Honda S800 car range and history 

Vehicle technical details
Manufacturer:	Honda
Production:	1965 to 1970
Class:	Sports car
Total production:	11523
Assembly plants:	Suzuka, Mie, Japan
Top speed:	160 km / h
Acceleration:	0-100 km in 13.7 s
Body and chassis
Body styles:	Cabriolet, coupé
Doors:	2 door
Chassis/body:	all-steel body
Suspension:	independent suspension
Engine and Powertrain
Drive:	rear wheel drive
Engine Type:	Inline four-cylinder
Displacement:	791 cc
Engine location:	Front
Engine power:	67.2 hp (49 kW)
Transmission:	4 speed
Cooling:	water-cooled
Brakes:	drum replaced by the disc brakes front
Fuel:	carburettor KEIHIN
Tyres:	145,155 SR13
Weights and Dimensions
Wheelbase:	2000mm
Length:	3335mm
Width:	1400 mm
Height:	1215mm

The Honda S800 is a Cabriolet or coupé with longitudinal front engine and rear-wheel drive from the mid 1960s untill 1970 . 

At the 1966 Paris Motor Show , Honda introduced the S800 to the European public for the first time, followed by the London Motor Show and the Motor Show in Turin . In Japan he had already been presented and sold in January 1966, which is also called there Esuhachi .

History

The Honda S series began in August 1963, with the S500, a convertible with a water-cooled 500 cc engine, after the pre-production model S360. The S600 convertible debuted in March 1964, and the S600 coupe debuted in 1965. The 1966 L800 and P800 were delivery vans with a weaker engine than the S800 (estate or flatbed).

The 1965 S700 prototype, which featured a 687 cc engine producing 72 SAE-PS at 9500rpm, was never manufactured.

The N800 prototype, which had a weaker engine than the S800, was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1965, however it was never manufactured.Only Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, England, Italy, and Switzerland were officially sold it.

The compact water-cooled 791 cc high-performance cast aluminium engine produced 67.2 hp (50 kW) at 7570 min and was forward along with the longitudinal axis slanted 45 degrees to the left in the engine compartment to allow for a reduced installation height. At rated speed, the mean piston speed was 17.66 m/s. The litre power output of 84.9 horsepower was fairly high for a production vehicle at the time. Honda employed needle bearings entirely for the crankshaft and connecting rod bearings, which resulted in less lubrication and cooling issues, as well as lower friction losses. The mixture was delivered to the engine by four Keihin horizontal constant pressure carburetors (type CVB36N30A1). It used NGK D8ES (DR8ES-L) and D9ES 12-stroke spark plugs for touring and D10ES (DR10ES) for racing.

The smooth high-revving 791 cc engine, its precise gearbox and predictable handling. The aluminium engine is angled at 45 degrees to give a low bonnet line and has the classic racing layout of twin overhead camshafts, inclined valves and one carburettor and one exhaust pipe per cylinder. It also has a roller-bearing crankshaft. Maximum torque for this tiny powerhouse is quoted at 6,000 rpm, which corresponds to 70 mph in top gear. Peak power is given as 70 bhp at 8.000 rpm—500 rpm before the red sector begins on the tachometer.
The ride and handling were both extremely good. The Honda irons out bumps well and, on radial tyres, grips like a leech with initial understeer gently changing to oversteer on tight corners—the sort of handling that sports car drivers like because the car can be balanced on the throttle through fast bends.

Inside, the Honda offers a reasonable amount of room, although tall drivers will find it cramped The luggage compartment behind the seats is surprisinglylarge, although loading bulky items can be difficult because the rear door does not open far enough.Standard equipment is generous. The car has a fresh-air heater that converts at the slide of a knob to recirculating type, and has a three-speed blower fan which is fairly quiet at all speeds. Aso standard is a dual braking system with an emergency warring light, two-speed wipers, electric washer and a hazard warning The Denso instruments—Speedo, rev-counter, ammeter. fuel and water temperature gauge.

