Check out a Honda classic worth $400k+

It is all but obvious now that Japanese automotive icons continue to rise in value: this one-off Honda NSX-R heading to the block in the UK this weekend has a starting price equivalent to U.S. $408,000.

The seller is Torque GT, a British firm that acquired the car not long ago at an auction in Japan. Aside from being extremely rare, this example is said to be in excellent condition with only 59,927 kilometers (37,237 miles) under its belt.

The refreshed NSX-R model hit the market in Japan 19 years ago and never went abroad. Its main engineering accomplishment was low curb weight: the rear wing, the trunk and the hood were all made from carbon fiber, and the hood cover was the single largest solid component produced out of carbon in the entire industry to date. Having shed 100 kg (220 lbs) of weight, the sporty ride came in at just 1,270 kg (2,800 lbs).

The 3.2-liter naturally aspirated V6 was carried over from the stock car, but careful calibration of all moving parts improved the actual power output to the wheels and the throttle response. The papers still quote the standard power rating of 299 PS (295 hp / 220 kW), but unofficial measurements found it to be considerably higher than that.

A six-speed manual transmission sends the momentum to the rear wheels, and the car itself sports a mid-engine layout with a transversely mounted block.

Only 140 such vehicles had been produced in 2002–2005.