Good morning! I figured since I’ve been showing you scary stuff this week, I’d give you a break today and show you a couple cool little vehicles you might actually want to own. And while they’re both outside our normal price range by a bit, neither one feels absurdly overpriced.
Yesterday, I made you choose between two scary backyards to visit on Halloween, to check out some equally scary pieces of junk. Most of you noped-out, given the opportunity. Chickens. I’m disregarding the “Nope” answers, which means the Grand Am wins in a landslide.
That is, of course, the only rational answer, given these two heaps. It has a title, it’s all there, and anything it may need is available off-the-shelf at any chain auto-parts store. A skilled hand with a wrench could have that thing back on the road in no time. Would anyone bother? Well, that wasn’t the question, was it?
All right, time for something a little more friendly. I try to spread my searches out as much as I can, but when I want to find something cool and mostly rust-free, there is only one place to look: southern California. A quick search turned up these two rare gems. Let’s check them out.
1972 Honda N600 – $6,000
Engine/drivetrain: 598cc overhead cam inline twin, four-speed manual, FWD
Location: Gardena, CA
Odometer reading: 72,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives, but that’s all the info we have
Before the the Civic, there was this adorable little thing, Honda’s first official car imported to the US: the N600. In Japan, this car was the N360, with a smaller engine to meet Japan’s then-current Kei car rules, but it was otherwise the same. So if you’ve ever wondered whether Kei cars have been officially imported to the US, the answer is yes. More or less.
The “600” in the name refers to the engine size. It’s an air-cooled two-cylinder unit with a four-speed gearbox integrated into the sump, similar in layout to the Austin Mini. It’s a screamer of an engine, all aluminum in construction, with roller bearings for the crankshaft and connecting rods in place of the typical plain bearings found in most engines. As a result, this little twin-cylinder wonder can spin at up to 9,000 RPM and puts out peak power at 7,000. We can only guess at the exact mechanical condition of this one; all we get is “Runs and drives.” It’s something, I guess.
It’s in good condition inside, and it looks like the seats have been reupholstered. I’ve seen one of these in person, but I’ve never driven or ridden in one, so I have no idea how that bizarre gearshift works. Is it a push-pull-twist deal, like a 2CV? Or is it just a conventional H-pattern, with a weird lever? If someone knows, please explain it in the comments. Also, if anyone has any idea why someone would think that horrible aftermarket steering wheel was a good idea, I’m all ears.
It’s got crappy window tint and a little bit of rust, and its goldenrod paint is pretty dull, but overall, it’s not bad. It’s a fifty-two-year-old economy car, after all. I bet it would shine up nicely, and be a real hit at car shows just as it is. Make sure those shows are close by, though; it will do 75 on the freeway, but I think you’d have to be a little bit crazy to do so.
1979 Chevrolet LUV 4×4 – $6,900
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8-liter overhead cam inline 4, four-speed manual, part-time 4WD
Location: Chino, CA
Odometer reading: 117,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives, but needs some tuning
The small truck market in the US in the 1970s consisted entirely of captive imports. Ford tapped Mazda for the Courier, Chrysler got its Dodge D50 and Plymouth Arrow trucks from Mitsubishi, and Chevy imported the Isuzu Faster pickup as the Light Utility Vehicle, or LUV. And in 1979, the LUV pulled off a coup in the market by being the first to offer four-wheel-drive in a compact pickup, beating Toyota to the punch by about six months, a fact it announced through one of the best stripe packages ever seen on any vehicle.
The LUV only came with one engine, an Isuzu-made 1.8 liter four-cylinder, in this case backed by a four-speed manual transmission and a high/low transfer case to provide part-time 4WD. It’s not a ton of power, but it was the ’70s; nobody was in a hurry. This one runs and drives, but the seller says it needs a tune-up or maybe some carb work; they don’t specify exactly what’s wrong with how it runs, but something is up. This truck also has factory air conditioning, which works, but doesn’t get cold, so some new seals and a recharge are in order.
It’s in nice shape inside, all original except for some aftermarket gauge or other (probably oil pressure, if I had to guess). The dash top has a big crack in it, but I defy you to find a LUV dashboard anywhere outside of a museum that doesn’t. It’s funny how primitive and simple older trucks like this look when you compare them to modern trucks; you forget all the stuff we used to happily do without.
Outside, it’s, well, just look at it! It has those amazing stripes, white steel wheels with white-letter tires, a roll bar in the bed with lights on top – everything you could possibly ask for. It’s even got rope hooks on the side of the bed, like any good small truck should.
So there you have it, your Friday choices for this week. They’re maybe not all that cheap, but they sure are cheerful, and either one would make a great conversation piece without taking up too much room in the garage. So what’ll it be – the rev-happy little Honda, or the Tonka toy you can actually drive?
(Image credits: sellers)
The LUV makes me irrationally happy just looking at it. I think that’s more than worth whatever would be involved in getting it running right.
