new here. been lurking for a week or two. always wanted a 600 since i saw them new.
a while back i read something about some being available with a Hondamatic transmission. were these any good? at all reliable? any i see for sale now have the manual trans. how hard is it to find an auto?
Hondamatic
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Scott Walters
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:26 am
Re: Hondamatic
I can't comment on how reliable the Hondamatic transmission is or
other things, but in the close to two years I've been on this list, I
haven't seen mention of one for sale or owned by someone.
I guess there was also a liquid cooled 600 near the end (with a
slightly longer body to accommodate), and an air conditioning option,
but I'm also told that the price tag on these options was almost as
high as the price tag for the car itself, so virtually everyone passed
on them. There's some third hand info for you.
Good luck!
-scott
other things, but in the close to two years I've been on this list, I
haven't seen mention of one for sale or owned by someone.
I guess there was also a liquid cooled 600 near the end (with a
slightly longer body to accommodate), and an air conditioning option,
but I'm also told that the price tag on these options was almost as
high as the price tag for the car itself, so virtually everyone passed
on them. There's some third hand info for you.
Good luck!
-scott
On 2/1/14,
servitrike@...
wrote:
> new here. been lurking for a week or two. always wanted a 600 since i saw
> them new.
> a while back i read something about some being available with a Hondamatic
> transmission. were these any good? at all reliable? any i see for sale now
> have the manual trans. how hard is it to find an auto?
-
Eric Geiger
- Posts: 182
- Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:38 am
Re: Hondamatic
i know a fellow member here that has a hondamatic setup, as for the liquid cooled you're thinking of the 360s from japan
Eric J. Geiger
PRG Nocturne
XXX-XXX-XXXX phone
XXX-XXX-XXXX fax
XXX-XXX-XXXX mobile
egeiger@...
www.prgnocturne.com
Eric J. Geiger
PRG Nocturne
XXX-XXX-XXXX phone
XXX-XXX-XXXX fax
XXX-XXX-XXXX mobile
egeiger@...
www.prgnocturne.com
On Feb 1, 2014, at 8:23 PM, Scott Walters wrote:
> I can't comment on how reliable the Hondamatic transmission is or
> other things, but in the close to two years I've been on this list, I
> haven't seen mention of one for sale or owned by someone.
> I guess there was also a liquid cooled 600 near the end (with a
> slightly longer body to accommodate), and an air conditioning option,
> but I'm also told that the price tag on these options was almost as
> high as the price tag for the car itself, so virtually everyone passed
> on them. There's some third hand info for you.
> Good luck!
> -scott
> On 2/1/14,
> servitrike@...
> servitrike@...
> > wrote:
> > new here. been lurking for a week or two. always wanted a 600 since i saw
> > them new.
> > a while back i read something about some being available with a Hondamatic
> > transmission. were these any good? at all reliable? any i see for sale now
> > have the manual trans. how hard is it to find an auto?
-
pommecoing
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 5:01 am
Re: Hondamatic
Hello,
I'm the proud owner of a N600 Hondamatic. Certainly 1971. It's a project car, non running, the engine and trans are in very bad condition. I'll probably have to convert it to manual. I'm located in France and as far as I know, they were designed for european and japanese markets. You couldn't get them in the US.
Thank you.
I'm the proud owner of a N600 Hondamatic. Certainly 1971. It's a project car, non running, the engine and trans are in very bad condition. I'll probably have to convert it to manual. I'm located in France and as far as I know, they were designed for european and japanese markets. You couldn't get them in the US.
Thank you.
Re: Hondamatic
There were 5 Hondamatic test vehicles brought to the USA in 1968 as part of the 50 test vehicles brought here. I have one of the Honda test Hondamatics, Honda of America has a production version in their collection. Mine has chassis number AA600 ---1188 with engine number N600E -------36 which has been documented by Honda of America as a test vehicle. The Honda of America car has Vin AA600 --18073. The visible difference between the two is the shifting cables; the first 700 transmissions were two cable shifting, the later were single cable shifting. I have listings of them in the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, England, France and Belgium.
I have seen pictures of a Hondamatic that is supposed to be in a junkyard in Arkansas.
When the person who sent the pictures was sent a return e-mail it bounced.
The pictures look real and although the pictures didn’t show the engine compartment, the dash was a USA production version with the steering wheel on the left side of the car.
Bill
I have seen pictures of a Hondamatic that is supposed to be in a junkyard in Arkansas.
When the person who sent the pictures was sent a return e-mail it bounced.
The pictures look real and although the pictures didn’t show the engine compartment, the dash was a USA production version with the steering wheel on the left side of the car.
Bill
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Mark P Hatten
- Posts: 263
- Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2010 12:55 am
Hondamatic
Very interesting!
a little off topic, I have a Honda 750 automatic motorcycle,
I don't think either the Honda automatic cars or bikes were a big hit.
Mark
www.gpnwmme.com is sponsored by www.mphspecialties.com
To: 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com; anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
a little off topic, I have a Honda 750 automatic motorcycle,
I don't think either the Honda automatic cars or bikes were a big hit.
