Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1991 Acura NSX.
Oh, how I wish that I could fit in the NSX comfortably! But at 6’4″ tall, while it is a car that I can drive through sheer force of will, it is not a car I would want to drive for thousands of miles. If I were only 6’2″ tall this would not be an issue but those extra 2 inches makes it a no go. This is sad because the NSX is in almost every single way the ultimate “easy button” for 1990s exotic cars.
If you doubt this claim, simply do a Google search on the 1990s NSX and read any of the period reviews of the car. Car and Driver in a 1994 test of the car called the NSX, “A fighter jet for the road,” and Road & Track magazine in a modern review of the NSX said that, “Driving the NSX ruins every new car.” For those of you who like to know details, the name NSX stood for “New Sportscar eXperimental.”
This should come as no surprise, as Gordon Murray has been quoted stating that the NSX was the car he used as the inspiration for F1. After test driving many high performance cars he found the NSX chassis performed the best. Murray said that the design was “monumental” to sportscar design.
According to the seller this specific 1991 Acura NSX was initially delivered to Pompano Beach Imports in Florida and has covered 15,900 miles since new. It is powered by an unmodified 3.0-liter V6 with VTEC variable valve timing mated to a five-speed manual transaxle and a limited-slip differential. Service includes a timing belt replacement at an Acura dealer within the past year. Finished in Formula Red over a black leather interior, this first-year NSX is now offered with service records, a window sticker, owner’s booklets, a CARFAX report, and a clear title in the seller’s name. They add that in 2003, the front bumper cover was replaced under prior ownership due to an encounter with some road debris.
The mid-mounted 3.0-liter DOHC V6 was rated at 270 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque when new and is completely stock with no modifications. A major service was performed in October 2022 at Don Jenkins Acura in Ocala, Florida, and included the replacement of the timing belt, transmission fluid, and brake fluid replacement.
The interior of the car also looks to be in immaculate original condition with absolutely no issues whatsoever. I love the black leather with the Formula Red exterior color.
When new the NSX had a 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds, a 1/4 mile time of 13.7 seconds and a top speed limited to 162 mph, strong numbers for cars of the time. In comparison, it took the Ferrari 348 6 seconds to get to 60 and 14.5 seconds in the 1/4 mile. As an added benefit the Acura NSX cost a fraction to service when compared to the Ferrari 348, and the build quality of the NSX was also considered far superior to its Italian competition.
So if you want a 1990s exotic car and don’t want the hassles of exotic car ownership, the smart purchase is the NSX. If it was good enough to be used as a template for the McLaren F1 car it is definitely good enough for me. If only I could fit in one.
The auction for this 1991 Acura NSX with only 15,000 original miles ends Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. (PDT)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery
