Develop a Japanese sports car capable of giving Ferrari and Porsche a serious challenge. That already sounds ambitious. Then build it almost entirely from aluminum, equip it with a high-revving VTEC engine, and refine it on the Nürburgring with input from Formula 1 drivers. Even more ambitious. And then make it so reliable that you can drive it to the South of France without a second thought? That sounds almost impossible.

The Honda NSX arrived at the beginning of the 1990s as an entirely new interpretation of the exotic sports car. Honda set out to create a car that could rival the established names from Italy and Germany in terms of performance, while remaining practical, easy to drive, and exceptionally reliable.

Honda had already begun investigating different engine and chassis layouts during the 1980s. Various mid-engine configurations were explored before Pininfarina was commissioned to design a concept car. That study ultimately formed the foundation of what would become the NSX. Originally, the initials stood for New Sportscar eXperimental.

The NSX was never intended to be a conventional sports car wearing a different body. Honda developed virtually every aspect of the car from the ground up. The body and chassis were constructed largely from aluminum, as were major suspension components. The result was a genuine reduction in weight. Today, aluminum is used in everything from luxury sedans to electric family cars, but in 1991 an all-aluminum sports car was anything but commonplace. It was expensive. And it was exactly the sort of engineering challenge Honda wanted to master.

Behind the driver sits a 3.0-liter V6 equipped with Honda's renowned VTEC technology. The engine features titanium connecting rods and a rev range that, at the time, seemed more appropriate for a racing car than a road car. The redline does not begin until around 8,000 rpm. At lower engine speeds, the NSX feels smooth, refined, and composed. As the revs climb, however, its character changes dramatically. The V6 becomes sharper, more urgent, and sounds absolutely magnificent.

Ayrton Senna is often described as the development driver of the NSX. That is something of an exaggeration, but he certainly did test the car during its development and advised Honda to further increase the rigidity of the chassis. The development process, however, involved far more than one legendary racing driver completing a handful of fast laps.

Honda carried out extensive testing at Suzuka, on various proving grounds throughout Japan, and on Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife. Test driver Motoharu Kurosawa completed lap after lap while engineers carefully discussed every point where he detected movement in the aluminum chassis. Reinforcements were then added accordingly.

The result was a significantly stiffer chassis without compromising Honda's original lightweight philosophy. For the cockpit, Honda even studied the outward visibility of the F-16 fighter jet. The cabin was positioned far forward, featuring expansive glass surfaces and remarkably slim pillars. As a result, the NSX offers outstanding visibility by sports car standards.

This Honda NSX was delivered new in 1991 by Pagani Freres, then an official Honda dealer in Marseille. The car subsequently remained with its first owner for no less than 34 years. Much of this NSX still wears its original factory paint. On a car like this, an extensively original paint finish says a great deal—not only about the body itself, but above all about the care the car has received throughout its life.

The documentation has been preserved just as carefully. The original owner's manuals are still present in their gray portfolio, and dealer invoices have also been retained. In addition, the car received a major service last year. All of this makes it an exceptionally fine example.

With the NSX, Honda succeeded in creating something truly remarkable. It delivered the performance and engineering of an exotic sports car while combining those qualities with ergonomics, all-round visibility, and everyday usability that many of its competitors simply could not match at the time.

Is a 1991 Honda NSX still an underrated car today? Probably not anymore. Too many enthusiasts have since reached the same conclusion. But an early NSX that remained with a single owner for 34 years, still retains the vast majority of its original paint, and is offered together with its original documentation is certainly not something you encounter every day.

Contact Gallery Aaldering today and discover this exceptional Honda for yourself. We export our vehicles worldwide; please inquire about the available possibilities.

* "Delivered by Pagani": Pagani Freres the Honda dealer from Marseille (F)
* 99.9% first paint - A remarkably original example
* Includes all factory manuals in the gray folder and dealer invoices
* Major maintenance last year
* It's been under the same owner for 34 years - 'Then you didn't do it for the money'
* Ayrton Senna - aluminum - VTEC - Nürburgring - It sounds almost poetic