Classic-Car Showcase: Why the Nearly Perfect 1991 Acura NSX Is as Relevant as Ever

Welcome to the first installment of a series that will cover some of our favorite cars of the 20th century from A to Z (literally).

The original Acura NSX remains the most ambitious, and certainly one of the most exclusive, sports cars to ever come from Japan—if one discounts the rare Toyota 2000GT. Introduced in 1989 and put into production by 1991, Honda’s NSX was marketed in North America as an Acura. It was years ahead of its time, being the first production car to feature a body, chassis subframes, and suspension that were all aluminum. To put things in context, this was back when Porsche 911s still looked like Porsches and the most exotic automobile from Japan was a Toyota Supra.

After more than three decades, the first NSX still looks and drives like a contemporary car, with Honda’s excellent high-revving V-6 engine and a cab-forward design right out of the designer’s handbook for modern supercars. The NSX was so good that it inspired Gordon Murray (who enjoyed an NSX as a daily driver) throughout the development of his McLaren F1.

Assembled by a team of special technicians at a dedicated facility in Tochigi, Japan, the NSX was a quality piece, establishing a benchmark for fit and finish that any stateside or European manufacturer would envy. Few hand-built cars—then or now—emulate the precision of the NSX, and it’s possible to imagine an example with 200,000 miles on the odometer being as tight and together as one with 5,000 miles. This observation underscores the NSX’s raison d’être: to offer its owner the possibility of enjoying a perfectly delightful, neurosis-free driving experience on a daily basis.

Settling into the cockpit reminds us of simpler times, when drivers weren’t assaulted by digital arcade games doubling as dashboards. Free of electronic gizmos and multifunction screens, the NSX interior is somewhat dated but also refreshing in its absence of useless stuff. A decent sound system—with a remote CD changer—and a chilling A/C provide all the necessary amenities. The driving position, sport seats, and view from behind the giant windscreen are as good as it gets. Rearward vision is merely adequate, but not fear-inspiring as on some cars that require back-up cameras or open doors to navigate a parallel-parking space.

The driving experience is eminently rewarding, as the precise, responsive steering offers excellent feedback. Some understeer has been engineered into the independent double-wishbone suspension, and the NSX is not prone to tail-out antics. Then there are the great ABS brakes and traction control that provide assurance under adverse conditions. Stylish, forged aluminum wheels carry 17-inch tires. (Remember when that was a large wheel diameter?) And despite the car’s architecture and strictly two-person capacity, the rear-trunk compartment is fairly commodious and practical for weekend jaunts, golf clubs or skis notwithstanding.

Three iterations of the first-generation NSX are available (the second generation of the NSX was made from 2016 through 2022). The cars made up to 1997 are powered by a 3.0-liter, 272 hp engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox (a four-speed automatic was introduced in 1994). Examples built from 1997 to 2002 had revised bumpers and roof-colored paint, and importantly, a larger, 3.2-liter, 290 hp engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Cars built from 2002 through 2005 are distinguished by fixed HID headlamps.

Even with the more potent 3.2-liter V-6, the NSX is somewhat underpowered, and was even when new. And as the model offers only 224 ft lbs of torque on tap in manual mode, most NSX owners will be stirring the silky manual gearbox and enjoying the 8,000 rpm redline much of the time, rewarded by the scintillating exhaust note.

Even with its exemplary engineering and build quality, there are a few things to look out for with the original iteration of the NSX. Clutches have a roughly 50,000-mile lifespan. The water pump, hoses, and timing belt usually require a change by 80,000 miles, but maintenance must be based on age, not mileage. And, as with any complicated car of the era, a maintenance history is essential. Values have soared in the past four years, so plan to spend upward of $120,000 or more for a first-gen example in excellent condition.

Click below for more photos of a 1991 Acura NSX.