A ten-cylinder Honda engine that used to power Formula racecars and participated in the Grand Prix two decades ago just found a buyer who handed over €24,206 for it.
The RA-series engine was made in 1987–1988. Its original displacement was 3.5 liters. Having hit the racetrack in 1989, it immediately proceeded to bring Honda its fourth Constructors’ Cup victory in the decade, and then another one in the next season.
Mugen retrofitted these engines for racing teams in the 1990s. In the late nineties, Honda returned to working with this V10, too, and resumed its production until 2005.
This particular example was pieced together 21 years ago and used by BAR-Honda and Jordan racing teams through its first season. Since the regulation of that time required teams to rebuild their engines every 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), it has probably gone through many such rebuilds.
The specific modification shown here is called the RA001E, and it can rev up to 17,900 RPM to produce up to 815 PS (804 hp / 600 kW) in racing mode. In qualification mode, it maxes out at 830 PS (819 hp / 610 kW). Its cylinder camber angle is 80 degrees.
If you find the price fitting, note that the buyer paid for the cylinder head assembly, the block, the intake and the exhaust. Everything else, including the pistons, the shafts and the rest of the internals, was not on sale. There was a display stand included, though.
