Prepping 1991 red/ivory, 710 miles JH4NA1151MT000868

[Scott_Ales]

If I am violating any rules, please let me know.

When I try to pull up the "Rules" page, I get an error 404 response.

I signed up as a Vendor, so I think I can go down this path.

I took delivery of a 1991 Red/ Cream car with just 710 documented original miles. We'll be prepping the car for presentation on Bring-A-Trailer once finished. This will include our Dryce process and general cosmetics one would typically execute.

Before hitting the BaT community, we prefer to seek counsel from folks like yourselves. So if you're game, please feel free to share the points you feel would be critical to know and prepare for.

I have a 40+ year career of buying and selling extremely low hour or milage vehicles. I fully understand the general pros and cons to these assets. What I am most interested to hear about, are the 1991 NSX specific points.

I will first describe the history of this car along with the supporting documentation to help this effort along.

It's certainly an interesting piece and will have all the normal controversial points to hear about.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Honcho]

Scott- welcome to Prime! I sent you a PM about vendor status. Since this thread looks to be a restoration and cleanup build process, I'll probably move it to the "Builds" forum so people can follow along and comment.

One early point- the interior color on a 91 NSX is known as "Ivory" not "Cream".

 

[Scott_Ales]

OK, it's really about learning from the community knowledge of the car as to what best to service before presenting on BaT.

I did this on a 1994 Mercedes E500 and 1968 Shelby GT500 KR coupe. As you well know, the particular enthusiast community are tough people to please. Better to vet it here before going to BaT.

It doesn't need any restoration, all finishes are spectacular, just need cleaned and polished. Might even convince my partner in Dryce machine sales, Matt Moreman ( Obsessed Garage) to oversee the polishing.

And thanks for the Ivory clarification! That's EXACTLY the type of information that I feel it critical. I previously sold a 1,700 mile car years ago for a record price. While many folks find these low mile examples discouraging, they do serve a purpose to certain individuals.

As far as the Vendor status, where would you like us to educate this community on DryceNation?

I cleaned a Targa last year which turned out very nice.

Thanks again...

 

[Honcho]

OK, it's really about learning from the community knowledge of the car as to what best to service before presenting on BaT.

I did this on a 1994 Mercedes E500 and 1968 Shelby GT500 KR coupe. As you well know, the particular enthusiast community are tough people to please. Better to vet it here before going to BaT.

It doesn't need any restoration, all finishes are spectacular, just need cleaned and polished. Might even convince my partner in Dryce machine sales, Matt Moreman ( Obsessed Garage) to oversee the polishing.

And thanks for the Ivory clarification! That's EXACTLY the type of information that I feel it critical. I previously sold a 1,700 mile car years ago for a record price. While many folks find these low mile examples discouraging, they do serve a purpose to certain individuals.

As far as the Vendor status, where would you like us to educate this community on DryceNation?

I cleaned a Targa last year which turned out very nice.

Thanks again...

You can post a thread in the Vendor Forum introducing yourself and the services you can provide for NSX owners. You are smart to post here first- we see a lot of issues on BaT cars because in many cases the sellers are clueless about the NSX and are just looking to make an easy buck since 90's JDM cars are hot right now. We feel even worse for the buyers who often overpay for a car with well concealed issues.

Anyway, I'll start the commentary by breaking down your VIN

JH4 --> Honda Motor Company
NA1 --> 3.0L DOHC V6 (C30A engine)
15 --> 5-speed manual transmission with synchronized reverse gear
1 --> Check Digit
M --> Model year 1991
T --> Manufactured in the Honda Tochigi factory, Japan. (Factory was built specifically for the NSX)
000868 --> Serial production number

You should also pull the transmission serial number and the engine serial number. They will matter for serious buyers and the trans number will tell you if it's a snap-ring car.

Trans serial number (located on the top of the transmission). If it is between J4A4-1003542 through J4A4-1005978, that means it may have a defective countershaft snap ring. This will bring the value down, as it is an expensive repair.



Engine serial number (starts with "C30A1....":




The two key things to address on an ultra-low mile NSX like this are: water corrosion and rubber. Educated NSX buyers know that super-low mile cars like this spent almost 30 years just sitting still. While this is fantastic for the paint and interior trim (they look like new in your pictures), it's bad mechanically. Specifically, over the decades, the water in the brake fluid will rot out the steel brake pistons. I'd pull the brake calipers and inspect the pistons for rust/rot. Replace any that are bad and use new brake fluid and seals- it will make the brakes feel like new, which is what a buyer will expect from a car like this.

