The rarest Honda in the world is widely considered to be the Honda RA272 Formula One car from 1965, produced in only a handful of examples and with very few surviving today.
In this article, we explore why that car holds such a singular place in Honda's history, what other ultra-scarce Hondas collectors talk about, and how rarity is measured across cars, motorcycles, and concept prototypes from the brand.
Defining rarity in Honda's vast history
Rarity can refer to production volume, survival rate, historical significance, or a combination of all three. Honda's early forays into world-class racing produced a small series of RA cars, and many prototypes from the era did not make it into mass production. Those factors contribute to the RA272's reputation as the rarest Honda.
The ultra-rare contender: RA272
Here is the ultra-rare candidate most often cited by historians and enthusiasts:
- RA272 (1965): Honda's Formula One car that secured the brand's first F1 victory; only a handful were built, and just a few survive in museums and private collections.
Beyond the RA272, Honda produced other prototype and race cars that are noted for scarcity, but none match the RA272 in terms of public recognition and documented survivorship.
One-off prototypes and concept cars
Honda also built numerous one-off prototypes and concept vehicles across decades, especially during the 1960s and later, which are highly coveted by collectors precisely because they were not mass-produced. These cars rarely appear for public sale and are typically known only through museum records and auction histories.
Where to learn more and how rarity is tracked
For enthusiasts hoping to dive deeper, museum catalogs, auction histories, and Honda's corporate and historical archives provide context and imagery. Notable repositories include automotive museums in Japan and Europe that publicly document the RA-series cars and related prototypes.
Summary
The consensus among historians and collectors is that the Honda RA272, a 1965 Formula One car, represents the rarest Honda in the world. Its scarcity is a result of limited production, the passage of time, and the car's place in Honda's early, pivotal push into international motorsport. While there are other rare prototypes and race machines in Honda's lineage, the RA272 stands as a defining icon of extreme rarity.