I was reading an article from the January 1972 Motor Trend issue entitled "Rapid Transit" about a 600 coupe modified by Bill Krause Honda in California. The car in the blurry photograph has similar striping to mine, and the Pos-A-Traction wheels (at $150 a set!) It made sense to me that each dealer would have his own pinstriping, etc. contacts, so perhaps I have purchased a Krause Honda.�
Included in the same Motor Trend is an article about the Honda 600 pinstriping and paint scene. Apparently a popular option, at least in California. The Honda 600 Coupe/Sedan brochure I have even shows a couple lounging beside their yellow Coupe while the girl paints psychedelic patterns all over the hood! How often do you see car companies promoting the painting of their vehicles with a brush and a can of paint?
That reminds me of one anecdote about value. I remember seeing a Honda 600 sedan sell at an RM auction a few years back owned and customized by the famous Ed Roth. The car was estimated to sell between $5-$10k, but sold for $22,000. I suppose what was bought was more artwork than a clean Honda 600 sedan. Personally I doubt other accessories like the Pos-A-Tractions or mudflaps add much value at an auction, but to me they are important because of the history. I wonder how many cars out there sport their original trippy designs?
-Elias�
PS - I friend gave me a magazine clipping about a prototype electric 600 coupe from the 1970's. It was built by Braunlich-Roessle in Pittsburgh using a 36-volt system with a 10 hp motor. Range was said to be 35 miles and top speed of 45. Now whose barn is this car hiding in?
On Sun, Jun 3, 2012 at 7:58 AM, Chas
�
> It may be that his inquiry has nothing to do with attempting to find additional value. He may just want to know if these cars came this way, in order to preserve the originality of the car.
> It would be a shame to replace and discard these items simply because someone thought that Hondas were never sold this way, only to learn later that they were either factory or dealer options.
> I know that when I was much younger and much more naive, I was trying to restore a 1961 Jaguar XK150 Drophead Coupe, and I simply presumed that the yellow Lucas driving lamps with the mismatched lenses, had been added by a previous owner, much like a J. C. Whitney accessory. So, I simply removed and discarded them, and had the holes welded shut before I had the car painted. I have since learned that those Lucas driving lamps were a factory accessory, and that the lenses were intentionally mismatched so as not to blind oncoming drivers. I had to buy a replacement set and redrill those mounting holes. Yes, I still have the car, but it is still not completley restored.
> Chas
> --- In
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> , wrote:
> > Bruce Dewing is correct on the interior as I have found no such option. On the rims, the aluminum wheels that were offered at Honda Dealerships were the Shelby (3.5 in width) and Pos-a-traction (5 in width), there were all kinds of others some had 7in width for the rear and 5in width for the front. The wood steering wheel and shift knob were a Coupe only item (that I know of) that was authorized as a dealer option. Honda had a side accent strip for the Coupe that is listed in a Honda Coupe parts manual along with a roof rack and sliding cloth top for the Sedan. The Sedan also had split rear seats and grab handles to assist rear passengers getting out of the rear seat. There were also door sill plates for the Coupe much like the Sedan and aluminum kick plates for the bottom of the Sedan doors. There is also a GT potion for the Sedan that was not available in the US. It came with a wood laminate for the dash and a shift counsel, which were shown in the Shop Manual.
> > An early brochure for the USA had a Hondamatic but with extensive testing and the EPA pulling the plug on the 45hp version of the engine none were sold in the USA. Reportedly there were 5 test Hondamatics, and there is a story about these cars being turned over to the spouses of the top brass but nothing in writing. And it's important to note that in the list of repair parts authorized for new Honda 600 dealerships no Hondamatic parts or special tools were listed.
> > If you could get the local dealer to order parts offered in other countries such as the right door rear view mirror, rear mud flaps, pop-up radio antenna, electronic tach for the Sedan along with an assortment of badges to go on the trunk and side panels then you had them for your Honda 600. Back before Honda of America split from Honda of Japan many of these items could be ordered from Honda of Japan to include all the parts to make your 36hp engine into a 45hp unit.
> > So to come back to the original question, does it add to the value? Not unless you have documentation that it is a Honda factory authorized option. Then, that item like the Pos-a-traction rims and the wood steering wheel with the wood shift knob, come into the mix. Look at it this way, the items would have to pass a judged event with the documentation proving that the item in question is a factory option and not after market. Proof would be a new car window sticker or sales receipt showing options that came with the vehicle. Or a parts manual listing it as an available option.
> > Bill
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> ]On Behalf Of Bruce Dewing
> > Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2012 4:00 PM
> > To:
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Modifications / Accessories
> > I'm gonna call bs on that. The AMC Gremlin had a Levi Strauss edition. Proof is here:
> http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=739237
> > The automatic was not sold in the US, except for a hadfull of evaluation cars (Bill C. has one). The number 6 sticks in my mind.
> > Many dealers added stuff (pinstripping, vinyl top, mag wheels) to improve proffit. They all sourced their own stuff, so there isn't a list of aftermarket accessories. To find a listing of official stuff, search the archive for my prior post (either this group, or the other one, I forget).
> > I have photos of the 'Rembrandt' edition. Likely a one dealership release (Robertson in L.A.). The extra value in owning it... zilch.
> > Bruce D.
> > Santa Clara, CA
> > ----------------------------------------------------------
> > From: Victor L. Hernandez
> > To: "
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> " anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Sat, June 2, 2012 3:06:54 PM
> > Subject: Re: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Modifications / Accessories
> > If anybody has tht Levi's edition please post pictures!
> > Sent from my iPhone
> > On Jun 2, 2012, at 4:55 PM, "Steven" wrote:
> > I heard there was a automatic transmission released,
> > I remember as a 15 year old kid way back, a "Levis Strauss" edition. it was Pop Orange and the blue Levis interior with orange stiching and the little red Levis tags on the seats.
> > I heard there was a Seattle "Seahawk" edition ??
> > On N.A.D.A. blue book it lists the Positraction wheels you have, a special steering wheel and gearshift knob as options.
> > Steve in Arizona
> > --- In
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> , "baldwin_elias" wrote:
> > > Out of curiosity, does anyone have any history on dealer or aftermarket modifications or accessories for the 600 coupe? I recently purchased a z600 that has different wheels, steering wheel, and striping than my other coupe. Limited research reveals that the wheels are "Pos-A-Traction," but I have no idea on the steering wheel (which has the Honda emblem) or the striping. I'm assuming modifications were common, as a period article noted "the Honda costs so little, most buyers have money left over they don't know what to do with." This new-to-me coupe originally hails from California, I believe. Any information on what was available back in the day for these cars would be appreciated.