In 1984, however, the Japanese economy car brand made a bold decision: to also become a luxury car brand. And accordingly put down the foundations for a genre-shifting supercar, consciously intended as a rival to Ferrari. The company management informed the engineers working on the project that the new car would have to be as fast as anything coming from Italy and Germany.

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As a consequence, Honda revolutionized how luxury car brands manufacture supercars. Three decades later, every modern supercar and sports car you know owes its existence to the original Honda Acura NSX, which launched in 1990.

For example, an ideal sports car would have just the right amount of power-to-weight ratio. The classic solution automakers employ is to increase the engine power to counter a sports car’s weight. But this comes at a cost of handling and acceleration. And the extra weight can result in ruining the appearance of the car.

Inspired by the Japanese bullet train, the Honda engineers shaved 200 pounds from the Acura NSX’s body weight by constructing the car with light-weight aluminum. This single move changed what supercars are made of forever.

‘The best sports car ever built’ trumpeted Motor Trend magazine at the time of the 1990 launch of the Acura NSX, a very fine example of which we presently have at Beverly Hills Car Club.

With beautifully sculpted engineering and performance, the Honda Acura NSX, a 2-seater, mid-engine supercar made by Honda in Japan from 1990 to 2005, was – as Motor Trend heralded – an immediate legend, the welcome commercial consequence of Honda’s F1 success: the Japanese car firm had provided the McLaren Formula One team with its sophisticated turbo engines during the late ’80s.

The Acura’s RA 168E powerplant had been the heart of the legendary MP4/4 racer, which powered Ayrton Senna, the great Brazilian racing driver, to the first of his 3 F1 World Drivers’ Championships. And Senna would become a part of the genesis of the Acura NSX, which would hit a fraction below 150 mph and do 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds.

Nowadays it is hard to appreciate just how much an enormous leap forward this was for a Japanese company whose cars had been derided when they first appeared outside of Japan in the 1960s. By the 1980s, however, an appreciation of the frequent supremacy of Japanese design and aesthetics was being widely understood outside of the country. And Japan had become a booming economic powerhouse.

Reflecting such a reassessment, Honda was aggressive in setting a benchmark for the Acura NSX: the plan was to outdate the Ferrari 348 – the 348 that had replaced the 328 in 1989 and remained in production until 1995, the final V8 model developed under the direction of Enzo Ferrari before his death, posthumously commissioned to production. Judge for yourself: our 1995 Acura NSX-T 5-Speed, featuring 54,989 miles, is finished in Formula Red and equipped with the sought-after manual transmission and targa-top configuration, and represents a splendid example from the early years of Acura’s mid-engine sports car.

This California car is powered by a 3.0L DOHC 24-valve V6 with VTEC and is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The NSX-T combines mid-engine performance with a removable body-color targa roof, giving it the option of an open-air driving experience while retaining the clean lines of the original NSX design. The NSX-T was introduced for the 1995 model year as the targa-top version of the NSX, with a removable roof panel.

This example is equipped with four-wheel power disc brakes, dual exhaust outlets, integrated lower driving/parking lights, a 3-spoke steering wheel, and 215/40 R17 front and 275/35R 18 rear tires. Included is a jack and compact space-saver spare tire.

Inside, the tan interior features power-adjustable bucket seats, power windows, power door-locks, air conditioning, cruise control integrated into the steering wheel, a lockable glove box, dual-level center console storage compartments, cupholder/storage trays, and the factory Acura AM/FM cassette stereo with climate control display. The Bose audio system adds to the factory equipment.

Accompanied by $17,770.86 in receipt copies spanning from 1997 through 2026, this Acura NSX-T benefits from well-documented maintenance history.

Major highlights include an $8,143.30 comprehensive service in April 2020 at 51,750 miles covering a full ABS system overhaul (new modulator assembly, pump, and pressure hose), new spark plugs, air filter, manual transmission fluid, coolant flush, rear hatch support struts, and oxygen sensor; a clutch slave cylinder replacement in July 2015.

Also new Falken Azenis RT615K+ tires fitted in July 2022; a new battery installed in September 2024; and routine engine oil and filter services performed in September 2024 and August 2026. Additional records outline oxygen sensor replacements, hatch strut renewals, wheel balancing, and period accessories including an original Acura car cover.

With 54k miles, a clean CARFAX report, manufacturer’s literature, and $17,770.86 in receipt copies dating from 1997 through 2026, this NSX-T provides useful documentation of its history.

This Acura NSX-T remains an interesting example of Acura’s approach to the sports car, and it is mechanically sound.

-Alex Manos, Owner