This Vintage Honda Microcar Gets a Supersport Makeover

Removing the interior of a traditional kei car shell and replacing it with the powerful components of a contemporary superbike.

It’s small, it’s yellow, and it has a distinctively retro look as a hatchback. This isn’t a Mini; it’s a Honda N600 from the early '70s. The original model was equipped with a petite 600cc-plus kei car engine, which, when everything aligned perfectly, could muster around 40 full horsepower on a good day.

Pleasant to behold; not as enjoyable when driving. It might be frustrating, varying based on your mood and how patient you feel on a particular day.

However, that's all set to change soon. Cars and Cameras Each year, they invite a group of friends to participate in what they refer to as Build Week. During this event, their aim is to finish an extremely ambitious project within seven days by putting in continuous effort throughout the duration. Of course, there are moments of rest; however, the idea is that bringing together skilled do-it-yourself enthusiasts will allow them to accomplish significantly more work in much less time compared to tackling such projects individually.

In 2025, their plan is to transform this unassuming little Honda N600 by installing a distinctively different Honda engine within. Can you guess which one? It’s a CBR1000RR The Superbike mill implies that swapping out the small N600 engine wasn’t an option. Instead, they’re transforming it into a rear-wheel-drive vehicle and relocating components such as the fuel tank, radiator, and battery from where the original engine used to sit at the front, aiding in balancing the final build’s overall mass.

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Certainly, we must consider the significant challenge posed by the installation of the CBR1000RR engine, which delivers approximately 170 horsepower. This output is over four times greater than what the initial design of the N600 could manage. Additionally, this powerful engine will be positioned at the rear rather than the front as originally intended. Consequently, numerous structural modifications will be necessary to ensure that the compact kei car does not warp under such immense power, thus avoiding becoming akin to a flexible pretzel in movement.

They’re assembling quite an eclectic mix of components here, featuring a rear axle sourced from a Mazda Miata, some suspension pieces taken from a Polaris RZR, and various other elements used to bring everything into alignment. Despite being from Texas and thus impressively devoid of rust considering its years, the donor N600 still requires extensive modifications; specifically, cutting apart the rear section becomes necessary to accommodate both the new engine placement and the required adjustments to the suspension setup.

How crazy does it sound once this build is finished? They intend to test it at the Virginia International Raceway karting facility. Do you want to get behind the wheel of this vehicle, or do you think they’re being overly ambitious? Share your opinions below!