Honda's "Secret" New Museum in California Is Opening to the Public

Officially named the "American Honda Collection Hall," this new museum hides over 60 Honda and Acura cars, motorcycles, race machines, engines, concept models, unique images, power equipment, and rarely-seen video presentations. It offers an incursion into the past, while also beautifully displaying what's at the core of the iconic Japanese automaker.

The automaker was working at it for quite some time, but didn't tell anyone outside the company what it was really doing. Now, we know that the construction was meant to house some of the marque's most important machines. But it added more than just some cool cars.

Everything put into the new space represents over six decades of Honda history, one that expanded internationally with American help. The US was the first country where the brand established a subsidiary. When the decision to reach more people worldwide was taken, the pin was initially put on North America.

The museum has its own 20,000 sqft dedicated space and is now connected to the American Honda headquarters. Visitors will be able to enter the facility free of charge when public "Cars, Bikes & Coffee" events are being organized.

If you're already planning to go, here are some of the cool vehicles you will see:

• the first car Honda sold in the US – the air-cooled 1970 N600 Coupe sporting a two-cylinder engine;
• the first vehicle that didn't need a catalytic converter to meet stricter emission requirements – the 1975 Honda Civic CVCC Hatchback, where "CVCC" stood for Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion;
• a 1979 Honda Accord;
• the first high-performance "Si" model sold in the US – the two-seater 1985 Honda CRX Si;
• the mighty Acura NSX;
• a 1986 Acura Legend;
• the marque's first in-house developed SUV – the 1997 Honda CR-V;
• the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle sold stateside was the 2006 Honda Insight.

There are also some cool motorcycles in the new museum. You'll be able to admire, among others, the 1962 Honda Super Cub, the 1975 Honda GL1000 Gold Wing, and the 1983 Honda VF750F.
Those interested in racing will most likely search for the 1992 Acura Spice GTP and the 1997 Acura Integral Realtime.

The first "Cars, Bikes & Coffee" event is scheduled for October 21, from 9 AM until 12 PM. If you can't attend this one, the last such gathering of the year will happen on December 16. The third one is planned for 2024, so make sure you can take a day off next month or in December.

The previous American Honda museum was also established in Torrance, California, but this new location trimmed everything and allowed only true special models to shine. That's how those with knowledge about the construction of the new location and the plans to reduce the number of objects shown to the public got their hands on trophies or some damaged goods.

If you weren't included in that group chat, now you can at least enjoy a more well-organized venue.

Finally, Honda plans to go all-electric by 2040. This new museum could become very important in a decade or so.