Honda Z600 (1970)Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Honda Z600

1970 — Japan

Muscle Era (1960-1974)JapaneseMicro Cars & Bubble CarsKei Cars
Engine598 cc
DrivetrainRWD

Honda Z600

The Z600 showcased Honda's motorcycle engineering expertise applied to automobiles, featuring a high-revving air-cooled twin engine. Its wedge-shaped styling with large glass area gave it a sporty appearance unusual for kei cars. The rear-mounted engine provided entertaining handling characteristics and excellent weight distribution. Honda exported the Z600 to international markets including the US, making it one of the first Japanese kei cars to gain global exposure and helping establish Honda's automotive reputation overseas.