PERFORMANCE

• engine capacity: 48.27 cu in, 791 cu cm
• fuel consumption: 42.1 m/imp gal, 35.1 m/US gal, 6.7 1 x 100 km
• max speed: 100 mph, 161 km/h
• max power (DIN): 70 hp at 8,000 rpm
• max torque (DIN): 49 1b ft, 6.7 kg m at 6,000 rpm
• max engine rpm: 9,000
• specific power: 88.5 hp/l
• power-weight ratio: 23.4 lb/hp, 10.6 kg/hp
• acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 16.9 sec, 0—50 mph (0—80 km/h) 8.5 sec
• max speeds: 30.4 mph, 49 km/h in 1st gear; 50.3 mph, 81 km/h in 2nd gear; 75.2 mph, 121 km/h in 3rd gear; 100 mph, 161 km/h in 4th gear

 The firing order is 1-2-4-3 and the valve clearance (inlet and outlet) when the engine is cold is 0.2 mm. According to the operating instructions, the climbing ability is 25% for the Cabriolet and 23% for the Coupé.

The power was translated via a synchronized four-speed gearbox. In the first type of S800 Cabriolet (type code AS800 and product code 516) or coupe (type code AS800C and product code 525) the power was transmitted via a shaft to a differential and via an intermediate shaft and chain left and right to the rear wheels. The chain boxes with oil bath were supported as a swing by coil springs with internal telescopic shock absorbers on the frame . The car thus had an independent suspension . This construction principle kept Honda almost for the whole sports series. Only 752 convertible and 242 coupes of the S800 were built from this early execution in four months.

Mk1

From May 1966, the S800 was equipped with a typical stiff axle at the trailing arms and a Panhardstab. Until the front axle drum brake was replaced by a disc brake, 604 Cabriolets and 69 Coupes were made with this configuration. This was produced as a Mark II from chassis no. 1005001 starting in October 1967. Wishbones directed the front wheels, which were muffled by shock absorbers and two longitudinal torsion bars installed in the frame and sprung. The three-spoke steering wheel is composed of aluminium, with a plastic railing that looks like wood. The convertible and coupe versions of this sports automobile were both offered. The coupe was only available in silver grey, while the cabriolets were only available in red or white. The leatherette seats in the interior were usually black.

As accessories there was a radiator hood, cigarette lighter, inspection lamp, armrest (convertible), passenger sun visor, bumper horns, plastic hardtop (convertible), luggage carrier (convertible) and tarpaulin (convertible). 

Mk2

The S800 Mark II (type code AS800A and product code 531 + 542) was constructed and introduced in February 1968 from engine no. 1007638 (type code AS800A and product code 531 + 542). This vehicle now included a dual-circuit brake system, a carburetor with accelerator pump (type 1000-338-00), recessed internal door handles and openers, and lengthened and larger turn signals in the front grill. In all country versions, the rear light units as three-chamber lights with side-by-side taillights / indicators + brake light (yellow) and reverse light were now the same. For safety and a more effective heating system, the front and side windows were fashioned of laminated glass.

 Under the name S800M Honda upgraded the car with respect to the American market. Side indicators with reflectors were an outward appearance feature. Honda failed, however, to the relatively strict US emissions laws.In Europe, about 7200 copies of the S800 were sold within 4 years, a total of about 284 copies of the S800 with 113 convertibles and 171 Coupes in all states, about half in running order. In Japan, S600 and S800 about 12,000 vehicles from the S500, sold, 

From April 1967 there was a complete serious sports S800 Racer with homologated competition kit,  which had developed but was three times the price of the base model. The empty weight was reduced to 695 kg, the bumpers and the unnecessary parts were removed. The vehicle had a fixed hardtop, a roll bar and magnesium alloy wheels.

 The engine with 818 cc had a lighter crankshaft and a Keihin racing carburetor without air filter. The power increased to 90 hp (66 kW) at 9,500 min , This power was transmitted via a non-synchronized five-speed gearbox. The top speed was about 180 km / h. Only a dozen of these racing models came to Europe, half of them to France.