1983 Honda City Turbo II with Motocompo

Being Sold Exclusively at Bring a Trailer Live Auction (Date to be announced soon)
www.nipponimports.net/vehicle...
Nippon Imports is proud to present a two-for-one package of eighties icons - the Honda City Turbo II and its partner in hooliganism, the Honda Motocompo scooter. The Motocompo was an optional accessory for the (non-turbo) City when it was new and a sure-fire conversation starter that’s fun to ride in its own right.
Both vehicles are recent arrivals from Japan and both have been lightly restored and fully prepared to use and to stand out at any event - from your local cars & coffee to the JCCS in Long Beach, if you choose to take them.
The Story of the City Turbo
By 1978 Honda had essentially stopped building the very small cars it had trafficked in a decade earlier, like the N600, Life, and Z600, in favor of the Accord and Civic.
But Honda was readying a new small car, one very different to those older models. What became the first Honda City started as the SA-7 project, designed by a team of young engineers (average age: 27) to be a small runabout that wouldn’t have any “economy car” stigma. It had to be roomy, good to drive, and not boring to look at.
What emerged was a very unconventional car by Honda standards, looking like something that Marcello Gandini (at Bertone) or Sergio Sartorelli (at Fiat) might have come up with. It was radical for Honda and distinctly youthful - a look at odds with Honda’s overall direction and one that was at first greeted with skepticism by management.
The development team turned to Toru Arisawa, an executive in charge of advertising and promotion in Honda’s domestic sales channels at the time. Arisawa assured upper management that young people would love the design, and after some months of pleading and presenting the case for the car, management okay’d it and the City went into production in the fall of 1981.
It was tall and narrow in the Kei mold but it was not a Kei - it bristled with interesting details and even in basic trims it looked vaguely sporty. It drove that way too.
The City was a sharp handler - light and lithe. Every version of the City was powered by the 1,231-cc “ER” CVCC-II SOHC four - but the best versions were the Turbo, introduced in September of 1982, and the Turbo II which followed a year later.
Created by Hirotoshi Honda, founder of Mugen and son of Soichiro Honda, the Turbo grew out of his own private projects and became one of the definitive hot hatches of 1980s Japan.
Until very recently, production road cars from Honda were almost never turbocharged. Even when Honda’s own turbocharged engines were powering Prost and Senna in epic F1 battles in the late 80s, turbocharged Honda road cars were rare - the City Turbo was definitely exceptional.
The first Turbo, the first Honda to use the company’s electronic FI system, mated an IHI turbo to the ER for 100 hp. With the City weighing in at just 1,500-lbs., the Turbo was a recipe for smiles. A year later the Turbo II upped the ante to 110hp with an intercooler, gaining a wider track and chunky flared fenders in the process.
Called “the bulldog,” the Turbo II’s wide fenders and big “TURBO” graphics gave it a vaguely Group B look, but it was as practical as any ordinary Honda.
The City, in all forms, featured lots of gadgets and “high tech” gadgets - typical of 1980s Japan - including the "Manhattan Sound" option, which featured a boombox that flipped down from a slightly raised roof.
Most famous option was the Motocompo minibike, a folding lightweight 50-cc scooter specifically designed to fit into the luggage area of the City.
Honda’s long expertise in motorcycles meant the Motocompo was as good as any other scooter if a little different. The handlebars, seat, and foot pegs fold inward to create an easily-stowed rectangular shape. Designed for the City, it was also sold with the later Honda Today Kei car, gaining fame in the Police-themed Manga “You’re under arrest.”
The Motocompo, Honda surmised, could take a driver even farther than a car in space-limited Japan. In practice, even though the Motocompo is fun to ride and both small and light (it is the lightest motorcycle Honda has ever produced), it still weighs about 100 lbs., awkward for many commuters.
It didn’t sell as well as Honda had hoped, but the combination of Motocompo and City was genuinely unique.
Built for pragmatic purposes, rather than style, the Motocompo was not an option on the performance-oriented Turbos, but they retain the mounts from the non-turbo model shell. The Turbo and the Motocompo make for a very popular pair as classics.
The City Turbo was a good seller when it was new, and even spawned a one-make racing series via Mugen; but Honda didn't replace it with any subsequent turbocharged hot hatches.

