Auction Date: Saturday 11th November | 10.00am GMT

• GUIDE PRICE: £75,000 - £85,000

+ buyers premium of 12.5% plus VAT (15% incl VAT) on the first £300,000 of the hammer and 10% plus VAT (12% incl VAT) thereafter

The legendary Honda NSX (New Sportscar Experimental) was developed by the Honda Motor Corporation between 1984 and its eventual launch in 1990. With the NSX, Honda produced the world’s first everyday usable supercar, which left the Italian competition for dead in terms of reliability, practicality and build quality. These same qualities make it a joy to drive and own today. Its revolutionary chassis and suspension – all aluminium like the bodywork – making the car very light and extremely strong, were perfected at Suzuka with input from three-time F1 World Champion, Ayrton Senna.

The NSX featured a state-of-the-art 3-litre 24-valve V6 'VTEC' engine (Variable Valve Timing), and despite being developed during F1's turbo-era, the engine was normally aspirated. Equipped with this new valve timing technology, the free-revving all-alloy unit produced 270bhp initially, which was good enough for a top speed of 168mph and a 0-60mph time of less than six seconds. Those performance figures put the NSX on a par with Ferrari's 348 GTB, but in terms of comfort, ergonomics, driving dynamics, and build quality, the NSX was in a different league entirely. Sadly, this superiority was not translated into sales, and by the time production ceased in 2005, fewer than 20,000 NSXs had been sold – consequently making them relatively rare and much sought after today.

Ticking all the boxes, this particular first-generation Honda NSX Press Car is an original UK-registered, right-hand drive Targa with the desirable manual gearbox, finished in Sebring Silver with a Claret hide interior. Interestingly, as a press car, originally registered N115 GLY, it is totally silver with no black top, a colour scheme that sets it apart from the general production examples. In excellent overall condition, this Motor Sport Magazine test car is in outstanding condition throughout and presents superbly, fitted with slightly larger 18" wheels of a similar pattern and an enhanced exhaust system.

A comprehensive history file including invoices going back to almost day one as well as an impressive MOT trace accompanies the Honda, displaying regular care and maintenance throughout its life

It should be noted that the present registration number E2 NSZ does not form part of the sale but could be available by separate negotiation.