Honda cemented its reputation as a reliable engine builder by the late 1980s, based largely on its economy cars. A gradual shift upmarket saw the Honda launch the first dedicated Japanese luxury division when Acura debuted. Honda had a lot more in mind than leather-lined sedans and sporty little coupes. Few outside its Tokyo headquarters had any idea just how ambitious its next project would be, even though a 1984 Pininfarina-designed concept provided a major hint.

Honda targeted Ferrari’s mid-engined 328, but the NSX that would debut as an Acura for the American market at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show was far more than a Ferrari competitor. The car was characteristically Honda in that it was a remarkably approachable and usable sports car. That it happened to possess almost uncanny balance and precise handling was no accident, either. Honda enlisted Ayrton Senna to develop the NSX, and they incorporated a number of changes the Brazilian Formula 1 legend suggested, such as significant chassis stiffening.

The NSX was treated to several updates during its initial 15-year run, and the 2004 example here comes from the second-to-last year of production and thus benefits from many of those enhancements. Its 3.2-liter V-6 boasts 290 horsepower and is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, which featured a new gear lever for 2004. Additionally, Acura specified a new gear knob that would be emulated in the later S2000 sports roadster.

This example is finished in desirable Silverstone Metallic and, like all late NSXs, boasts a removable targa panel as well as fixed headlamps. Its Onyx Black leather interior features perforated leather-upholstered sports seats. Having been driven just shy of 9,000 miles, this exceptional NSX is ideal for preservation or to be enjoyed exactly as the late Senna would have.