Japan · Original C100: 1958

Honda Super Cub C100

A friendly step-through motorcycle built to make everyday travel easier for almost anyone.

Motorcycles

Exterior · Photo shows 1958 Honda Super Cub C100; the photographed museum placard identifies both model and year. Exact year/model match. The source does not separately document the individual motorcycle's original sales market.
1958 Honda Super Cub C100 displayed in a Japanese museum. · 先従隗始 · CC0 1.0 Universal

Auction-based estimated value

Research pending

A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.

Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.

A place in vehicle history

More than a set of wheels.

Honda began Japanese sales of the first Super Cub C100 in August 1958. Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa had studied European mopeds, but their team designed something different for Japan: a quiet four-stroke engine, a low step-through frame, useful leg shields and a gearbox that did not need a hand-operated clutch lever. The combination became a foundation for Honda's global growth.

Look a little closer.

The engine made 4.5 horsepower at 9,500 rpm—four and a half times the output of Honda's earlier 50 cc Cub F auxiliary engine.

Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.

Designed around ordinary jobs

Honda wanted a machine that was easy to step through, simple to shift and tough enough for Japan's mostly unpaved roads. The large plastic leg shields helped keep wind and road dirt away from the rider, useful for commuting and delivery work.

Source: Honda · birth of the Super Cub ↗

A small bike that helped Honda grow

Sales started in August 1958, U.S. exports followed in 1959 and production moved to Honda's new Suzuka factory in 1960. Honda later described the C100 as transportation for work, school and recreation—not simply a miniature motorcycle.

Source: Honda · Super Cub production milestone ↗

Where these facts come from

Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.

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