as I know, it's the oldest Honda in the USA.
Thanks for ever Soichiro Honda!!!!
Truly a pleasure to watch this labor of love done by a true craftsman.
After the car, the most beautiful thing is his braided goatee.
This man loves his Honda’s as much he loves his cats !
Seeing the title, I was thinking, please K-Swap and turbo it! But after watching, the restoration was a much better choice. Amazing job Tim. You Sir are a champion in my book. Cheers!
You'll grow up soon enough
@@ryandavis930 Huh?
This is an incredible story. Thank you.
Great video the N600 isn't a lot like a 4 wheel motorcycle it is a 4 wheel motorcycle.
Nice Cars Hondas,,,,
Love Honda N600, want one😁😁🇳🇴🇳🇴
I died when he said paint prison lol
how could someone dislike this video.. they must have been dropped on their head..repeatedly
18:33 Rubber ducks? Honda invented duck power 😂
Did this video get reuploaded
Sounds to me like the perfect person found that car and did exactly what should have been done with it. I think it's called Destiny or fate. Ether way, perfectly done!!!!
It's hard to call it fate or destiny when the guy obsessively scours the internet for anything related to these little Hondas. Persistence pays off when you spend your time and resources on a goal. I am glad it has been restored and placed into the Petersen museum for others to appreciate.
@@davidparker9676 or possibly Fate 😆
@@seedlessgrapes2605 Or possibly hoarding or unhealthy obsession...for men.
"kids in highschool their cars were usually broken, mine was never broken...it said honda right on it" :D
Sohichiro Honda: you can copy me, I'm flattered.
This guy: the finishing on the motor is a trade secret.
It's just vapor blasting, used a lot on old bmws. No idea why he said that
This is cool... Even coming from me, a loyal Ford driver. Nothing like saving history.
Ford guy here too
@@TheProrage509 You're thinkin of a FIAT Dale
You know what else is cool? You being the kind of person to say something like that. I was expecting to read a bunch of goofy comments from anti-foreign car people, but the first comment about anything American was this and it made me happy. Keep being awesome!
I admire the passion. It's hard to deny his love of automobiles, regardless of maker.
Yep. I drive a Mustang and an old Jeep Cherokee along with tinkering with Studebakers. I've never had a Japanese car and don't really want one, but this was great. The little bit toward the end of the credits was pretty cool too, never heard anything musical in popping out dents before!
The restoration is powered by nothing but love.
VTEC aint got nothing on it.
and dreams
And dreams. The Power of Dreams.
I'm not a Honda driver but I appreciated this well-made documentary. The craftsmanship is superb.
Didn't even realize this was on the Honda channel. Probably the only time I've spent more than 5 minutes on a corporate RUclips channel.
Great show. Loved the musical ending. Peterson Museum is a fantastic place to display this beauty. Well done to all involved.
During the basement tour at the Peterson (well worth the extra $10) the curator pointed at the Honda (sitting next to everything from Cadzilla to a 1956 Ferrari) and said "this may be the most significant car in our collection!"
A better place would be on the road, where cars belong.
Wish it was in Marysville... only about an hour away from me! We've had several Honda products over the years. My first was a 1971 SL100. Then an Accord, two Civics and the original year 2003 Pilot... The 1981 Accord suffered summer vapor lock, but the rest were bulletproof!
Thank you for such beautiful restoration of that piece of automotive history!
Thank you very much for making this wonderful video !
Please make this video translated in Japanese and available in Japan.
We need remind ourself the history of Honda !
Meanwhile I am gonna drive my S2000 !
Thank you !!!
Wow. That film literally made my day. Almost 29 minutes of automotive perfection. Everything showed in this video is a pinnacle of what can be achieved thanks to passion, patience and modesty. Great story and above all else, great people - the only kind you can meet on a Honda.
You make Honda proud, just as proud as the Honda engineers were, crying on Max Verstappens unbelievable F1 victory today in Austria. 🏎
Lovely to stumble on this video, put a smile on my face.
Im so happy Honda are back in Formula 1 making decent competitive engines! Competing with engines by Mercedes and Ferrari, well done!
I’ve restored a lot of different vehicles, but restoring a Honda is always a real pleasure. I always equate restoring a Honda to helping an old friend. 🇯🇵🏁
Omg, the first car I bought was an orange 600Z. I loved it. Damn, I’d love to get another one. What a good documentary. Respect to all the skilled craftsmen/artists who did a stellar job on restoring a classic and important car. Real dedication and love the car shines throughout. Kudos.