[@timmyg44]

I owned one of these flying aluminum coffins in the 80s. It was black with mags and racing stripes, with a spoiler on the roof. I was 20 or so and those were the happiest days of my life.

[@NokoChan]

The 80s were FECKIN' AWESOME!!

[@bubblegumgun3292]

can we all just admit the 80's was when humanity peaked already

[@ThanhLai5]

Totally agree. Nowadays cars are just round and look very similar to each other.

[@davidstone6305]

Agreeeeeeed. I'm a 90's baby that's obsessed.

[@nectarcollect]

I can't believe I never knew about or even heard about this car or the little sweet bike it comes with! So clean and interesting

[@joshuam6828]

The music and editing makes this Honda look like it’s the coolest shit ever. Kinda is though so it’s all good.

[@joefiore8932]

I thought the music was glitching out. Sounds choppy and the video looks fucked up.

[@AlexanderGee]

That belongs in a museum!

[@thegiantfinds]

The condition was exquisite.

[@honestguy7764]

that belongs to the road! to be used, to be maintained and to be enjoyed

[@kingpinjunky0219]

I miss my old honda city turbo 2, so fun to drive. Mine didn't have the sweet bike in the back tho

[@newblakestone]

Sucks that drivers licenses in america wouldn’t allow it since u gotta have a different license for a bike I believe. Maybe I’m wrong

[@kingpinjunky0219]

@@newblakestone yeah its the same here in New Zealand

[@kingkongbingbong9889]

@@kingpinjunky0219 I'm from NZ too mate

[@aavalos163]

This was my dream car with my dream motorcycle.

[@p_mishev]

Ultimate city combo

[@Makku293]

Holy mother of Japan!!!

[@mr.pumkin3928]

Kids would be breaking into these cars left and right in america for them motorbikes

[@Wesley_C]

The dream compact car.

[@user-wb9ij2uj3e]

I get tears watching this video 🥹🥹🥹

[@newblakestone]

SONG: cut by Jamie bathgate Thumbs this up so others don’t have to work to find the song

[@antoniusrosing6610]

I just love the design, you can clearly see that the young honda designer keep up with the german bauhaus design movment in this time period, form follows function - is key.

[@AridersLifeYT]

The guy who designed The Turbo 1 / 2-Bulldog created Mugen the following years.

[@asianboyyy117]

@@AridersLifeYT nice!

[@traxnada]

Ok, that's a stupidly cool video for a stupidly cool combo!

[@AridersLifeYT]

Hello, i want to point out some facts. 1: The Motocompo never came with the Turbo I / II Bulldog. It was a Base model opinion for the City only. 2: The guy who created the TII-Bulldog Is the founder of Mugen. 3: The Honda City Turbo 2 was rivalled by the 1989 Nissan March SuperTurbo. 4: i regret selling my 4 motocompos, :-(

[@NipponImports]

@BikeStuff you are very correct! We certainly made it a point to mention that in our very well written description. Also, the more we get into the Turbo market, the more we see that hardcore Turbo enthusiast still want the Motocompo in the back. So we never sell one without the bike!

[@AridersLifeYT]

@@NipponImports thats good marketing.

[@fordgalaxie3695]

I want one right now but I have to import it far away from Japan smh :(

[@shoominati23]

And wrong body style, The Motocompo only came out in the wagon variant of that era

[@positivesquad]

Awesome edit!

[@noelkotela]

The car itself is just so awesome, and the video is also amazing!

[@drdorito9083]

This car is my dream car!

