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The Z600 was Honda's last air-cooled car before the Civic, the supermini that saved Honda as a car manufacturer. Marketed as the 354 cc Z life in Japan, it was a product of its domestic market's K-Class tax bracket, which made cars under 360 cc attractive to own. Road tax was only £2 (against £17 for bigger cars) and you could park them out in the street when other cars had to be garaged. There was no expensive inspection to pay for every two years, and even the driving test was easier to pass. The Z was powered by a transverse twin eggcup engine driving the front wheels. This motor looked like a giant cigarette lighter but offered those who wished to know the sophistication of an overhead camshaft, roller bearing crank and a starter that doubled as a generator.
The bigger Z600 was the export version, with 32 bhp, 75 mph and fantastic economy potential: one motoring magazine recorded 136 mpg at 30 mph. The cute, rounded styling with the trademark TV screen rear window (and optional stripes) gave the car much of its appeal. A marginal four-seater, the Z600 had lots of equipment and a novel, aircraft-style overhead console. Buzzy, high-revving and fun to drive with its five-speed gearbox and nippy handling, it was also rather expensive compared with the established small-car opposition, and few were sold.
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