John Carambia is my uncle. Super awesome video and car 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Bob's my uncle. Thanks for sharing (and name dropping)
The shop cats are too awesome.
This is an awesome video. Tim Mings should be proud; Honda should be proud. Thank you for capturing the journey.
Tim Mings is a piece of sh!t human being. He fixed my ‘72 N600 and secretly did other stuff we did not agree upon. He then took me to court cuz I couldn’t and wouldn’t pay for things we never spoke about. He lost in court and hope he learned his lesson. I left the court with a power fist in the air and a loud “WOOOO-WHOOO!” on my way out of the courtroom. He tried to take advantage of myself being a college kid, thinking I don’t know what’s legal and what’s not. He chose the wrong “victim”. 🏆
What an amazing build. Very inspiring. Thank you for this video!
Well done sir, the fact you got emotional there at the end really shows your passion for these machines, plus you are a man who loves Cats as an added bonus.
My 2007 Fit just turned 300,000 km. Runs great.
Does it have the cvt transmission??
that ending had me , loved that. great build man , you and your crew do great work
My father has had more n and z 600s than I can count. He still has his original 600 coupe from when he was 15 years old! Amazing little machines.
Safest vehicle to work if it falls on you just bench press it 😂
Correction on the guy story beginning at 12:14 Mr Honda bought a 1973 Impala with a 5.7 v8 had it air freighted back to Japan and told his Engineers to design a cvcc system for the GM V8 then had it shipped back to be tested by the EPA
No, that's not correct.
@@tubeMonger it is
Is
Isn't
Is. Sorry I let that get out of hand.
1978 Honda Civic Hatchback, it never ran out of gas.
My first car was a 1977. I was amazed how good the gas mileage was.
I really need to get in contact with Tim since I have a 71 N600 and want to get it back to its original self. Mine's in great shape, but definitely needs some tlc under the hood and joints.
Me to :x
I have a 1975 Honda cb750ss...number 5835 of 15000. First year of the SS, only available in blue and orange.
I'll be honest, I'm not a Honda guy. Just personal preference. That having been said, I absolutely respect the amount of work, time, energy, and love it takes to restore these types of cars. I'm glad to see the restoration turned out as beautifully as it did! Let's hope that the museum that gets to take care of it from now on does it the right way. May it never succumb to the ravages of time and neglect like it did once before.
The Petersen starts with a caretaker's attitude. Not to shabby for an old dry lakes hot rodder!
It always warms my heart when people restore old cars, especially ones that are historically significant like this one.
Didnt know george lucas was a honda body shop guy.
I love these kind of stories. Especially when they keep as much as possible of the original car. So many car "makeovers" on television simply throw out everything and recreate it from scratch or buy reproduction parts. There's barely anything left of the original car. I prefer seeing this type of restoration. I suppose it's more important in this case due to that serial number but this is still my favorite type of restoration to watch. I've seen some shows where they basically get all new parts to build a car, put it on a new frame, slap on the emblems and knobs and call it a "restoration".
Had to buy a very affordable used car recently. Bought a 2004 Honda Civic with over 250k miles on it. Drives like a champ. Had to get a few odds and ends fixed but everything pretty much worked "out of the box". It's a wee bit tight for a tallish guy like me but can live with it. I knew getting a Civic was a no brainer even with so many miles on it, but I had no idea was buying into such a rich history of automobiles.
So incredible that it was still around. And so crazy that the three automatics were still around also. Such awesome history.
Honda is one of the most American car company nowadays. Thank you for not outsourcing good paying American Honda factory jobs to foreign countries Mexico and China like GM, Ford, Dodge, and Tesla always do.
Thank you for being humble, friendly, and affordable.
Dreamy
6 of the Top 10 vehicles on the American Made Index this year are Honda products.
www.cars.com/american-made-index/
You know tesla are built in the USA. the only not usa parts are some third party suppliers from mexico and some electronics from china.
You should take a look at the factory, that would change your mind
www.theverge.com/2019/1/25/18197866/tesla-fined-osha-safety-hazards-model-3-tent
www.google.com/amp/s/www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-model-3-design-profits-20181017-story.html%3foutputType=amp
www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jun/13/tesla-workers-pay-price-elon-musk-failed-promises
futurism.com/elon-musk-wanders-tesla-factory-firing-workers
Funny, you google “Tesla Factory” and you see articles all talking about a billionaire treating his own workers, employees, and company like dirt.
