My '64 Honda S600 on Jay Leno's Garage

"Matt Brown" (superfastmatt) 05/25/2015 at 23:00 • Filed to: None

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There are many important moments in the life of a car guy: The time you buy your first car, the first time you start the engine on your project build, and of course that time Jay Leno says “Hey, nice car, wanna be on my show?”

That last moment happened to me a few weeks ago when I was cruising around the LA area canyon roads in my CBR1000RR powered Honda S600. The video just hit YouTube. Enjoy!

Some build pics for your enjoyment:

www.superfastmatt.com

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:06

1

That’s amazing. It’s a great build idea. Congrats on getting on the show with Jay Leno.

Alex from Toronto > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:11

16

TheHondaBro > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:12

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Dear god, when he was revving it and it just sorta kept revving for a long time... Hnnnng!!

Congrats on making it on the show! I now want a motorcycle-powered S600.

ranwhenparked > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:14

7

I love how, even with such extensive changes, you still kept the spirit of the car. The S600, and most early Hondas, really, were a lot like 4 wheeled motorcycles, you took that and ran.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:15

1

Congrats and beautiful job!

CB > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:16

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Wicked car. And that’s awesome that Jay Leno interviewed you about it!

EL_ULY > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:18

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I saw this earlier, awesome job sir. You have reached legend status

Cherry_man1 > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:20

11

That had to be one of the quietest Jay Leno’s garage I’ve ever seen. Most guys just talk over the car. Nope that one was all glorious noise! That’s a wicked little car you got there.

Flavien Vidal > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:23

18

Man, I had no idea you were an opponaut! :)

This was probably the best Jay Leno episode! I watched it with a huge smile on my face all the time (similar as the one you have on your face the whole time too lol)

I live in Japan and since I saw your episode yesterday I think, I’ve been thinking of doing something similar here. I could do it with a Honda Beat or a Cappucino that can be bought for very cheap...

Man, congrats really!

Your car is absolute pure awesomness!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:35

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S1000: The other Honda that can shut up a Miata guy.

Your car is amazing! Makes me want to devote a lot more time and energy into learning to fabricate so I can do something this wicked.

lonestranger > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:39

4

I bet you still have that grin on your face :)

Ike > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:41

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Loved the episode, loved the noise from the car, glad to see your an opponauts! Great work on the car sir! Great job.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:44

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Beautiful build.

WhiskeyGolf > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:49

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Your book on FSAE is hilarious! Are those left over tires from the car?

jvirgs drives a Subaru > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:50

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Thats awesome man! Congratulations! I’d be fan-girling so hard if Jay Leno ever came to talk to me lol.

Justin Hughes > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:50

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I love it! Nice job!

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Matt Brown 05/25/2015 at 23:57

1

That is completely awesome. The car, and the video. Nice job!

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 00:06

0

Your car is just...amazing. This only fuels my fabricating dream of a tube framed monster with a Hayabusa V8....I like the jalop touches.

Dsscats > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 00:10

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Fantastic! I’m in SoCal too and would love to see this thing in person at some point

Kofi > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 00:19

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HOLY SHEIIT, I was browsing the iBook store about a week ago and saw your book and downloaded it. I had a a couple spare hours at school and read it. Then I see you here :). I love the part about fucking Wisconsin

Tapas > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 00:24

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Fucking. Amazing. Way to go man!

DrJohannVegas > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 00:25

11

I have to believe that Mr. Honda is looking down on your little car and smiling. Absolutely superb build. Everything it needs, nothing it doesn’t. Good on cost, excellent potential for user maintenance. If they let me have a design queue, I’d send you through to semis.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 00:27

2

Is that your first time in the passenger seat?

Do you like movies about gladiators?

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 00:36

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Dude. I loved your car. One of my favorite episodes of Leno ever! Even better now to hear your on Oppo!

Carlos wishes he has a manual > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 01:05

0

I saw the episode and I loved your car!!! Congrats on the awesome build! and I couldn’t help but notice the giant smile on your face the whole time Jay was driving it! haha. Great job!

Sneaky Pete > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 02:52

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Awesome video, awesome build! I’d love to build something similar, but don’t have the time or skills. What year Viper di you have? How was Jay?

Sam > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 04:25

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I saw the episode come up in my sub box and then remember that picture of the S600/1000 next to the McLaren 12C and was like, hey I’ve seen that guy on Oppo! Congrats, man. Is Jay really as cool as he seems?

LongbowMkII > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 06:15

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You have an absolutely amazing machine and that is underselling it. You’ve built it perfectly. I’m a natural born hater and I can’t find a thing. What else have you built? Or was this your first big project?

/I'mnotworthy

thebigbossyboss > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 07:18

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Life of riley mate. Wow.

Bob LeDrew > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 10:17

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You. Magnificent. Bastard.

extraspecialbitter > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 11:19

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What!? How!? When!?

How did you meet Mr. Leno? Details, mang!

3304HL > Flavien Vidal 05/26/2015 at 11:47

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Matt, a couple of Qs

what, besides parking uphill, do you do for reverse?

Leno vid; clutch or bang shifts?

- would have been cooler if he'd let you drive his 600 in the vid as a counter-point...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 11:59

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Man, he wasted so many years doing that little “Tonight Show” thing. Ha! Glad he’s spending more time on his true passion. Awesome that you and your car got featured!

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 12:38

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What diff is that?

swaptastic > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 12:47

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Congrats on the show and a great project.

