A pristine 1991 Acura NSX with just 10,000 miles and a five-speed manual gearbox has surfaced on Bring a Trailer, offering collectors a rare chance to own one of Japan’s most celebrated supercars in near-original condition. Finished in its original black paint, this early-production NA1 is the purest expression of Honda’s vision for a driver-focused exotic that could also be driven every day.
Launched in 1990, the NSX stunned Ferrari and Porsche with its blend of mid-engine balance, precision, and reliability. Designed with input from Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna, it used a lightweight aluminum chassis and a high-revving 3.0-liter V6 producing 270 hp, paired exclusively with a five-speed manual transmission.
Why This One Stands Out
Examples like this one, untouched, unmodified, and showing barely five digits on the odometer, have become increasingly hard to find. Low-mileage, first-year NSXs are now viewed as blue-chip collectibles, reflecting the car’s growing status as a cultural and performance icon.
It’s no surprise, then, that values for early manual NSXs have surged. Clean, driver-grade examples routinely fetch $70,000 to $90,000, while low-mileage cars like this can command six figures. The appeal goes beyond nostalgia; it’s about what the NSX represents, a turning point when Japanese automakers proved they could build a supercar to rival Europe’s best. The current bid for this particular model is just over $75,000 with a few days of bidding remaining.
That legacy still resonates today as Acura’s revived NSX is coming into light. Italdesign is reportedly developing a modern tribute that blends retro design cues with next-generation electrified power, ensuring the NSX name continues into a new era.
The Collector Market Context
Interest in Acura’s performance range remains high across the board. Models like the MDX and upcoming ADX carry the brand’s new design DNA, bridging the past with the present. The brand is attracting both loyal and new buyers through aggressive pricing and premium positioning.
Meanwhile, Acura’s growing SUV lineup maintains its reputation for value and sportiness, attributes that trace back to the original NSX’s DNA of precision, control, and understated power.
Why It Matters
The 1991 NSX wasn’t just a sports car, it was proof that Honda could redefine what a supercar could be. Its usability, balance, and mechanical purity influenced everything from Ferraris to McLarens in the years that followed.
As EVs and digital performance systems dominate the headlines, this 10k-mile NSX represents a simpler, more analog era, one where response, sound, and feel mattered most. For collectors, it’s a reminder of when engineering purity triumphed over complexity.