Mark
www.gpnwmme.com is sponsored by www.mphspecialties.com
To: 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com; anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
Re: [anzhonda600owners] Hondamatic
Hi Mark;
The two differed quite a bit. The Hondamatic for the Honda 600 has three forward gears and reverse with a torque converter and parking pawl. But I wonder if some of the seals are the same. I could not find another two cable trans, however I did trade for a one cable trans from Australia. Of the items that are interchangeable, there are a few, the crankshaft is one. But the crankshaft for the Hondamatic is a lot different than for the standered transmission unit. Baseing the numbers built and the chassis numbers I have collected from all the different countires there seems to be maybe 2500 Hondamatic 600's built. The 360's did far better. The great thing about them is that each gear can be selected and held or it can be put in drive and all gears are automatic.
Bill
The two differed quite a bit. The Hondamatic for the Honda 600 has three forward gears and reverse with a torque converter and parking pawl. But I wonder if some of the seals are the same. I could not find another two cable trans, however I did trade for a one cable trans from Australia. Of the items that are interchangeable, there are a few, the crankshaft is one. But the crankshaft for the Hondamatic is a lot different than for the standered transmission unit. Baseing the numbers built and the chassis numbers I have collected from all the different countires there seems to be maybe 2500 Hondamatic 600's built. The 360's did far better. The great thing about them is that each gear can be selected and held or it can be put in drive and all gears are automatic.
Bill
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Don B Laughton
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:32 am
Re: [anzhonda600owners] Hondamatic
I believe there were six cars in the 1967-1968 winter test program. At least three of the survivors have manual transmissions. Around the office we had stacks of single page, full color N600 automatic "brochures".
There were no N600 automatics at American Honda when I went to work there in June, 1970. A year or so later, I went to Los Angeles International Airport to pick up a couple of N600 A/Ts. On the surface streets to the freeway, the car I drove seemed to perform like the standard car. It even seemed pretty good going up the freeway on ramp....and then it shifted into top or third gear. If there had been any traffic in the right lane, I might not be here to tell this story. (For a real life demonstration, try accelerating a manual car by shift from second to fourth. The automatic might have worked well as an urban run about, but not as anything else, at least not in the USA. (The A/Ts disappeared as soon as we got back to American H. They sere reportedly given to the wives of the top Japanese execs to use for shopping etc.) The winter test cars? Can you say prototypes? You better own a machine shop and foundry, because they are that different and there are NO parts...there were no parts when we became aware that the winter test cars had not been destroyed in 1970.
No matter, enjoy the story and enjoy the story..
On Sunday, February 2, 2014 11:23 AM, Bill wrote:
Hi Mark;
The two differed quite a bit. The Hondamatic for the Honda 600 has three forward gears and reverse with a torque converter and parking pawl. But I wonder if some of the seals are the same. I could not find another two cable trans, however I did trade for a one cable trans from Australia. Of the items that are interchangeable, there are a few, the crankshaft is one. But the crankshaft for the Hondamatic is a lot different than for the standered transmission unit. Baseing the numbers built and the chassis numbers I have collected from all the different countires there seems to be maybe 2500 Hondamatic 600's built. The 360's did far better. The great thing about them is that each gear can be selected and held or it can be put in drive and all gears are automatic.
Bill
There were no N600 automatics at American Honda when I went to work there in June, 1970. A year or so later, I went to Los Angeles International Airport to pick up a couple of N600 A/Ts. On the surface streets to the freeway, the car I drove seemed to perform like the standard car. It even seemed pretty good going up the freeway on ramp....and then it shifted into top or third gear. If there had been any traffic in the right lane, I might not be here to tell this story. (For a real life demonstration, try accelerating a manual car by shift from second to fourth. The automatic might have worked well as an urban run about, but not as anything else, at least not in the USA. (The A/Ts disappeared as soon as we got back to American H. They sere reportedly given to the wives of the top Japanese execs to use for shopping etc.) The winter test cars? Can you say prototypes? You better own a machine shop and foundry, because they are that different and there are NO parts...there were no parts when we became aware that the winter test cars had not been destroyed in 1970.
No matter, enjoy the story and enjoy the story..
On Sunday, February 2, 2014 11:23 AM, Bill wrote:
Hi Mark;
The two differed quite a bit. The Hondamatic for the Honda 600 has three forward gears and reverse with a torque converter and parking pawl. But I wonder if some of the seals are the same. I could not find another two cable trans, however I did trade for a one cable trans from Australia. Of the items that are interchangeable, there are a few, the crankshaft is one. But the crankshaft for the Hondamatic is a lot different than for the standered transmission unit. Baseing the numbers built and the chassis numbers I have collected from all the different countires there seems to be maybe 2500 Hondamatic 600's built. The 360's did far better. The great thing about them is that each gear can be selected and held or it can be put in drive and all gears are automatic.
