1991 Honda Beat

IMG_E3468

IMG_3579

IMG_E3470

IMG_E3468

1/53

Beat:

The first four paragraphs are general information. Thereafter information becomes very technical and specific.

This car is a two seat, mid-engine, soft-top convertible. Manufactured by Honda Motor Corporation, the Beat was built for and sold exclusively in the Japanese domestic market. This example was imported from Japan through legal channels under the regulation of both the EPA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. It is registered with the state of Alabama.

Honda produced this model from May 1991 until February 1996. It is a two-seater roadster with a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. The Beat was the last car to be approved by Soichiro Honda before he died in 1991. In total around 33,600 were made, with roughly two-thirds of these built in the first year of production. The design of the car originated from Pininfarina, who then sold the design plan to Honda.

This car is right-hand drive, and has a 5 speed manual transmission. Steering is manual, though due to the light weight of the car it does not require significant strength or effort. The manual steering results in exceptionally good communication from the car to the driver, and steering input results in prompt response. The transmission shifts precisely, and the clutch peddle is light and easy to use.

As part of the refurbishment of this car after importing to the US, the original top was replaced by a US manufactured unit sourced through the Convertible Top Guys of Rode Island. As the clear vinyl rear windows of the original tops were susceptible to sun damage and pre-mature wear, tempered glass was optioned from the supplier.

Technical:

The three cylinder 656 cc (40.0 cu in) engine is equipped with the MTREC (Multi Throttle Responsive Engine Control) system, with individual throttle bodies for each of the three cylinders. These individual intake butterfly valves create a supple but melodic intake sound at full-throttle. Honda's internal designation for the Honda Beat engine is E07A MTREC. The MTREC designation separates this engine from the more common E07A engines used in the Honda Acty mini-pick up trucks and vans. It produces 64 PS (63 bhp) at 8,100 rpm with an electronically-limited top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph). Only a 5-speed manual transmission was available.

SOHC 12 valve MTREC
Bore & stroke: 66.0 mm × 64.0 mm (0.66 liters)
Power: 63 hp @ 8,100 rpm

Torque: 44 lb⋅ft @ 7,000 rpm

Here are the dimensions and weight of the Honda Beat, with specifications from a 2024 Honda Civic for comparison:

Wheelbase: 2,280 mm (90 in)

[Civic: 107.7 inches]

Length: 3,295 mm (129.7 in)

[Civic: 184 inches]

Width:1,395 mm (54.9 in)

[Civic: 70.9 inches]

Height: 1,175 mm (46.3 in)

[Civic: 55.7 inches]

Curb weight: 760 kg (1,680 lbs.)

[Civic: 2,935 lbs.]