I can tell you from experience the restored serial # 1 is better than factory. I worked on early Honda's and the paint and finish left a lot to be desired. Great job on restoring this rare Honda 600
Great story and video. I managed to spot a Tohatsu Runpet Sport motorcycle along with glimpses of a few very special Honda race bikes. I began as a Honda bike mechanic in '62 and helped a new dealer start up in Westchester Co., N.Y. in '64. Quite a trip listening and seeing you're detail involvement with early Hondas, quality stuff.
My first car was a Honda and I’ve been friends with Merciless Ming’s, love the N600s and lucky enough to drive one of Tim’s cars.
I can only give this one thumbs up. Wish I could give it more. This was very good: the story, the work, the result and the movie telling it. Well done!
I delivered pizza for 10 years i drove 8 Honda Civics averaging 30k each in a year best year was a red 78 coup with a trunk, finally bought a MR2 and regretted it, i missed my Honda's...
How the he'll did you fit pizzas in a mr2
John E , with grit and determination !
Does anyone remember "Honda, we make it simple"
Yes great video was hoping Honda would pay this man alot of money for his effort and that they would want the car in there museum. But still an amazing restoration. Serial 1 is trully beautiful.
Not gunna lie, i came here for the cat that walked past...
That car belongs in the smithsonian
who else cringed when he took a crowbar to the flywheel
What a fun vid! I love that we got to see the platers, powdercoaters, upholstry shop etc. Well done on the content and not overwhelming with obvious advertising. I actually didn't realize this was on Honda's channel until I finished the video and went to subscribe to Tim's channel. ;)
Dude! You’re a champ. I’m not that old but I lament the simplicity of the cars that we used to drive. Love what you’re doing.
I’m never been a huge Honda fan but I’ve always respected the dedication towards quality. I really liked this video.
This vid hit home so much.
One weekend in 1976, I learned how to drive a stick at 8 years old in my dad's 1972 N600 at his company's parking lot. Been a big Honda lover ever since...
+1 for the engine out of Serial One sitting on a factory engine stand.
Kathleen is the perfect woman for sure.
Oh my.. This is so lovely to watch..
This is when passion bring everything up together.
I'm a very firm believer in Fate. You were meant to find and massage #1 back to it's original glory. Thanks to Honda's RUclips channel for doing an awesome job documenting this journey! Zip~
I've only ever owned Hondas. My mom got me a 97 Honda Civic LX with a manual transmission and that started it all. I love Honda.
Some years back I almost purchased a really really old Honda until I found out you couldn't find tires for it anymore. They were/are tiny.
I hope Honda brings the new Honda E to the states it looks like a modern 600
This is absolutely amazing. Take notes car companies, I would watch this type of video all day.
Impressive to see a master craftsmen and the kind passion that they put into their work. A real example of integrity on every team that added their skills to his dream and realizing that what they did had to match or exceeded his expectations. I have followed the evolution of the design and mechanics of Honda cars and motorcycles throughout my life. There products are number 1 even down to my lawnmower.
I am not a Honda aficionado, I am a Volvo fanatic. And yet I grew up with my father working on American cars in the 50s and 60s and he was a Naval Air Pilot who would not settle for anything less than correct. Even if you loose money, because your name was attached to your work. I became a Landscape Architect and carried my mechanics mentality into a different kind of problem solving. An unexpected marriage and a social paradox that gave me the commitment to serve my clients in a manner that I would want to be served.
Kudos for this video and congratulations for doing everything that it took to meet your deadline. This is a great example to anyone that wants to demonstrate their focus and skills no matter what the task undertaken. Roll on.
The old professor
27:40 damn got my eyes watering too! great little documentary
Made me feel sick when he nearly dropped the whole bloody car on his leg...
congratulations Honda for a win at Formula 1! Congrats on this build and the power of dreams truly is powerful. This documentary was amazing. I nearly cried at the end.
This is truly a unique type of restoration, I hope that n600 will exist forever to show how that car changed the landscape of America forever. Thank you for sharing this video.
Beautiful, amazing work, true craftsmanship at its best.
We had 2 Honda N600 cars, a series 1, and 2, with the woodgrain etc. The S600 sports cars predate the N600/N360 sedans.
I have a 2000 Civic LX A/T. It's old, have 81.000 miles, the paint job looks bad, but I just love it.... Fantastic video!
I worked for a dealership in Greeneville tn and the owner had one an orange one. Not sure what year it was but it was kept inside the dealership in a back room. It was in really good shape.
I watched till the end because I'm waiting if his beard will get stuck to the engine.
I have a Honda CR-V, Honda Civic, and my daughter drives a Honda Fit and works at the local Honda dealership,I had a 1975 Honda Civic in 1978.....I guess that’s why I enjoyed this video so much!...GREAT video really enjoyed seeing such a fantastic restoration!
