Words: Richard Edwards
Published 15 July 2026
Honda New Zealand has begun rehoming its heritage car collection, listing 16 vehicles from the Nelson-based fleet for online auction.
The listings, which went live today from the company’s Nelson Bays base, span nearly five decades of Honda in New Zealand, from a 1981 Accord sedan to a 2000 Civic Type R.
All proceeds from the auctions will go to Nelson charities, according to the listings, which close on Wednesday 29 July.
The sale follows Honda New Zealand’s decision to close its longstanding Nelson facility and shift distribution to Auckland. Speaking to AutoTrader in May, President and Managing Director Carolyn McMahon signalled the collection was under review.
“Obviously we want to retain the units that have very, very high heritage value and we’re just going through that process at the moment of what do we keep, what do we maybe pass on to other lovers of Honda heritage cars,” McMahon said at the time.
The headline car is the 2000 Civic Type R, offered with no reserve and already attracting a $30,000 bid on its first day. The EK9-generation hot hatch, with 154,000km showing, is one of the most sought-after modern classic Hondas.
The rest of the collection tells the story of Honda’s local assembly era and beyond. Several cars carry NZ-assembled or NZ-new provenance, including a 1998 Accord VTi-L V6, a 1989 Accord with just 33,147km, and a 1998 Civic VTi-S showing 65,251km.
Among the standouts is a 1995 Accord LXi with a remarkable 7,600km on the odometer, which the listing suggests may be the lowest-kilometre example of its type anywhere. Bidding had reached $5,550 at the time of writing.
The oldest car in the sale, the 1981 Accord sedan, has covered 88,073km and holds a current warrant and registration. Honda describes it as needing only a minor touch-up on the right rear guard to be in exceptional condition for its age.
Other lots include a 1982 Accord three-door with 57,684km, a 1988 City Jazz, a 1987 Civic GTI, a 1987 Accord Aerodeck, and a pair of early 1990s Civic three-doors, one of which has covered more than 418,000km.
Early bidding suggests strong interest, with most lots having met reserve within hours of listing. Bids ranged from $535 for the V6 Accord to $7,550 for a 79,688km 1994 Civic three-door.
The Nelson site has been part of Honda’s New Zealand story since the brand’s earliest days in the country, originally as a manufacturing plant and later as the company’s distribution centre. Around 80 per cent of Honda’s New Zealand sales are in the North Island, and McMahon says moving distribution to Auckland cuts days off delivery times.
The auctions close from 8pm on Wednesday 29 July.
