C100 Super Cub, 1958

Watch this Honda Factory video of the C100 in action.

C100 & C102 Super Cub
1958-66

49cc 1-cylinder OHV 4-cycle, 3-speed, automatic clutch.

The start of something very special for Honda! 

During the mid 1950s Soichiro Honda and his business partner Takeo Fujisawa travelled Europe studying different types of motorised scooters, mopeds and motorcycles in use. 

Soichiro and Takeo had for some time a vision to produce a mass market motorised 2-wheeler that served all ages and both genders for every day use. 

After their European studies the two concluded that the new model should feature the following 4 key elements:
1. 4-stroke engine for clean & long-life running.
2. Lightweight step-thru design for ease, especially for ladies.
3. Medium wheel size (17-inch) for low seat height.
4. Automatic clutch - allowing the riders left arm to be free for carrying goods such as take-away noodle deliveries! 

The result, the C100 Super Cub, which together with its future Cub evolved models (C50/70/90 etc.) went on to far exceed all sales expectations and become the worlds most produced motorised vehicle. By 2018 over 100 million units had been manufactured and sold in over 160 countries!       

Also available at the time was the C102 Super Cub, almost identical but with electric start.



Price at introduction:  
C100 - £79 gns. (UK, 1962)
C102 (Electric Start) - £97 gns. (UK, 1962)  




Future investment...
Profits from the great success of these two models allowed the company to participate in global motorcycle racing and become world champions! Mr Honda used racing as his mobile R&D laboratory, from which great engines such as the 4 and 6-cylinder RC types became the forerunners of the 1970s CB750 and CBX1000 production models. It can therefore be said that without the C100 Super Cub we may never have seen the CB750 Four!   

Next steps...
From 1967 the C100 range evolved into the OHC engined C50, C70 and C90 models as sold in great quantities in the UK, and many other countries. See separate listing.
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