The Honda/Acura NSX has had countless articles written about it. Soichiro Honda’s all aluminum body/suspension/engine masterpiece in so many ways surpassed all other sports/exotic cars of its day that it took them years to catch up. Here was a reliable, very high performance exotic car that drove as easily as a Prelude and you didn’t have to be afraid of even when pushed hard. Wonderful as that is, it’s also the reason Honda saw the need to offer versions of the NSX for drivers willing to accept more responsibility in exchange for crisper feedback and higher performance limits in the form of the NA1 and 2 Type R and the Type S, never offered in the US. The gorgeous Brooklands Green Pearl 1994 Coupe offered here represents the purest version of the breed, coupes (as are all Type R and S) being the lightest and having the stiffest chassis and the 5 spd, 3.0 engine being the strongest driveline.

Exterior and Interior

This NA1 NSX was the perfect platform for an upgraded NSX. Type R’s never made it here, but, for a time, all the Honda developed performance parts, and more, were available from Japan as well as Comptech Racing pieces from the US. This car has the NA2 Type R hood that vents radiator air in front of the windshield via a deflector internally behind the radiator and the NA2 Type R deck wing, and they do create down force. The engine cover is lightweight mesh Type R, and the underside of the car is fully sealed with aluminum panels and a working large air diffuser at the rear, like JGT. The under engine panel is vented and allows the custom baffled and bottom finned aluminum oil pan to protrude into the under car airstream for cooling. The car is noticeably slipperier than a stock NSX. All standard interior features exist and function properly; A/C, climate control, PS, PB, P windows, cruise and traction control, power locks and mirrors. Climate control and gauge panels have been repaired as many NSXs are now having problems show up in these areas. Radio and trunk mounted CD player work well. A weighted stainless ball on a shorter shift lever makes for smoother, crisper shifts. The beige/black interior and carpets are in very good condition, though the driver’s seat bolster shows some wear not unusual in NSXs where the seatbelt rubs. Paint is overall very good, save for some wear immediately behind the wheels on the very bottom of the rocker panels from road dust and a small rub (1/2”) on the drivers side corner of the rear bumper. Very limited edition Rays Superlite JGT commemorative wheels, 17x8 and 18x10, with Yokohama tires finish the exterior that subtly tells the viewer that this isn’t your Father’s NSX.

Engine

The 3.0 engine has been modified as follows: Comptech adjustable cam gears, cams retimed. Science of Speed lost motion followers installed, new cam seals and Vtech screens, always Honda timing belts, last change about 4K miles ago in 2019. Custom aluminum oil pan. Water pump and harmonic balancer replaced. Comptech stainless steel headers, custom exhaust system. Aluminum flywheel with custom twin disc Kevlar clutch. Easy to shift and drive, engine wind up is very much faster. Type R close ratio transmission, Type R differential with uprated limited slip. Increased power and response warrant suspension and brake improvements, so NA2 Type R springs, shocks, sway bars and chassis braces have been added. Brakes have been upgraded to NA2 size with Stoptech slotted rotors and Akibono pads and small brake cooling air scoops on front. ARP 3” wheel studs and 7075 T6 aluminum wheel lug nuts. Comptech non compliance rear suspension mounting beam to keep rear suspension properly adjusted. All this adds up to a car with a much greater performance envelope and more fun feel than stock, but still predictable and easy to drive. The car averages about 26 mpg @80 mph cruise. Most stock parts replaced have been carefully retained along with other interesting NSX related parts as shown in picture.