The Acura NSX debuted at the 1989 Chicago auto show to the surprise and delight of attendees, and perhaps the chagrin of the competition. (Was Pope Leo XIV in the crowd? Probably not, but it’s fun to think about.) It was a groundbreaking machine when new, but 15 years after production first began it was more expensive than a Porsche 911 and not any quicker. If you got the options right, however, it could set your heart racing just standing still.
Today’s choice from Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos) is a last-of-breed example, and whoever spec’d it out should be given a medal. One of only eight NSX-Ts with Imola Orange over black leather interior built between 2002 and 2005, it’s exceedingly rare and attention-getting.
In the comparison between 911 and NSX, there are many arguments in the latter’s favor: mid-engined balance, high-revving purity of experience. This one plonks a thumb on the scale by being absolutely stunning.
2005 was the last production year for the NSX, though a handful went unsold in the U.S. until 2006 and 2007. In some ways, you could consider these late cars Acura’s version of the Lexus LFA, in that buyers didn’t really show much interest when new, but as time has passed, the cars have aged like the proverbial fine wine.
The NSX got a performance bump with a 290-hp 3.2-liter V-6 in 1997, paired with a six-speed manual transmission or an optional automatic. Then, in 2002, we saw the pop-up headlights disappear in favor of fixed xenon HIDs. The suspension was revised and the bodywork slightly tweaked. The wheels are 17-inch forged aluminum, wearing slightly wider tires than fitted to pre-2002 cars.
If the exterior is lovely, the interior of this car is a welcome respite from the screen-addled nonsense we have to put up with these days. This is a driver’s car for, you know, driving, so it’s uncluttered and simple, offering excellent forward visibility. Here’s a fun little tidbit: Gordon Murray drove an NSX while developing the McLaren F1, and he was so impressed by Acura’s automatic climate control that he used it as a benchmark for that in the F1.
Besides being a rare hue, this example has just 13,000 miles on the odometer and minimal modifications. The suspension has been very slightly lowered, and there’s a Pride performance exhaust so you can better hear that V-6 hit VTEC and sing.
Anyone putting together a collection of the greatest Japanese sports cars would have to add something like this NSX-T to the mix. Or, as a single special-occasion car, you could hardly do better. Certainly it’s a lot more exciting than some contemporary silver 911 Carrera 4. The NSX is on hiatus again these days, and we might be waiting a while for the next one. But Acura’ll probably never again build something quite so special as this.
The auction ends May 15.
Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
