A Nov. 11, 2012, challenge from Honda’s global leadership to produce this nation’s first supercar was met Tuesday when 2017 Acura NSX 001 rolled off the production line.
“This reminds me of Christmas when I was 10 years old,” car owner Rick Hendrick said, “except back then I didn’t have a crowd of people looking on.
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Rick Hendrick, the owner of 2017 Acura NSX 001, speaks during Tuesday’s line off of the U.S.- designed, engineered and produced supercar at the Performance Manufacturing Center. Mr. Hendrick paid $1.2 million at an auction to own the first production NSX. All proceeds from the auction went to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground. (EXAMINER PHOTO | JOEL E. MAST) |
“This is one of the finest automobiles I’ve seen in my life.”
Mr. Hendrick is chairman of Hendrick Auto Group, which runs several dealerships including Honda and Acura and owns Hendrick Motorsports, which competes in NASCAR.
He also has Hendrick Heritage Museum which is home to a significant collection of cars with the number one vehicle identification numbers.
With his shiny Valencia Red Pearl Acura NSX on the podium at Honda’s Performance Manufacturing Center, Mr. Hendrick said he was equally impressed with the work environment at the made-to-order production facility.
“I saw the smiles on your faces as you worked,” he told the PMC associates who were joined by others from the Anna Engine Plant and Honda R&D in Raymond. “You’ve got something special here. There is a culture of craftsmanship and excitement for this car.”
Mr. Hendrick claimed the number one production car with a $1.2 million bid in January at the Barrett-Jackson auction. All proceeds from the bid went to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground.
The four-year effort to get the NSX from design to production was led by Clement D’Souza, engineering large project leader for the Acura NSX.
Read complete story in Wednesday’s Examiner.
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