When the Honda Beat first hit US shores in the mid 2010’s, enthusiasts didn’t know what to think. It was drastically different than the Hondas the US performance market was used to, and the go kart like size was an acquired taste for some. Over the past few years, however, the beat has certainly accumulated a cultlike following, and for good reason. It’s an absolute blast to drive, and it was also the last Honda personally approved by the brand’s founder, Soichiro Honda, before his death. If you’ve been following our inventory for a while now, you’ll probably recognize the Beat as one of the three main “kei cars” or subcompact sport cruisers meant for navigating tight Japanese city streets or hairpin mountain roads. Equipped from the factory with a 656cc three-cylinder powerplant, the Beat pumped out a humble 63 horsepower at a screaming 8500 RPM’s. One of the most unique features of the Beat was its factory independent throttle body system, affectionately referred to by Honda as “MTREC” (multi throttle responsive engine control). Coupled with a roughly 1,600 lb curb weight, the Beat could get up and go without issue, making it a fan favorite among city drivers and backroad touge kings. This particular 1991 model year Honda Beat, offered for sale here at J Spec, is finished in an original coat of iconic Carnival Yellow paintwork, one of the most recognizable colors on the PP1 chassis. The exterior is in quite clean condition, and the paint on the vehicle is in good shape with no signs of pitting, clear coat fade, or orange peel. The exterior is all original, with even the OEM steel wheels still present. While Honda remained rather reserved with the exterior styling, the interior was designed to make sure it stood out from literally everything else on the road. Yes, those are factory Siberian tiger print seats and matching floor mats. The upholstery is in great shape, with absolutely no rips, tears, burns, or bolster wear on the factory seats. All dash plastics are in fantastic shape, and all buttons and switches work as expected, even the OEM Gathers audio and climate control with ice cold A/C. The factory three spoke steering wheel is a timeless design. US drivers will be happy to learn that the factory seating position seats tall individuals quite comfortably. It’s quite impressive. The factory instrument cluster displays just 43,132 original kilometres. Translating to about 26800 original miles, it’s easy to see why this Beat has held up so well over the years. Luckily, this vehicle is in good mechanical condition as well. Turn the key and the 656cc E07A engine fires right up. The engine is stock, with no modifications but the individual throttle bodies do a lot to contribute to a really exhilarating driving experience. Shifts through the 5 speed manual transmission are smooth and direct, and the factory suspension does its job quite well when darting this kei car through tight twists and turns. If you’re a Honda enthusiast looking for a new head turner to add to your fleet, or an appreciator of eccentric vehicles in general, this little Honda doesn’t miss a beat.