If the coolant was not changed, all the anti-corrosion additives will have long expired and the water will rot the steel coolant hose barbs on the water jacket in the engine bay. Coolant hose failures are the #1 killer of NSX engines. It's worth changing the coolant at a minimum, but as a buyer I'd really like to know if the water jacket is rotted out. Aside from the danger to the car, that part is $800 and often on backorder from Honda.

Also, the C30A engine has ductile iron sleeves and those too will rot from water vapor inside the engine. Though, it looks like you drove the car to your shop and that was more than enough to kill any surface rust and get a coat of oil on everything.

As for rubber, age kills it, even for cars that are stored in climate controlled environments. After 30+ years, all of the rubber engine seals on a 1991 NSX have become hard and brittle. The NSX is notorious for cosmetic oil leaks as these seals fail. Make sure to clean up the engine block and check for weeping leaks.

I'm sure other people will chime in too.

 

[Scott_Ales]

Excellent, we'll dig into all these and begin addressing them all and more to come I'm sure.

Thank you!

 

[Scott_Ales]

If there are any noted SE located Gen 1 NSX specialists who are well respected in the community, I would love to hear about them. I don't hold back when preparing special cars like this to the market. Knowing the shop performing the work is qualified is of course the first step.

 

[Honcho]

If there are any noted SE located Gen 1 NSX specialists who are well respected in the community, I would love to hear about them. I don't hold back when preparing special cars like this to the market. Knowing the shop performing the work is qualified is of course the first step.

Nabil at First Class Auto used to be the top NSX expert in Florida. He may have retired though- hopefully our Florida members will chime in.

 

[Scott_Ales]

You can post a thread in the Vendor Forum introducing yourself and the services you can provide for NSX owners. You are smart to post here first- we see a lot of issues on BaT cars because in many cases the sellers are clueless about the NSX and are just looking to make an easy buck since 90's JDM cars are hot right now. We feel even worse for the buyers who often overpay for a car with well concealed issues.

Anyway, I'll start the commentary by breaking down your VIN

JH4 --> Honda Motor Company
NA1 --> 3.0L DOHC V6 (C30A engine)
15 --> 5-speed manual transmission with synchronized reverse gear
1 --> Check Digit
M --> Model year 1991
T --> Manufactured in the Honda Tochigi factory, Japan. (Factory was built specifically for the NSX)
000868 --> Serial production number

You should also pull the transmission serial number and the engine serial number. They will matter for serious buyers and the trans number will tell you if it's a snap-ring car.

Trans serial number (located on the top of the transmission). If it is between J4A4-1003542 through J4A4-1005978, that means it may have a defective countershaft snap ring. This will bring the value down, as it is an expensive repair.

View attachment 179622

Engine serial number (starts with "C30A1....":

View attachment 179623


The two key things to address on an ultra-low mile NSX like this are: water corrosion and rubber. Educated NSX buyers know that super-low mile cars like this spent almost 30 years just sitting still. While this is fantastic for the paint and interior trim (they look like new in your pictures), it's bad mechanically. Specifically, over the decades, the water in the brake fluid will rot out the steel brake pistons. I'd pull the brake calipers and inspect the pistons for rust/rot. Replace any that are bad and use new brake fluid and seals- it will make the brakes feel like new, which is what a buyer will expect from a car like this.

If the coolant was not changed, all the anti-corrosion additives will have long expired and the water will rot the steel coolant hose barbs on the water jacket in the engine bay. Coolant hose failures are the #1 killer of NSX engines. It's worth changing the coolant at a minimum, but as a buyer I'd really like to know if the water jacket is rotted out. Aside from the danger to the car, that part is $800 and often on backorder from Honda.

Also, the C30A engine has ductile iron sleeves and those too will rot from water vapor inside the engine. Though, it looks like you drove the car to your shop and that was more than enough to kill any surface rust and get a coat of oil on everything.

As for rubber, age kills it, even for cars that are stored in climate controlled environments. After 30+ years, all of the rubber engine seals on a 1991 NSX have become hard and brittle. The NSX is notorious for cosmetic oil leaks as these seals fail. Make sure to clean up the engine block and check for weeping leaks.

