Wednesday 18th December 2013

Senna's NSX on eBay

Never raced or rallied, just hooned about by an F1 legend on his holidays

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The inevitable conclusion from the combination of Ayrton Senna and Honda NSX is that Suzuka video. But now, lurking on eBay of all places, is another NSX driven and used by the great man.

It's not an NSX-R, instead a plain old red NSX manual loaned by Honda Portugal to Senna for his use on holidays to the Algarve in 1991 and '92. Senna's personal black NSX remained in Brazil.

With cars like this, provenance is of course vital, so there are photos of Senna with the car as well as faxes from Honda confirming the car's identity. Oh, and it can be seen here wheelspinning around a paddock in Senna's 'Racing Is In My Blood' film.

The current owner's story behind owning the car is rather fascinating too. The ad describes how what was a building project turned into buying a Honda NSX. His blog on the trip to get the car is definitely worth a read as well.

And the price? Well, this is a very low mileage (30,000) early manual NSX with a fairly well known former user. We won't give it away here, but it's around four times what an equivalent NSX goes for in the PH classifieds...

See the ad here.

[Source: GTSpirit]

[fastgerman]

110k.... Or best offer

[Geoffcapes]

Yes it was owned by a legend, but that doesn't make it worth 3 times as much as a normal NSX surely?

[Fire99]

I'd like to drive an NSX because it seems capable and Senna seemed to quite rate it, but regardless of previous owner, It's not worth 4x market rate for me..

[Baryonyx]

Given that the seller is flogging it to release funds for an apparently imminent building project, might take an offer on it!

[CliveM]

Given the ludicrous prices of some other NSXs, that looks positively sensible.

[JimbobVFR]

Geoffcapes said:

Yes it was owned by a legend, but that doesn't make it worth 3 times as much as a normal NSX surely?

Not even owned by, more like borrowed for a bit.

[caraddict]

CliveM said:

Given the ludicrous prices of some other NSXs, that looks positively sensible.

You mean to say that the NSX has ludicrous prices compared to the 964 and 348 of the same era? They are just were they are supposed to be. Just like the 964, the good examples are starting to climb steadily.

[LuS1fer]

I've never understood the premium for a famous owner. i don't give a monkey who owned the car before. just because it was senna's company car doesn't make it any different to any other NSX save perhaps being better maintained but possibly harder thrashed.

Given the choice between this and another, I'd take the other.

[anonymous-user]

Silly money and I can't see the value. To be honest it's just another NSX, probably had a harder life so should be cheaper!

[hondansx]

I enquired about this car when it was for sale by this Braga chap, without all the evidence listed on the blog. Must say, i would have been more interested if all that information was available, but without Senna's name on the ownership papers, i couldn't justify such a high premium at the time.

I'd like an early car just to have in the garage to look at. Would have been nice to have had (one of) Senna's too, and TBH i certainly wouldn't have used it.

[RadQuinn]

JimbobVFR said:

Not even owned by, more like borrowed for a bit.

Prove it..?


Awesome auction. Anyone want to go halfsies?

[leedsutd1]

if this nsx had been owned by senna and used as his own car with name in log book, and had been kept in storage until his death ,then recommisioned , (that would have prob cost £20k) it would be worth the asking price. but this nsx was used by senna for a few weeks on holiday and then has had 2 more owners, in my view that breaks the link. I would value the nsx at £60k. looks as if the new owner is trying to make a quick profit

[anonymous-user]

RadQuinn said:

JimbobVFR said:

Not even owned by, more like borrowed for a bit.

Prove it..?


Awesome auction. Anyone want to go halfsies?

No thanks, it's overpriced by 3x times at least.

[caraddict]

LuS1fer said:

I've never understood the premium for a famous owner. i don't give a monkey who owned the car before. just because it was senna's company car doesn't make it any different to any other NSX save perhaps being better maintained but possibly harder thrashed.

Given the choice between this and another, I'd take the other.

It's not like Senna was a 15 minute celebrity...

[Leithen]

Didn't he get done speeding in a NSX in the UK?

I wonder where that car has ended up? No better documentary proof of usage...

[leedsutd1]

hondansx said:

I enquired about this car when it was for sale by this Braga chap, without all the evidence listed on the blog. Must say, i would have been more interested if all that information was available, but without Senna's name on the ownership papers, i couldn't justify such a high premium at the time.

I'd like an early car just to have in the garage to look at. Would have been nice to have had (one of) Senna's too, and TBH i certainly wouldn't have used it.

how much was it up for sale for I would have guessed 80,k euros

[leedsutd1]

Leithen said:

Didn't he get done speeding in a NSX in the UK?

I wonder where that car has ended up? No better documentary proof of usage...

I remember a jurno being in a NSX being driven to the british gp for quali and senna was doing "very high speeds" ,the jurno said the NSX only just got there it was coughing and spluttering with punishment

[Hellbound]

This is the same car that was on sale for 55k, although the price isn't there anymore.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C400296

Looks like he thinks the effort he's put into offering some provenance will see him doubling his money, a regular Wheeler Dealer you might say. Good luck to him.

I'd rather see all four cars go back to Honda.

[Evo]

Your missing the point, I guess the person buying will have sufficient funds to not be concerned with how much it was but more that it belonged to someone that will always be a legend.

Ha ha reading the comment above 55k seems more realistic lol

Edited by Evo on Wednesday 18th December 15:05

[Dave Hedgehog]

i have a toilet seat for sale that senna used at silverstone, yours for just 10 grand