Honda is kind of a big deal nowadays. But in the late 1960s, it was a motorcycle brand hoping to sell some cars in the United States.

Honda brought its first 50 cars to the U.S. in 1969. They were tiny 1967 N360 models refitted with 599-cc engines for those power-happy Americans. Honda dubbed them N600s and sold them through motorcycle dealers.

Very few of those cars still exist, but one found its way into the hands of the right guy. Instead of obsessing over muscle cars like a real American, Tim Mings restores Honda N600s and Z600s. He's so good at it, in fact, that he makes a living at it. After a few years of ownership, Mings scraped away the paint and grime over the VIN to find that he had the very first Honda ever built for the United States.

You might think Mings is a weirdo for loving obscure old Hondas, but Honda certainly doesn't. When Honda found out about the car, it offered its help in restoring it. The video above is the first in a series chronicling that restoration. To keep up with the others, visit the website www.SerialOne.com.

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