Honda upset the balance of the supercar universe with its ground-breaking NSX. It proved that, unlike finnicky and cramped European competitors of the day, a high-performance super car could be as reliable and easy to live with as any of the company’s conventional vehicles. Marketed in America under the Acura brand and in Europe and other markets as a Honda, the NSX was aimed squarely at the Ferrari 328. The aluminum-bodied, mid-engine, rear-drive sports car that debuted at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show proved to be far more approachable than its Italian competitor, whether running errands about town or negotiating a circuit. It possessed uncanny balance and precise handling, honed with input from Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna, who was piloting a Honda-powered McLaren race car at the time.

The NSX was the world’s first production vehicle to feature an all-aluminum monocoque body, according to Honda. It debuted with an all-aluminum 3.0-liter V-6 featuring the company’s noted Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control technology, known as VTEC. Initially offered only with a five-speed manual transmission, a four-speed automatic became available starting in 1995. That year also brought drive-by-wire electronic throttle control and an open-top Type T version, which featured a removable roof panel that could be stored beneath the rear glass. A larger 3.2-liter V-6 and six-speed manual replaced the previous V-6 and five-speed in 1997. In 2001, the exterior design was revised to include fixed headlamps in place of the previous pop-up units, while new 17-inch wheels at the front and back, supplanted the previous staggered setup, which featured 16-inch wheels at the front and 17-inch wheels at the back.

The pleasingly minimalist yet well-appointed interior featured a cascading center console and supportive seats. A decently sized trunk was located behind the mid-mounted engine, while an emergency spare tire was wedged under the front hood amongst ancillary equipment. Special Type R and Type S variants released at different times throughout the NSX’s lifespan featured increased performance and handling capabilities. Worldwide sales over the 15-year production run did not exceed 19,000, with fewer than 1,600 units reportedly sold in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

This particular NSX T is from the final production year and thus benefits from the various incremental improvements Honda made over this model’s lifespan. It is believed to be one of only 20 open-topped variants produced for the 2005 model year equipped with a manual transmission and finished in New Formula Red over black leather. The car rides on aftermarket OZ Racing wheels—17 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear —and the odometer shows less than 40,200 kilometers at time of cataloguing. It is accompanied by the factory manual in a case, floormats with the NSX logo, and a set of factory-spec wheels, believed to be original to the vehicle, with unmounted tires.