This 2001 Honda S2000 (AP1) is for sale at Japanese auction at USS Yokohama on 6 October 2026, lot 30154. Auction grade 4.5, interior grade B, 89,000 km (about 55,300 miles), manual, 6-speed, grey. Bids close at 9pm UK time on Monday 5 October. It is 25 years old or more, so it can be imported to the USA and Australia.
The inspector’s own report on this car, as issued by the auction house. Our full English translation is in the Autoselecta auction report below.
4.5
Excellent
Typically under 100,000 km with only light cosmetic marks. A strong everyday buy.
S / 6
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2
R / RA
Best to worst. This car is grade 4.5.
Interior grade B
What the letters on a sheet diagram mean
A
Scratch
U
Dent
W
Wave or repair: W1 is light, W3 is heavy
S
Rust
C
Corrosion
P
Paint mark or blemish
X
Panel needs replacing
XX
Panel has been replaced
B
Dent with a scratch
G
Stone chip in the glass
Autoselecta auction report
Overview of the Honda S2000 AP1
This is a March 2001 Honda S2000 in grey, chassis code LA-AP1, offered at USS Yokohama as lot 30154 with an auction grade of 4.5 and an interior grade of B. The odometer on the auction sheet reads 88,411 km, which is approximately 54,936 miles. It is the base grade with a six speed manual gearbox, rear wheel drive, and it was bought in directly from a private owner. The inspector's marks are minor, and the car carries a short list of tasteful aftermarket changes: coilover suspension, a Fujitsubo silencer, LED headlamps and a Modulo front lip spoiler.
The early AP1 is the purest form of the S2000, with the 2.0 litre engine that revs to 9,000 rpm, a short gearlever and an open cockpit in a right hand drive Japanese domestic market specification. A grade 4.5 car with under 90,000 km and a shaken valid until January 2027 is the sort of example serious buyers look for.
The Drive Review
The S2000 was built around one idea: a small, light, rear wheel drive roadster with a high revving engine mounted behind the front axle. The F20C is a 2.0 litre four cylinder with VTEC that produced around 250 PS in Japanese market form, and it keeps pulling to a 9,000 rpm limit. Below roughly 6,000 rpm it is calm and a little soft. Above it the cam profile changes and the engine becomes sharp and loud, which is why owners drive these cars with the gearbox rather than the throttle alone.
The six speed manual has a short, mechanical throw that many consider among the best ever fitted to a production car. The steering is quick and clean, the chassis is stiff for an open car, and the balance is close to even front to rear. The early cars can be lively at the limit if the driver is clumsy on the throttle, which is part of their reputation. Compared with a modern roadster there is no turbocharger, no electric assistance to hide the work, and very little filtering between you and the road.
This car has aftermarket coilovers and a Fujitsubo silencer. Both will change the ride and the exhaust note from standard, so a new owner should expect a firmer, louder car than a factory original.
Auction Details
Auction house: USS Yokohama, Domestic Prime Corner. Lot number: 30154. Auction date in Japan: 6 October 2026. Auction grade: 4.5. Interior grade: B. Exterior grade: 4.5. Mileage: 88,411 km (approximately 54,936 miles). The sheet records a first registration of March 2001 (Heisei 13) and a shaken valid until 26 January 2027. The Japanese registration plate is Yokohama 33Y ma 1001. The frame number is AP1-1102336. The recycling deposit is ¥11,710.
Closest match first, by version, age, mileage and auction grade. Hammer prices at Japanese auctions, before fees, shipping and taxes. These are auction results, not cars sold by us.
The auction start price is ¥1,880,000. Autoselecta's guide bidding range for this car is £10,250 to £13,500. That is an estimated bidding range based on recent results, not a guaranteed purchase price, and we cannot say the car will sell within it. For reference, 11 similar cars sold at Japanese auctions between £6,054 and £22,725, typically about £12,468, though that range includes other versions and conditions. The minimum bid and the estimated landed cost are calculated live, so please refer to the price panel on this page.
All bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time the evening before auction.
Manufacturer: Honda. Model: S2000. Generation: AP1. Chassis code: LA-AP1. Body: two seat open roadster. Grade: base grade. First registration: March 2001. Engine: 2,000 cc petrol, F20C. Transmission: six speed floor manual. Drive: rear wheel drive, shown as 2WD on the sheet. Exterior colour: grey, original colour, Honda colour code NH630M. Interior: red leather with black dashboard trim. Fuel: petrol. Seats: two. Dimensions on the sheet: length 413 cm, width 175 cm, height 124 cm. Steering: right hand drive.
The photographs show a black fabric soft top fitted, silver five spoke alloy wheels with the Honda badge, and a twin exit exhaust. The mph marking is visible on the instrument display, but the odometer figure itself is not readable in the photograph, so the mileage here is taken from the auction sheet.
Factory Features and Equipment
The sheet marks genuine alloy wheels, power steering, power windows, leather and an airbag, and it lists automatic air conditioning. The red leather seats, black dashboard and red carpets are visible in the photographs, along with the digital instrument cluster with its bar tachometer. The S2000 was always a spare machine, so there is no long list of luxuries to find.
Navigation, ETC, a spare key, owner manuals and a service book are not confirmed on the auction sheet. The new car service book box is blank, and the vehicle usage history box is also blank, so a maintenance record cannot be assumed. The spare tyre circle on the diagram is empty.
Japanese Auction Report Translation
The sheet's sales points read as follows: car bought in directly from a private owner, aftermarket coilover suspension, Fujitsubo silencer, LED headlamps and a Modulo front lip spoiler. The point to note says that the genuine BBS 16 inch alloy wheels can be sent separately afterwards if wanted, with carriage paid by the buyer. The wheels in the photographs are silver Honda alloys, but whether they are the BBS set mentioned is not confirmed from the images, so please ask us before bidding if the original wheels matter to you.
The inspector's report translates as: steering wheel scuffed; seats scuffed and creased; cabin with scuffs, scratches and dirt; wheel scratches; door mirror scratches. The inspector does not report any engine noise, transmission fault, oil or coolant leak, warning light, air conditioning fault, rust or accident repair. That is a good sign, but the sheet is a visual and functional check and not a mechanical inspection.
Damage Diagram and Body Condition of the Honda S2000
The diagram carries seven marks. On the front bumper is A1 with scuff marks, meaning a small scratch with surface scuffing. On the front left wing is A1, a small scratch. On the bonnet is a stone chip marking, which is typical of a low, long nosed car driven on expressways. On the left door is U1, a small dent. On the right door is A1, a small scratch. On the left rear quarter panel is U1, a small dent. On the rear bumper is A1, a small scratch.
No repair marks, replaced panels, rust or corrosion codes appear anywhere on the diagram. The positions of the left side U1 marks are read from where the leader lines end, so a detailed check of the photographs on arrival is sensible. In the photographs the grey paint looks even, and the front lip spoiler and the black soft top look in sound order from a distance, although I cannot judge the fabric or rear window from the images. Overall this is usable enthusiast condition leaning towards very good: a tidy, honest car with cosmetic marks that are small and easy to live with, not a collector grade example.
Interior Condition
The interior grade of B reflects normal wear, and the inspector's notes agree: a scuffed steering wheel, seats that are scuffed and creased, and scuffs, scratches and dirt in the cabin. The photographs show red leather seats with visible creasing, red carpet, a black dashboard and a black steering wheel. A pair of yellow and blue coilover units sits in the passenger footwell, and a small item in a clear blue case, which appears to be a gear knob, rests on the seat. The sheet does not say whether these are spare or removed parts. There is no smoke or odour comment, and no roof, headlining or dashboard damage is recorded.
Japanese Auction Grades
Japanese auction grades run from 1 to 5 with R for repaired cars, and 4.5 sits in the upper range for a car of this age, indicating very good overall condition with only light blemishes. The interior grade runs from A to E, so B means good with wear that is expected for the mileage and years.
Honda launched the S2000 in 1999 to mark its 50th anniversary, and the AP1 was built until 2003 before the AP2 arrived with a longer stroke 2.2 litre engine and a lower redline. The AP1 kept the 2.0 litre F20C, with its 9,000 rpm limit, and the car was developed with an X shaped frame to keep the open body stiff. Honda built it as a pure sports car without a turbocharger, which was unusual even then.
Why This Model Has Become Collectible
The S2000 is collectible because it is the last of a kind: a naturally aspirated, high revving, manual rear wheel drive roadster from a major manufacturer. Many were driven hard, modified or crashed, so unmolested examples are becoming harder to find. The early AP1 has the highest redline and a reputation for purity, and the Japanese market cars were sold new in Japan with right hand drive, which many buyers prefer for authenticity. Demand is global, and the car is now old enough for eligible import to the USA. We would not call any car an investment, and values can fall as well as rise, but the S2000 has a loyal following that continues to grow.
This specification appeals because the mileage is moderate, the grade is high, and the changes are the type many enthusiasts add themselves. The base grade is the standard AP1, with no trim to separate it from other cars, so condition matters more than badges.
What To Look For When Buying This Model
Start with the engine. Listen for a healthy idle and check that VTEC engages cleanly, as the engine uses a little oil at high revs and should be topped up regularly. Valve clearances need checking at intervals. Check the soft top for wear, tears and a clear rear window, since the fabric on a car of this age can fade or shrink. Look at the gearbox for smooth shifts, particularly second gear, and the clutch for wear. Inspect the suspension, because aftermarket coilovers change the ride and the alignment, and see whether the original dampers are available. Look for underbody rust, especially around the sills and subframes, as the sheet does not include an underbody check. Finally, remember that early AP1 cars can step out suddenly on the throttle if the suspension is worn or the tyres are poor.
Why Import This Car From Japan
Japan keeps cars to a high standard with regular shaken inspections, careful owners and gentle climates for many of its cars, and rust free examples with sound paint are easier to find. This S2000 is a right hand drive domestic car with a detailed sheet, so you can see what an inspector has noted before you bid.
USA Import Information
This car is more than 25 years old and is eligible for import to the United States. Autoselecta can arrange shipment from Japan to the United States. Please contact us with your city or ZIP code before bidding so that we can prepare a delivered quotation. We can calculate the expected purchase price, Japan costs, shipping, customs related costs and delivery requirements. Additional charges apply and we do not promise that there will be none.
Buyers in every country should check their own import rules before bidding, including age limits, emissions and registration requirements. The 25 year rule applies in the United States and the 15 year rule in Canada. Japan has no such rule. Tell us where the car will be registered and we will explain what is needed.
Autoselecta gives direct access to Japanese auctions, with a translated and checked auction sheet, vehicle sourcing, bidding assistance, export handling and shipping. We support arrival and import in your country, track the car where tracking is available, and keep in touch throughout. For this S2000 we can also ask about the BBS wheels mentioned on the sheet before you bid.
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New cars are added to our auction listings every week, including other S2000 models, Honda sports cars and rear wheel drive roadsters. Browse the current lots and compare grades, mileage and condition.
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Auction Caution
Auction cars are inspected before sale but are still used vehicles. The auction sheet is an independent condition guide, not a mechanical warranty. A car of this age may need servicing, maintenance or refurbishment after purchase, particularly the soft top, suspension and exhaust, which have been modified. The inspector has recorded a scuffed steering wheel, scuffed and creased seats, scuffs, scratches and dirt in the cabin, scratched wheels, scratched door mirrors, small dents on the left door and left rear quarter, and stone chips on the bonnet. The service book, spare key and manuals are not confirmed on the sheet.