I'm sure other people will chime in too.

Engine checks out, C30A1

 

[Scott_Ales]

Trans number is, J4A4-1001162

 

[Honcho]

Trans number is, J4A4-1001162

That's good- you can represent it as outside the snap ring range.

 

[Scott_Ales]

Not one single drop of oil under here. Zero cracks in any rubber parts.
2010 full service at Acura dealer in Texas including water pump and timing belt.

 

[Scott_Ales]

Just cob webs...

 

[Scott_Ales]

Pretty cool markings untouched.

 

[Scott_Ales]

Heat shield

 

[docjohn]

The Ivory interior is less common than the black, IMHO extra care aside I think it it makes the interior seem more spacious and inviting...The perfect date on the fly spec....

 

[Honcho]

Amazing. The TB service is a good thing. This car is going to bring a lot of money once it's cleaned up.

 

[Micha]

Sorry, I don't want to abuse the topic.
But, I also own a '91 NSX with VIN 868. How can that be?
Mine is a Europa car with a Euro VIN. Is the VIN country specific?
Would be very nice for me, to know more about it.
Thanks.
Best regards
Micha

Sry for my bad English

 

[Hass]

Appears the 3rd digits of the vin are different.

Meadowvale Honda | How to Read Your VIN Number

Read How to Read Your VIN Number and learn more about Meadowvale Honda. Contact us online or visit us for more information.

www.meadowvalehonda.ca

 

[pvmike]

Looks like an aftermarket exhaust? Tips look different.

 

[Scott_Ales]

Looks like an aftermarket exhaust? Tips look different.

On my 710 mile car here in Florida?

 

[Hass]

Not sure what 710 miles and Florida have to do with it but looks OEM to me.

 

[Scott_Ales]

At this point, I am still waiting for written corroboration to the history on the car. I am told by the last dealer who sold it in Oregon circa 2009, the original owner was an engineer with Acura. The car was gifted to him from the company for his efforts on the project. He drove the car just over 200 miles till 2009. Where the family I purchased the car from through 4 successive referrals was from Texas. While I have been fortunate to have bought and sold many NSX examples in my 40 automotive career, my last low mileage car was close to 10 years ago. 2,693 miles on a Manual trans, Red/Black car. Drove it a little bit before selling 3 months later.

2800 mile 1991 from 2013

I bought it for the obscene amount (according to my car dealer friends) of $55k in July of 2013, sensing it might bring more if properly presented to a larger community of enthusiasts at Auburn, Indiana based Auctions America. This was the former Kruse Auction complex which was acquired by RM Auction just prior to that time. I heard many folks walk by the car prior to running across the block, talking with friends that the pre-auction estimate was ridiculous. $65k-75K. My view then and now is, if that is too much, I can think of worse cars to be "Stuck" with. I'll just have to tuck it away for another year or two until it ultimately sells for more. A standard practice when I am a bit over zealous in buying anything.
That car ultimately sold to an Acura dealer later in the weekend for $77k. It sold again in 2019 on BaT for $107k including buyer's fees. Only 25 miles were added since they purchased the car. It still resides in the Chicagoland area according to Carfax registration history as recent as May 2022.

2019 Sale on BaT

Ultimately, I have no idea if I am yet again off my rocker for what I paid. This 710 mile car felt more uncomfortable to purchase due to the significantly higher valuations lately. It should be known, I did not acquire this current day example inexpensively. But that has been the one constant in my career, buy the best, cry once. I suspect towards the end of my career, there will be a few cars which will be sold by my lovely wife of 43 years instead of me. Like the 1976 Kenworth W900 my father bought new and taught me to drive at 14. I found that last year and will never sell it. It's not my plan that this NSX will be parked next to it!

For any class 8 truck fans...

1976 Kenworth W900a

 

[Scott_Ales]

Not sure what 710 miles and Florida have to do with it but looks OEM to me.

I was not certain if the comment from @pvmike was referring to my car or the car being discussed above, so I thought it best to specifically distinguish from the two.

 

[DA NSX]

I can’t wait to see what happens to this car on BaT. Very exciting. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Scott_Ales]

I can’t wait to see what happens to this car on BaT. Very exciting. Thanks for sharing.

Me to