The American Honda Collection Hall showcases Honda’s history in the U.S. since 1959

The American Honda Collection Hall at company headquarters in Torrance, Calif., is walk-through learning experience of milestones. (Photography courtesy of American Honda)

Table of Contents

The Power of Dreams
Cars, Bikes & Coffee Events
Honda Cars On View
Motorcycles On View
Power Equipment
Honda-Acura Race Cars

BY MARK MAYNARD

The grand opening of the American Honda Collection Hall was yet another dream realized for the first Japanese automaker to begin sales in the United States.

The expansive collection hall opened Sept. 12, 2023, at U.S. company headquarters in Torrance, Calif. Dozens of media, Honda racers, and fans gathered for the red-logo day of fanfare. There were tributes to associates and longtime and retired American Honda personnel. The Torrance mayor and pro tem mayor spoke of American Honda’s significant contributions to the community in the last 60 years.

Headlining the grand opening was Noriya Kaihara, president and CEO-director of American Honda Motor Co. He spoke of mobility for the future, sustainability in auto production, and the power of dreams, the company’s marketing tagline and corporate philosophy.

Kaihara joined Honda in 1984, spending much of his early career in the service division of Honda Motor Co. He assumed his current role at American Honda on Oct. 1, 2021.

The collection hall represents more than six decades since American Honda Motor Co. was established in 1959 at a modest storefront in Los Angeles.

Honda’s Power of Dreams

“Our new American Honda Collection Hall reflects the important connection between the dreams and passion of Honda associates and the joy experienced by customers who love their Honda products and racing fans thrilled by our checkered flag successes,” said Kaihara. “Everyone at Honda is honored to share the expressions of our history in America that are on display in the form of products and technology that have helped move people and society forward.”

American Honda Motor Co. opened in a small storefront in Los Angeles on June 11, 1959. The Japanese brand started in the U.S. selling motorbikes — the Honda Dream, Honda C92 Benly, and Honda Super Cub, known as the Honda 50, in the U.S.

It was the foothold of an upstart to disrupt American motorcycle sales, including by Harley-Davidson and European makes.

The small office at 4077 West Pico Boulevard was moved to the nearby suburb of Gardena at 100 West Alondra in 1963. In 1990, headquarters was relocated to its existing address at 1919 Torrance Boulevard in Torrance. The Honda headquarters occupies 101 acres.

The honors wall.

Embracing the Community

Located in the main lobby of American Honda headquarters, the museum is a way to bring the (car) community to Honda, said CEO Kaihara. The American Honda Collection Hall will be open to the public during regular “Cars, Bikes & Coffee” events starting Oct. 21, 2023.

While there was a previous museum at HQ, it was not open to the public. The new collection hall is a complete redesign, an open and airy walk-through learning experience of milestones. The 20,000-square-foot hall displays more than 60 vehicles from Honda and Acura, motorcycles, power products, engines, and racing machines.

The display will be updated several times a year to highlight different products and themes. Just added in 2024 is a new display of 12 electrified vehicles, concepts, and race cars, including the new Honda Prologue EV, Acura ZDX EV, 2nd-generation NSX, and a custom 1991 Civic EV Pikes Peak racer.

Honda’s collection hall is a 20,000-square-foot showcase of milestone vehicles and events.

Cars, Bikes & Coffee Events

The collection hall will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon on third Saturdays for “Cars, Bikes & Coffee” events. All interesting automobiles and motorcycles from all manufacturers and eras are welcome for attendees to display.

The events typically include giveaways, special displays, vendors, food trucks, and music. And, of course, participants can shop the merchandise display of Honda wearables and more.

Car clubs can plan to attend any upcoming events: April 13, 2024; June 15, 2024; Aug. 17, 2024; Oct. 19, 2024; and Dec. 21, 2024.

To learn more about the Collection Hall and event information, visit hondacollectionhall.com.

Some examples of products currently on display:

Honda merch.

Honda Cars On View

1970 Honda N600 Coupe – The first Honda automobile sold in the U.S. used an air-cooled 600cc two-cylinder engine and retailed for just $1,395.

1975 Honda Civic CVCC Hatchback – The first car to meet the emissions standards of the 1970 U.S. Clean Air Act without needing a catalytic converter.

1979 Honda Accord CVCC Hatchback – The first Accord debuted in 1976 as a three-door hatchback powered by Honda’s revolutionary Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion (CVCC) 4-cylinder engine.

1985 Honda CRX Si – The first performance Honda Si model sold in America, a sporty 2-seat coupe with Honda’s advanced PGM-FI fuel injection.

1986 Acura Legend – The performance luxury touring sedan that launched the Acura brand alongside the Integra.

1991 Acura NSX supercar – The revolutionary hand-built, exotic mid-engine sports car showcased Honda’s technical prowess.

1997 Honda CR-V – Honda’s first in-house SUV helped establish a new breed of compact sport utility vehicle with car-like ride and handling.

2006 Honda Insight – Introduced in 2000, Insight was the first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid passenger vehicle sold in the U.S.

Honda’s motorcycling milestones.

Honda Motorcycles On View

1962 Honda 50/Super Cub – One of the first three models Honda sold in the U.S. The Super Cub is now the overall bestselling vehicle globally, with over 100 million sold.

1969 Honda CB750A – Widely considered the first superbike and called “the Motorcycle of the Century” by Motorcyclist magazine.

1973 Honda CR/RC250 Elsinore – Honda’s first production motocross motorcycle and the first product Honda manufactured in the U.S., named after the famous Elsinore Grand Prix.

1975 Honda GL1000 Gold Wing – Redefined long-distance touring motorcycles with a revolutionary horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine.

1981 Honda CBX1000 – Honda’s first motorcycle with more than 100 hp, powered by a 1000cc six-cylinder engine.

1983 Honda VF750F – The revolutionary VF750F used a liquid-cooled DOHC V4 engine and a stiff square-tube frame that also helped it dominate superbike racing in the mid-1980s.

1990 Honda VFR750R/RC30 – A homologation special created for competition in the “World Superbike Championship.” 

1992 Honda NR750 – The most technically advanced motorcycle at the time, iconic for its oval-piston engine design and other innovations.

2004 Honda RVT1000R/RC51 – A street version of Honda’s championship-winning V-twin superbike.

Honda power equipment and marine engines in the collection.

Honda Power Equipment

1964 Honda CB30 Marine Outboard Engine – Honda’s first outboard marine engine featured a revolutionary four-stroke design.

1965 Honda E300 Generator – The first generator to combine 300-watt output. It was quiet, easy to use, and in a compact design that could be carried with one hand.

2023 Honda GF5 Marine Outboard Engine – A Compact and lightweight portable outboard engine provides a complete performance package for small boats and dinghies.

Honda-Acura Race Cars

1992 Acura Spice GTP-Lights – Powered by a modified Acura NSX V6 engine, carried veteran driver Parker Johnstone to the Drivers’ championship in the IMSA Camel GT Lights series.

1996 Reynard 961-031 Indy Car – Honda/Reynard driven by Indy Car Drivers’ Champion Jimmy Vasser and Rookie of the Year Alex Zanardi.

1997 Acura Integra Realtime – RealTime Racing and the Acura Integra Type R forged a race-winning record that remained unbroken after nearly two decades.

Honda’s racing history is on display.