For many years, American Honda has had an impressive museum off-site from its headquarters in Torrance, California. Now, Honda has taken motorcycles, automobiles, power equipment, and more from its museum and opened the American Honda Collection Hall, just off the American Honda headquarters lobby. The good news for fans of motorcycle history is that the 20,000-square-foot Hall will be open to the public the third Saturday morning of every other month beginning on October 21.
Honda’s schedule for its public Cars, Bikes & Coffee gatherings runs through August 17, 2024. The opening event will be quite a shindig with food trucks, music, giveaways, vendors, music, special displays, and more. Each event runs from 9 a.m. to noon, and there is no admission charge.
President & CEO and director of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and chief officer of Regional Operations (North America) Noriya Kaihara was the keynote speaker at the unveiling of the American Honda Collection Hall, as he noted the company’s history, beginning in Japan and embracing the United States in 1959, and its local ties to Torrance. The grand opening included Honda dignitaries, local politicians, and Japanese cultural drummers.
“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,” Kaihara stated. “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.”
Motorcycles are, of course, our focus, and here’s a partial rundown of the motorcycles on display at the American Honda Collection Hall. In the accompanying photos, you’ll see motorcycles not listed below.
American Honda Collection Hall Motorcycles
- 1962 Honda 50/Super Cub. One of the first three models Honda sold in the United States, 100 million Super Cubs have been sold worldwide.
- 1969 Honda CB750A. The inline-4 that changed the world.
- 1973 Honda CR250 Elsinore. The first production motocross racer from Honda, made famous by Steve McQueen and Gary Jones.
- 1975 Honda Gold Wing GL1000. It started as a superbike before changing the world of motorcycle touring.
- 1981 Honda CBX1000. This inline-6 liter bike was the first Honda street bike to produce 100 horsepower on the dyno.
- 1983 Honda VF750F. Superbike racing got serious with the introduction of this liquid-cooled DOHC V4 housed in a square-tube steel frame.
- 1990 Honda VFR750R/RC30. Only 3000 examples of this superbike were produced, and only for World Superbike homologation.
- 1992 Honda NR750. The amazing V4 with oval pistons and eight valves per cylinder.
- 2000 Honda Rune. Perhaps the most audacious production cruiser in history.
- 2004 Honda RVT1000R/RC51. Honda’s championship-winning V-twin superbike turned into a popular street-going sportbike.
Automobile racing fans will be interested in the 1992 Acura Spice GTP-Lights, 1996 Reynard 961-031 Indy Car, and 1997 Acura Integra Realtime racecars. Notable production cars include the 1970 Honda N600 Coupe (the first Honda car sold in the US), the ubiquitous yellow 1975 Honda Civic CVCC Hatchback, and the 1991 Acura NSX supercar.
Photography by Don Williams
Cars, Bikes & Coffee Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023
Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024
All events run from 9 a.m. to noon at 1919 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA
