Honda’s First CB750 Reappears Ahead of Vegas Auction
A motorcycle that once reshaped the American market is back in the spotlight: Honda’s original CB750 sandcast prototype — the first CB750 ever to reach the United States.
Long thought to be just another dismantled parts stash, the bike has now been correctly identified, meticulously restored, and prepared for Mecum’s Las Vegas auction, where it is expected to attract major collector interest.
Built in 1968 as a one-off unit for Honda’s U.S. racing chief Bob Hansen, the prototype previewed the production CB750 that launched a year later. That model’s combination of big-bore performance, reliability, and daily usability transformed the segment, effectively launching the superbike era and setting the template for the Universal Japanese Motorcycle.
Key details from the restored prototype include:
- Prototype CB750 with 736cc transverse inline-four and overhead cam
- Unique sandcast engine cases and externally operated clutch
- Special Keihin carburetors and hand-worked details throughout the chassis
- Rear-flipping seat, one-off emblems, and distinctive badging
- Meticulous restoration using period-correct molds, paint, and reproduced gauges
Most riders will only read about it, not buy it. For one bidder, though, that hammer fall will mark the moment they take custody of a machine that shows exactly when Honda stopped just selling motorcycles in America and started shaping the entire market.