Matt Brown > 3304HL 05/26/2015 at 12:47

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get out and push

probably bang, I never use the clutch. I’m sure i’ll need to buy another transmission at some point :)

Matt Brown > WhiskeyGolf 05/26/2015 at 12:49

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I had some old fsae tires i used for setup on the initial build, but it has R888s on it now

Matt Brown > LongbowMkII 05/26/2015 at 12:50

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Thanks! I did a ‘69 Dodge Dart with a big block swap, homemade fuel injection, side pipes, etc... a few other random projects. I’ve been building shit for decades now. :)

Matt Brown > Sam 05/26/2015 at 12:50

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In person, he’s just like he is on TV. cool guy.

Matt Brown > Sneaky Pete 05/26/2015 at 12:51

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2002 GTS ACR. Salvage title, total POS. But fun!

Jay is a great guy, very nice.

Matt Brown > extraspecialbitter 05/26/2015 at 12:53

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He hangs out up on Mulholland drive some weekends. He’s into the car scene in LA, if you’re around enough car shows/meets, you’ll run into him.

Matt Brown > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 05/26/2015 at 12:53

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BMW 325i LSD

LongbowMkII > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 12:56

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homemade fuel injection sounds like quite a story. Makes sense that something this involved wasn’t a first try, still inspirational.

3304HL > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 13:16

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thanks.

really diggin' the rear suspension set-up.

Sneaky Pete > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 13:19

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Was it Sapphire blue? There was a dealer in San Diego trying to unload a salvaged ACR for a long time. Was it a POS because it was a salvage, or because it’s an old Dodge kit car? I have a 96 GTS that’s been both a blast and at times, a pita. You S600/S1000 reminds me of the concept of the Shelby Cobra, to an extent. As you know, the Viper was itself inspired by the Cobra and Daytona.

Jay seems awesome. Congrats again on being featured and making the front page!

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 13:35

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the e30 4.10 lsd?

Matt Brown > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 05/26/2015 at 13:37

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it’s a 3.something. can’t remember exactly.

Matt Brown > Sneaky Pete 05/26/2015 at 13:38

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It was gray. I loved it and will probably buy another in the future when I have the garage space :)

asenna > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 16:19

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it looks like Jay had a ton of fun driving it, mroe so than any other episode I have seen. Great Job congrats man that is awesome.

EatherDwellerNYC15 > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 17:32

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Have you thought about using an electric starter motor to a gear on the drive shaft or even the rear axle. It already has the clutch for the gear, and then you can just wire it up so it can only be activated when the clutch its out of gear?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 3304HL 05/26/2015 at 18:10

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Was thinking the same thing about Leno’s 600.

dogisbadob > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 19:08

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Wow you’re lucky to have that car. So awesome too, that you got to meet Jay Leno

FlimFlamMan > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 21:46

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Bravo! Simply marvelous indeed.

Toyota Sucks Lots Of Sausages > Matt Brown 05/26/2015 at 22:48

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Well done, Mr. Brown!

Now I want that sound for my ringtone, because that high redline would cause me to not answer the call pronto :D

dr861 > Matt Brown 05/27/2015 at 00:00

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This is so cool. Not a bike guy at all but you’ve basically made a 4 wheel bike. Fan-F*cking-tastic!

ZeeeeCar > Matt Brown 05/27/2015 at 07:07

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What’s the biggest ca$h offer you’ve turned down?

Fantastic build, man. Just fan-frickin-tastic!

Mike Villa > Matt Brown 05/27/2015 at 16:05

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This is unbelievably cool.

Matt would you mind if I emailed you regarding some rather cool ideas I’d like you (and your rad car) to be a part of? You can either email me at mike [at] mikevillavisuals.com or reply with your email address.

Keep up the awesome.

TheRawhideKid > Matt Brown 05/27/2015 at 18:44

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Very nice work sir! I like your choice of engines... might be a bit biased... I ride a 2010 CBR1000RR!

I saw a pretty clean RC51 in the background of one of those awesome chassis pics... do you ride on two wheels too?

e30-318is > Matt Brown 05/27/2015 at 23:59

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Great “zero f*ck! given” car! Pure authentic piece of engineering.

For a bit of juxtaposition, I wish to have seen in the video, a two car caravan with your car and Jay’s Lotus Elan 26R.

e30-318is > e30-318is 05/28/2015 at 00:02

0

Howdoirefillmyblinkerfluid > Matt Brown 05/28/2015 at 00:30

2

Dude i just fucking realized that your THE same matt brown from the fucking book “racecar” wtf im fangirling hard rn because i almost feel like i know you after reading the book and now to see where youve ended up is like a super awesome alternate ending to your book

G/O Sucks > Matt Brown 05/28/2015 at 02:30

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I know you! We met up on Mulholland — you came up behind me in my NB Miata (green, x-braced bar, etc). I was staggered to see your car then and very happy to see it getting the exposure it deserves now.

See you in the canyons!

Josh G > Matt Brown 06/03/2015 at 00:29

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Did he let you drive the Murray Light car? A friend and I were hoping after those rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssssssssssss he’d drop a bone?

tromoly > Matt Brown 06/04/2015 at 23:57

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Congrats on the feature, I followed the early build on your blog and always wondered if you’d finished the thing.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Matt Brown 07/22/2015 at 06:30

0

WOW! I thought that might be you on his show!!! I remembered reading about your S600 in passing awhile back! Kudos man! :D

stromeur > Matt Brown 12/14/2015 at 09:36

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Hi Matt ! There one thing I want to demystify about your S1000 , The transmission ... please more photo detail about how you mate the ouput sprocket shaft to the drive shaft . Thanks !

Multicap > Matt Brown 02/02/2016 at 17:13

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I neeeeeeeeed to see the gearbox adaptor!!!!! please

Paulo Feitosa > Matt Brown 03/22/2016 at 17:19

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I’ve seen JL’s video about your car hundreds of times (literally), you’re nothing short of genius to make such a great project out of a “nothing” budget. Easily the best JL’s garage video. The sound is amazing. Kudos to you, my friend.