Throwback: Honda S800 Restomod From SEMA 2020
Daniel Wu's gorgeous S800 makes a comeback at SEMA360 in an interesting roundtable discussion.
Second Time Around
Each year, the SEMA show brings us a host of impressive builds and new parts from the aftermarket and automotive manufacturers. This year, SEMA was forced to go online with the new SEMA360 format, but the results are still the same. But one of the most interesting rides from this year's event was actually featured at last year's show, and it was the subject of one of the many roundtable discussions that took place this week.
Photos: Super Street
Panel Discussion
That car is actor Daniel Wu's 1968 Honda S800 restomod, a beautifully done machine that stole the hearts of everyone who laid eyes on it last year. Wu was joined at this year's SEMA360 roundtable discussion by fellow actor Sung Kang, the President of GReddy Performance, Kenji Sumino, and Mike Spagnola from SEMA.
Birth of an Idea
The group discussed the current state of the automotive aftermarket, of course, but also notable builds from SEMA's past. One of which was Wu's S800, one of the more memorable builds in recent history. Wu actually came up with the idea for the car while laying in the hospital after being treated for a burst appendix, and collaborated with Kei Miura of Pandem fame to bring it all to reality.
Mixing Old and New
Miura used a 3D scan of the S800 to develop one-off aero parts for the car, which include fender flares that now cover a set of re-barreled factory 13-inch wheels that are 7-inches wide up front and 8-inches in the back. They're wrapped with Toyo R888R tires measuring in at 185/60 front and 205/60 rear for the perfect mix of old and new.
Original Amplified
Wu wanted to keep the original character of the S800 intact, so under the hood lies the original carbureted, 791cc DOHC powerplant that screams to its 8,000rpm redline with a modest but effective 71 horsepower and 49 pound-feet of torque. The tiny mill does breathe through a stainless steel exhaust, which gives it a nice amplification of sound.
Perfect Mix
In addition to the aforementioned fender flares, Pandem also supplied its own custom front lip and rear decklid spoiler, while a set of yellow S.E.V. Marchal headlights completes the look. A custom stitched red leather interior ties it all together for a look that's undoubtedly custom, yet doesn't stray too far from the original charm of the S800.
