In the 1980s, as the world witnessed the rise of legendary supercars like the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959, Honda had its sights set on something different. Proud of its achievements as a Formula 1 engine manufacturer, the company aimed to develop a pure, driver-focused sports car that would demonstrate its technical excellence and enhance its global reputation.
Along with other driver-oriented collector cars, this 1991 Acura NSX will be offered at Broad Arrow’s upcoming Las Vegas auction on October 31st. In collaboration with Concours at Wynn Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Auction will set the tone for an exciting weekend of automotive celebration surrounded by the excitement and spectacle of Las Vegas.
The Honda NS-X, short for “New Sportscar eXperimental”, was above all a car that was born out of technical ambition. Designed to incorporate several advanced technologies derived from Honda’s F1 program, the NSX broke new ground. It was the first production car to be built with a lightweight aluminum monocoque chassis, making the structure weigh only 210 kg. At its heart was a 3.0-liter V6 mid-engine, also made entirely of aluminum, while its connecting rods were made of titanium, a world first for a production vehicle. In the manual configuration, the engine produced 274 hp, while the four-speed automatic version delivered a slightly lower output of 255 hp. Everything in the NSX is designed to be light, fluid and precise.
Even the car’s visibility was treated as a performance feature. Designers Ken Okuyama and Shigeru Uehara were inspired by the cockpit of the F-16 fighter jet and wanted to provide a wide, unobstructed field of vision.
Ayrton Senna, then Honda’s official F1 driver who drove the McLaren MP4, played an important public role in the development of the NSX. His feedback during the testing sessions is said to have helped fine-tune the supercar. Senna was given a Japanese-registered company NSX as his official car during the Grand Prix and test drives. Beyond his role as a Honda/Acura brand figure, he also kept a personal NSX, a Formula Red model, in Brazil, which was part of his private life away from the track.
If this exotic sports car won over legends like Ayrton Senna, Gordon Murray and Bill Gates, then it was Hollywood where it really made a splash. George Lucas commissioned the very first new model in California, and NSX owners include Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and the late, much-missed Robert Redford.
Fittingly, this NSX was delivered new in California via Golden Gate Acura in December 1990, as confirmed by the original window sticker included with the car. It was finished in striking Formula Red, had a black roof and black leather interior and was equipped with the highly desirable manual transmission. The first owners parted with the car in 1996 after driving just over 5,000 miles. The second owner, who is believed to have kept the car as part of a significant collection, only covered 200 miles before selling it in 2009.
From this point on, maintenance history has been carefully documented through receipts and service records available on file. The car was initially serviced by Acura in Los Gatos and Santa Cruz, California. In May 2020, it underwent a comprehensive service at Lyle Pearson Acura that included a timing belt replacement at 7,188 miles, air conditioning service, and the application of a $7,500 XPEL paint protection film from Oakes Detail to preserve the original paint and wheels. The car was serviced and fitted with four new Bridgestone tires in December 2023 and serviced again in 2025 in preparation for sale. Based on previous service records, this example’s gearbox number is not within the range of potential snap ring defects, making the known issue unlikely.
Today, this NSX is still in exceptionally well-preserved original condition and has just 7,751 miles on the clock. The flawless leather interior is a testament to the careful care it has taken since it was new. Accompanying the car is the original owner’s manual, original set of four keys, original window sticker and advance delivery form, as well as the aforementioned 2009 service and maintenance invoices, all verified by a clean CARFAX vehicle history report.
A landmark of engineering and motorsports heritage, this exceptionally preserved, low-mileage NSX offers not only rarity and provenance, but also the chance to own a car shaped by legends, driven by icons and revered by enthusiasts around the world. A real collector’s opportunity.
Explore the complete Broad Arrow Las Vegas auction offering and register to bid at broadarrowauctions.com to secure your spot in this exciting addition to the collector car calendar.