[@jackferris1805]

same here dude

[@1309dd]

Wow just amazing!!!!!!!!!!🕳☄️🏌️‍♂️

[@juanpabloarena2724]

El hecho de que Honda pensara en dotar un micro scooter (ADEMÁS PLEGABLE) en el baúl del auto para satisfacer la movilidad de las personas en el racionado espacio físico de las calles asiáticas,denota gran genialidad! Cómo todo producto de origen oriental. Aplausos desde Argentina 👍✨

[@turboking9238]

Oh I want her, I want her so badley!

[@panji1990]

My dream toys

[@rabbitugly]

Insane videos of honda city and motocompo! nice cinematic bro 🔥

[@DengekiGamer]

Good Work and well made Video. Was nice to watch.

[@mrunknown8810]

Small efficient practical car with good building quality Oh the 1980s

[@dawidczajkowski2442]

*_AESTHETIC_*

[@LusoiHardware]

@Nippon Imports Greetings for the PCA livestream. I am now a subscriber to your channel.

[@Nightinggale98]

bloody cool video!

[@adambendorf828]

so sick

[@notimportant8120]

That is the cleanest City T2 I’ve ever seen, and it looks to be functioning as it left the showroom floor back in 83. My only wish was that there was as much aftermarket support as all the other Honda models. Even the 1st gen civic has a shit ton more!

[@NipponImports]

Thank you for the kind words. As far as aftermarket is concerned, it seems that the City has zero support. Very strange when considering the history of this vehicle.

[@honda3372]

❤

[@sparkD81]

Great edit..nice 🤙

[@johnmedeiros8553]

Sometimes , I hate myself for liking shit like this 😭 awesome video

[@grathapilot]

Not just turbo, but *Hyper* Turbo

[@tobymakesfilms]

I

[@jonathan083]

Best car accessories.

[@febrianhelmi1211]

So jealous man.. because i want it so bad

[@migdetabali1256]

I hope you also feature a Suzuki Choi Nori ;)

[@Nope_jpg]

I want it so bad. Give it to me.

[@AutotuneIndonesia]

So cute..😍

[@manuels2266]

Magnifique

[@matadordeformigas]

Anos 80 🥺🛐❤️

[@iRoudh]

@nippon imports, what is the best combination of City & Motocompo to acquire..

[@semegui4928]

Cyber grid nice work.

[@Vallco4084]

My God! It's Transformers G1 Skids!

[@kishenpatel5750]

What is that music in the background! Love it! Can anyone help to find it? :)

[@hunna2550]

What is the soundtrack? god damn... beautiful!

[@NipponImports]

No clue. Just something we picked out of the 100s of available tracks. lol

[@mickeypsp68]

Cut by jamie bathgate

[@ephenj]

@@mickeypsp68 So no one knows what the who made the song its awesome.

[@nurihsan8753]

Rare

[@PacificCoastAuto]

You are way cooler than me bro

[@nycogabs4460]

Quiero una moti de esas

[@bdroie]

anyone know the song?

[@TheLemminkainen]

Looks like Honda Jazz 80's

[@Dreamcee]

Tamiya Willy's Wheeler :-)

[@tritanopia2686]

i came here because of Inno 64

[@jacobfit1596]

2:07 Hmmm. Should have been a monster zero ultra instead of a red bull I think...

[@AridersLifeYT]

Nah red bull. Monster is More American. red bull is Japanese inspired

[@trevorsacco8805]

Is the motocampo street legal

[@ozzyv3419]

Yep

[@jorgecampos9659]

That’s when Honda was Honda. Today they are becoming what Toyota used to be. BBBBoring

[@torusuetsugu2353]

You're under arrest

[@Fizz826]

Nice video, if you get rid of the fake Chinese/Japanese graphic that pops up.

[@user-ed6vb5cm4w]

nice car but flag is Hakenkreuz same thing

[@steviefpv]

Waste of my time didn’t even get to hear the engine of the car.

[@user-wt8tk3ml7v]

👍

[@user-jc8ok1kz5u]

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