Honda 600 Coupe (Z600)
Honda squeezed a high-revving, air-cooled two-cylinder engine and four seats into a hatchback barely longer than today's tiny city cars.
1972 Honda Z600 · Charles01 · CC BY-SA 3.0
More than a set of wheels.
Honda sold the little Z-shaped coupé in the United States as the 600 Coupe, although enthusiasts know it as the Z600. The 1972 export car kept the 598 cc air-cooled engine even as Japanese Honda Z models moved to water cooling. This was its final U.S. model year, just before the larger Civic changed Honda's American-car story.
Look a little closer.
The dark panel around the rear window earned the Z the nickname 'Zagato' in Japan because it reminded people of Italian sports-car styling—even though Zagato did not design it.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Export Z and Japanese Z split paths
Honda's own history says the domestic Z adopted water cooling in December 1971. The 1972 U.S. 600 Coupe remained the export-only air-cooled 598 cc version, so this profile does not borrow the later Japanese engine specification.
Source: Honda 75-year history · evolving automobile engines ↗Small outside, conventional controls inside
The Z600 used a normal steering wheel, pedals and four-speed floor shifter rather than microcar oddities. Its 2,000 mm wheelbase and 1,295 mm width explain why the rear seats were best for small passengers or extra bags.
Source: Automobile-Catalog · 1972 Honda 600 Coupe ↗Where these facts come from
- Honda 75-year history · evolving automobile engines
- RM Sotheby's · 1972 Honda Z600 Coupe
- Automobile-Catalog · 1972 Honda 600 Coupe
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.