NA1 · NA2
Honda NSX import check
NA1 is the factory model code for the Honda NSX, built for the Japanese market from 1990 to 2005. Other versions carry NA2. Every genuine car has a chassis (frame) number that starts with its code, such as NA1-. That number is the one thing that links its Japanese history to its UK records.
NA1 at a glance
- Model code
- NA1
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- NSX (first generation)
- Body
- 2-door coupe
- Built
- 1990 to 2005
- Engine
- C30A (2977 cc naturally aspirated petrol)
- Drivetrain
- Mid-engine RWD
- Japanese trims
- NSX, Type R, Type S, Type S Zero, Type T, NSX-R
- Chassis number format
- NA1-nnnnnnn
From our own model library, compiled from public sources and not yet checked against a second source. UK records sometimes drop the hyphen or the leading zeros of the serial; our check allows for that.
Reading the NA1 chassis code
- NA1 is the 3.0 C30A (automatics kept it to the end) and NA2 the 3.2 C32B manual.
| Code | What it is | Engine | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| NA1 | NSX (first generation) | C30A | 1990–2005 |
| NA2 | 3.2 C32B, manual cars from 1997 | C32B | 1997–2005 |
Have a chassis number? The chassis decoder reads it for you.
Is it a genuine NA1?
UK-market NSXs were sold new here. A Japanese import has an NA1- or NA2- frame number. Type R and NSX-R replicas exist: check the grade on the auction sheet.
Known problems to check on an NA1
- Snap-ring failure on early five-speed gearboxes
- Window regulator and climate-control display faults
- Timing belt history: ask when it was last changed
These are common issues for the model, not facts about any particular car. Ask the seller about each one.
Before you buy
- Ask for the timing belt and the gearbox history
- Aluminium body repairs need a specialist: ask who did any repair
The NA1 on a Japanese auction sheet
- The sheet names the car NSX, with タイプR, タイプS or タイプT in the grade line.
Most imports were bought at a Japanese auction, and the inspector’s sheet records the grade, mileage and every mark on the body. Ask the seller for it, then run it through our auction sheet translator to read it in English and check the chassis number and mileage against the UK record.
Recalls in Japan for the NA1 family
Japan publishes every recall with the chassis numbers it covers. Run a recall check with the car’s chassis number to see whether any apply to it.
MOT record in the UK
Honda NSX (1990 to 2005)
- 7.3% of 558 first MOT tests failed in 2024 and 2025, 78% lower than the UK average for cars of the same age.
- Most common advisory: Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge (4.7% of tests).
The first-generation NSX, imported or sold new in the UK.
All Honda NSX (1990 to 2005) MOT statisticsFrom DVSA’s anonymised MOT data, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Kilometres, miles and the first UK MOT
An NA1 sold new in Japan has a speedometer in kilometres. When it is imported, the speedometer is either converted to miles or left in km, and the first UK MOT should record whichever the dial shows. Mistakes here are common, and they’re where mileage problems hide.
We put the Japanese auction mileage and every UK MOT reading on one timeline and check the crossing: whether the readings agree after converting, whether the km figure was written down as miles, and whether the first UK reading is lower than the car had already done in Japan. See an illustrative example.
Questions
What is the chassis code for the Honda NSX?
NA1, with NA2 for other engines or drive layouts. A Japanese-market Honda NSX has a frame number that starts with its code, then a hyphen and a serial number. You’ll find it on the V5C and on a plate in the engine bay.
Which years was the NA1 built?
From 1990 to 2005, with the C30A (2977 cc naturally aspirated petrol) engine and Mid-engine RWD layout.
What should I check when buying an NA1?
Snap-ring failure on early five-speed gearboxes. Window regulator and climate-control display faults. Timing belt history: ask when it was last changed. Ask for the timing belt and the gearbox history. Aluminium body repairs need a specialist: ask who did any repair. Also check that the Japanese auction mileage lines up with the first UK MOT, because km and miles are easily mixed up.