Totally spellbound by what you represent.
You and the team are a rare breed.
I am a HONDA fan myself.
Just started with a small motorcycle.
But I'm hooked.
Keep these videos coming.
I'm subscribed
Thank you for this film. My parents bought a new red 600 in 1971. My dad rebuilt the engine a couple of times, and repainted it (my brother might have done that). We all probably know every contour of that car from washing it so many times. I was happy to see this 001 car at the Petersen with my son. He has a white ‘92 Civic hatchback, the great great grandson of this 001.
Dreams and joy are part of Honda's DNA, and surely Tim Mings and his associates embody those virtues. Great story, great car, great company!
I love this video, both for its heart and its production values, which are both great and subtle. But I'm confused about this car: if it was the first of those original 50 does that mean it was a Honda experiment or a car that was actually sold by a Honda dealer? The answer is significant, because Manly Honda, here in Santa Rosa, California, claims to be the first Honda car dealer in the USA and to have sold the first US Honda car, a 600 THEY HAVE ON DISPLAY IN THE SHOWROOM TODAY. You can read their story (it's as charming as this film) and see a picture of that first car here: www.manlyhonda.com/Our-History. So what's the truth?
Great video Tim. Thanks for stopping by the other day and for all your help throughout the years. Its a pleasure to know you.
Awesome. I’ve been into Hondas for over twenty years now,I have a 92 Civic SI with 438 thousand kms on it and I would literally drive it around the world right now without even worrying about it,also have a 2001 Prelude and an 05 Acura TL. This was a great video,would like to see restoration vids on the old 60s and 70s Z50s if there is any on RUclips
agree completely bought a new N-600 in indianapolis indiand in 1971 dark red with a black vynil roof. car was perfect even in the snow/cold always started and ran perfect. i drove the car to Tucson Arizona and traded for a new Plymouth with air conditioning. im 80 years old and to this day wish i had that car back!
"Honda change stuff they change it for a reason"... After being a Honda dealer for 11 years (and Honda-ist most my life) a truer statement has never been made.
Except their clear coats
I had a 1969 N600 that my next door neighbor brought back from over seas. It was wonderful. The innovations were legion. There was a T handle to pull to open the gas cap door. If you clocked the car door the gas cap was locked as well. The windshield washer was a rubber bulb and the windshield washer fluid was in a bag. Pump the bulb and wash the windshield. No electrical pump. The belt drove the cooling fan which doubled as the alternator. If the charging light came on it was a good bet that you were not cooling the engine as well. It had a single CV carburetor like a motorcycle. It had plenty of power and I had mine up to over 80 mph (indicated.) Several years later I got a Avocado Green Z600 and that was pretty cool too.
本田宗一郎さんも、天国で、感動していますよね❗
I love this! I would absolutely want to own and restore an old S600 or N600 to it's former glory. I'm daily driving a Honda Civic 2003 EU8 and I'm loving it so far!
I owned both Honda 600 Coup and Sedan. These were my first two cars as a young boy in 1980’s. I knew these cars inside and out and became a mechanic rebuilding these engines. I was the main contact here in the state of Oklahoma, with even the local Honda dealers calling me for parts. I could drop the engine in 45 minutes flat. The memories from seeing this video sure brings me back in time. Some of the best days in my life. 🙂👍
I dont know why, but i found especially heartwarming to see all the people and their small businesses who were engaged in restoring this car. just speaks something about beauty and importance of having dedicated, hardworking "ordinary folks" in a country's economy.
I just picked up me a 1970 s honda 600 and some I’d wrong with the engine , it came with a extra engine and frame and rear axle , so there are two number ones , 11 zeros a one number one 1 on the one in the Petersen museum in Pomona , that ne has only zeros and 1 at the far right of the number , I don’t know where to look for all of the numbers on my 600 1970 honda it’s orange 🍊 color thanks BigAl California praise Jesus Christ grace amen 🙏
Wow, this was fascinating. I'm a Honda owner, on my fifth Accord. They make great products that are affordable. Thanks for posting.
I cringed every time the owner was manhandling the car. It looks like the only skilled hands that touched it were the subcontracted shops. The owner is a butcher and probably caused untold extra work for the body shop and everyone else. Opening the video with the buffoon dropping the engine like a shade tree hack, only to be topped with the body falling off the jack stands. It's an anti-advertisement for the owner's shop.
Thank you HONDA! Thank you Mr. Soichiro Honda. Thank you for the Power of Dreams! Honda Forever!