Honda is showing off a 1964 RA271, the first race car it entered in a Formula One race. The car debuted at the 1964 German Grand Prix held on Germany’s famed Nürburgring track with American pilot Ronnie Bucknum at the wheel.
Riding on a brand new chassis, the Honda RA271 was equipped with light alloy panels in order to save weight. The 1.5-liter V12 engine was mounted transversally in order to achieve the best available weight distribution, a lesson learned from the company’s expertise in building motorcycles.
Honda initially wanted to paint the RA271 in an instantly-recognizable shade of gold but it opted for ivory when the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) gave the color to South Africa. A rising sun on the front end of the car pays homage to its Japanese genes.
Mechanical issues took the RA271 out of a race held at Watkins Glen and Honda did not finish the 1964 season. It returned to racing the following year with an updated version of the car dubbed RA272.
Great! Have to share 🙂