OMG those stripes are EVERYTHING, I want the luv. Tho agreed a both option would have been good, that little Honda looks like a hoot to drive!
I like both but definitely going w/ the LUV- it looks awesome and will be fun to drive. Also, I always LUV to say that I LUV the Chevy LUV!!!
I think N600s are sweet, and IIRC you could directly bolt-on (or maybe some mild modifications) a 1st-Gen Goldwing Head to give you high-compression. However, the price I’d expect a bit more work on the paint, try to correct the trim and get rid of that fug steering wheel.
The LUV is 4×4 with awesome graphics that make it looks like an 80s RC car.
Give me LUV.
WOOOOWWW!!!!! I didn’t know I needed a 4×4 LUV … but I turns out I DO need a 4×4 LUV!
*checks wallet*
DANG IT ANYWAY!!!!!
The LUV isn’t a diesel, so N600 for me.
Hayabusa swap that shit and it will go much faster than 75 mph.
That would be terrifying! I dig it.
4X4 Luv, Yes please.
Though I will admit the price to play seems high for both of these.
Realistically, this is a “both” day. That cars like this exist in The People’s Republic of California almost makes me want to move there despite the taxes, earthquakes, high cost of living, and general awfulness (no offense, Californians).
I’m voting for the Chevy, though. I LUV single cab pickup trucks, and this is a particularly cool single cab truck. The styling is great. The graphics are absolutely amazing. The roll bar is awesome. That it has air conditioning (even though it is broken) is a huge plus. This would make a fun daily driver. If this weren’t on the other side of the country I would buy it in a second.
You left out wildfires!
I want both. But I want the Honda more.
Agree with your take; the color of the Honda really sells it for me, and the interesting engine. Have owned a LUV back in the late 80’s – it was OK but no floorboards, so rusty.
I’d gladly learn the dark arts of carb tuning for a chance to drive that LUV. We’ll take the Chevy, and figure out a way to 3D print a new dash top.
Yesterday I wanted a Nope button, today I need a Both button. My LUV of stripes made it an easy choice in the end.
I’m feeling the LUV. That is a glorious sticker package and is all the truck I would ever need. A part of me wants both today.
All you need is LUV
I like both but voted for the LUV but I am sure you bring either of these to a cruise night and they would get much more looks then your typical Chevelle’s, Nova, mustangs and so on.
For sure. The LUV you might see another, I still see them occasionally, but the Honda is definitely the rarer beast and the one I went for just because it’s too adorable.
Being from the Midwest I cannot say I have seen a LUV or one of these Honda’s around and being in my early 30s these cars were before my time. So by the time I was driving most these cars in the Midwest returned to the earth in rust form most likely haha.
Yeah in Texas I would see a LUV at least once a month or so, but not one as cool as this. I don’t know that I have ever seen a Honda that old in the metal at all.
Both fantastic choices here, I would have a blast in either, but I am going Honda this time because small cars are my jam!
For some reason I had a yellow plastic LUV toy truck when I was a kid. I could never figure out why someone chose the LUV as a model for a toy.
My Sunday School teacher was a large burly dude who drove an Honda 600. I never asked him why.
One time between Sunday School and church services, 3 of my pals and I scooted his car across the flat sandy Florida parking lot to a location firmly between two palm trees. We were long gone before he discovered it and he never gave us the satisfaction of mentioning the prank.
Honda 600 — and 600Z — ex-owner here. The gearshift is remarkable similar to a 2CV’s, but not quite. IIRC, it takes less twisting, but has a push-pull-ish action. Took a lot of rowing to get up to, well, “speed.”
Nonetheless, I want it.
Good luck finding parts, but the rest is pure gravy. If in any kind of decent running condition, it will be an absolute ball to drive. As well as park, of course. the thing doesn’t take up much space.
I would prefer it to darn near anything, in fact. Which means I wouldn’t give the Isuzuvrolet a second glance.
Saw two of these Hondas in a salvage yard earlier this year.
Yep. They’re still around. Some years ago, almost bought a 600, but on close inspection the California car had rusted like it had lived in snowy, salty Massachusetts. I passed, with regrets.
I was wondering being a Honda and having a sump transmission if it was just a motorcycle transmission with sequential shifting.
The Luv gets the love from me. Decent shape for it’s age and the fact that back then nobody really liked them a ton.
My Mom had a Chevy LUV and my brother and I (when we were little kids!) used to ride around everywhere in the back. I’d LUV to have one!
I have more uses for a 45 year old smöl P/U than I do for a 50 year old kei car.
LUV all the way
I wanna both both both option today but in the end the stripes pushed me into the truck.
Those stripes did make the LUV far more appealing than it would have been without them. I still went Honda, but definitely a day for a both option.
Gimme all your luvvin’!
All your hugs and kisses too!
The LUV may be Faster, but the 600 is better for Civic duty.
I’ll take the Honda, especially because it would look perfect parked next to one of its contemporary competitors, my red 1972 Super Beetle.