There’s a set of photos from 1991 that every NSX fan knows by heart. It’s Ayrton Senna wearing jeans and a button-down, hosing off a Formula Red NSX like it’s a Civic in his driveway. Of course, that car wasn’t a press loaner or a photo prop. It was his, and after three decades of quietly changing hands a few times, Senna’s personal 1991 Honda NSX is crossing the block at RM Sotheby’s London sale.
His Fingerprints Are on Every NSX
Unsurprisingly, Senna’s connection to this car runs much deeper than just ownership. While testing early NSX prototypes, he told Honda’s engineers the chassis felt fragile, and they responded by stiffening the structure by roughly 50 percent and retuning the suspension.
In other words, every first-gen NSX ever built carries his input. This one just happens to carry his actual seat time, too.
The Lisbon Arrangement
As part of his deal with Honda during the McLaren years, Senna had three NSXs at his disposal. Two were black and the third, chassis T000233, wore Formula Red with a contrasting black roof and lived in Lisbon. The car was personally delivered to Senna whenever he flew into Portugal.
And he absolutely used the thing. He drove it to the 1991 Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril, where he’d finish second that Sunday, and it earned a cameo in the Racing Is In My Blood documentary, with the rear tires lighting up on camera.
What Provenance Buys
A 270-horsepower Honda with a seven-figure estimate might’ve sounded absurd a decade ago, but with where classic car prices have been going, it’s not too surprising, especially with a paper trail like this one.
There’s a fax from Honda confirming the Senna history, Portuguese registry documents tracing every owner since 1995, and a poignant 2019 return to Imola, 25 years after his death, with Minardi founder Giancarlo Minardi behind the wheel.
Most recently the car went to a collector in Nagoya in 2024. And now it’s back in the UK, waiting for its next steward.
Spec Sheet
Model: 1991 Honda NSX (NA1)
Chassis Number: JHMNA11500T000233
Engine: 3.0-liter naturally aspirated C30A V6
Power: 270 HP and 210 lb-ft of torque
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Drivetrain: RWD
Exterior: Formula Red with black roof
Interior: Black leather
Provenance: Retained by Ayrton Senna for personal use in Portugal
Pricing & Availability
Senna’s NSX will cross the block on October 31 at RM Sotheby’s The London Auction, carrying an estimate of £500,000 to £800,000 (~$700,000 to $1.1 million). Head over to RM Sotheby’s website to register to bid.
Recap
Ayrton Senna’s 1991 Honda NSX
The F1 legend’s personal Formula Red NSX, star of the famous garden hose photos, heads to RM Sotheby’s London sale on October 31 with a seven-figure high estimate.