Bill
Re: [anzhonda600owners] Hondamatic
Hi Don;
We have talked before, and Yes, these cars are different. There was a 7 inch length of bamboo taped to the locking bar on the passenger door I believe to stiffen it a bit. The engine compartment vents at the bottom of the windshield are 3 sets instead of the two sets on the production N600's. The rear brake drums are smaller, the hard ware for the front disc brake axels are different, the brake booster is mounted to the rear of the left front head light body/frame just to name a few. These among a number of other issues are why my car has been in restoration since 1995. Slowly things are coming together, although a number of items need to be made/fabricated or restored to keep it a test vehicle and not another Honda 600 Sedan.
I have included pictures of the Hondamatic American Honda has in their collection which is believed to be the only known production Hondamatic AA600.
Bill
[img]Honda 600's before museum1-14493.jpg[/img]
We have talked before, and Yes, these cars are different. There was a 7 inch length of bamboo taped to the locking bar on the passenger door I believe to stiffen it a bit. The engine compartment vents at the bottom of the windshield are 3 sets instead of the two sets on the production N600's. The rear brake drums are smaller, the hard ware for the front disc brake axels are different, the brake booster is mounted to the rear of the left front head light body/frame just to name a few. These among a number of other issues are why my car has been in restoration since 1995. Slowly things are coming together, although a number of items need to be made/fabricated or restored to keep it a test vehicle and not another Honda 600 Sedan.
I have included pictures of the Hondamatic American Honda has in their collection which is believed to be the only known production Hondamatic AA600.
Bill
[img]Honda 600's before museum1-14493.jpg[/img]
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Don B Laughton
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:32 am
Re: [anzhonda600owners] Hondamatic [7 Attachments]
Your engine number is certainly early, but I am not so sure about the chassis number. The '67-'68 winter test cars had front drum brakes...had wheels bolted to the rim of the brake drum instead of the hub....can't remember if they had a sway bar....certainly did not have a brake booster...(my N/L360-N600 parts list does not show the sway bar or the booster...It does show the two shift cables. Still with your engine number it most likely a prototype, so anything is possible as far as the entire car is concerned...for example for the extra $ they might have given it a little nicer interior.
It has been more than 40 years but as I recall one of the N600 A/Ts was yellow the other may have been white...but not red.
For me, it was an exciting time. I never knew what project I would be assigned from day to day. I wrote the first customer satisfaction survey..it was conducted in Hawaii. Went to the San Francisco auto show with the sales manager adn the head of our advertising agency. Wrote service bulletins, edited various manuals (some day I will have to tell you about the introduction in one of the owner's manuals...give you a hint, they like my sentence and they liked their sentence, so they included both!) Gave the parts dept the listings for the first parts kits (there were no gasket sets, piston kits or crank kits). Unfortunately, at 26, there was no place for me in the organization for me.
On Tuesday, February 4, 2014 10:58 AM, Bill wrote:
[ Attachment(s) from Bill included below]
Hi Don;
We have talked before, and Yes, these cars are different. There was a 7 inch length of bamboo taped to the locking bar on the passenger door I believe to stiffen it a bit. The engine compartment vents at the bottom of the windshield are 3 sets instead of the two sets on the production N600's. The rear brake drums are smaller, the hard ware for the front disc brake axels are different, the brake booster is mounted to the rear of the left front head light body/frame just to name a few. These among a number of other issues are why my car has been in restoration since 1995. Slowly things are coming together, although a number of items need to be made/fabricated or restored to keep it a test vehicle and not another Honda 600 Sedan.
I have included pictures of the Hondamatic American Honda has in their collection which is believed to be the only known production Hondamatic AA600.
Bill
It has been more than 40 years but as I recall one of the N600 A/Ts was yellow the other may have been white...but not red.
For me, it was an exciting time. I never knew what project I would be assigned from day to day. I wrote the first customer satisfaction survey..it was conducted in Hawaii. Went to the San Francisco auto show with the sales manager adn the head of our advertising agency. Wrote service bulletins, edited various manuals (some day I will have to tell you about the introduction in one of the owner's manuals...give you a hint, they like my sentence and they liked their sentence, so they included both!) Gave the parts dept the listings for the first parts kits (there were no gasket sets, piston kits or crank kits). Unfortunately, at 26, there was no place for me in the organization for me.
On Tuesday, February 4, 2014 10:58 AM, Bill wrote:
[ Attachment(s) from Bill included below]
Hi Don;
We have talked before, and Yes, these cars are different. There was a 7 inch length of bamboo taped to the locking bar on the passenger door I believe to stiffen it a bit. The engine compartment vents at the bottom of the windshield are 3 sets instead of the two sets on the production N600's. The rear brake drums are smaller, the hard ware for the front disc brake axels are different, the brake booster is mounted to the rear of the left front head light body/frame just to name a few. These among a number of other issues are why my car has been in restoration since 1995. Slowly things are coming together, although a number of items need to be made/fabricated or restored to keep it a test vehicle and not another Honda 600 Sedan.
I have included pictures of the Hondamatic American Honda has in their collection which is believed to be the only known production Hondamatic AA600.
Bill