Pin down the precise AP1
Honda's 1999 Japanese specification gives a clear starting point. Match a candidate's build date, type code, engine identification and export papers before using that specification; a UK or other-market S2000 may differ.
HONDA / S2000 / EARLY JAPANESE AP1
Honda S2000 AP1
Early Japanese AP1: F20C, six-speed manual and open-air focus.
Manufacturer-based generation guide · no stock implied
01 / UNDERSTAND THE MODEL
Start with
the right car.
Honda launched the S2000 in Japan on 15 April 1999 as a two-seat, front-engine, rear-drive roadster. Its original Japanese factbook names the type GH-AP1 and the 1,997cc F20C naturally aspirated DOHC VTEC engine, paired with a six-speed manual. The often-quoted 250PS at 8,300rpm is Honda's 1999 Japanese launch figure, not a universal figure for every export car or later year. Honda's own chronology records Type V with variable gear-ratio steering in 2000, the Gioire special edition in 2002, a 2003 revision, and a Japanese 2.2-litre change in 2005. Keep year, market, variant and the individual car together.
Read the edition and update correctly
Type V gained variable gear-ratio steering in 2000. Gioire was a particular 2002 Japanese special edition, not a synonym for every 2002 car. Honda then recorded a 2003 revision and later displacement change. Check factory variant and fitted equipment against year-specific material.
Treat the roof and chassis as buying evidence
The original car used an electrically operated soft top and Honda's High X-bone open-body structure. Open and close the actual roof, inspect seals and cabin moisture, and seek an independent body and alignment assessment for accident repair or corrosion.
02 / DATED REFERENCE
Know what
the source says.
These facts describe a dated Japanese release. A later update, a different grade or an individual imported car can differ.
Japanese launch15 April 1999
Original Japan typeGH-AP1
Original engineF20C · 1,997cc DOHC VTEC
1999 Japan output250PS at 8,300rpm
Original gearboxSix-speed manual
Body and driveTwo-seat roadster · rear-wheel drive
Check the build date, Japanese grade, chassis/type code and fitted equipment. No engine, seating, drive or feature should be copied into a vehicle advert without matching evidence.
03 / VEHICLE CHECK
Turn research
into proof.
Use the guide to ask precise questions about a real car. Review its records and inspect the actual vehicle before a buying decision.
- Match chassis/type code, engine, build date and variant to Japanese and UK records; document any modifications.
- Operate the soft top and inspect seals, windows, cabin and boot for water entry.
- Request a specialist inspection of engine, six-speed gearbox, suspension, brakes, body structure and service history; record findings for this car.
- Confirm the individual import’s UK registration, insurance and compliance route before budgeting.
A USEFUL SOURCING BRIEF
Ask for an early Japanese AP1/F20C of a defined year range and originality level. State whether Type V or Gioire matters, and require chassis evidence, roof operation, service records and an independent condition report for any proposed vehicle.
Discuss this brief with Japan Motor Hub ↗JDM4U does not transmit this page or your saved Garage automatically. This is an editorial reference, not a vehicle offer.For the vehicle you choose, follow GOV.UK guidance on importing vehicles ↗ and verify customs, tax, approval or exemption, registration and insurance requirements. A Japanese launch does not establish UK eligibility or total landed cost.
04 / TRACE THE FACTS
Original sources.
Clear scope.
Manufacturer announcements establish launch facts; they are not inspection reports or stock records.
- Honda · 15 April 1999Japanese S2000 launch, original F20C and six-speed manual ↗
- Honda · April 1999 factbookOriginal GH-AP1 type and Japanese specification ↗
- Honda · 27 January 2009Japan-model chronology: Type V, Gioire, 2003 and 2005 changes ↗
- Honda · 3 October 2002Gioire special-edition announcement ↗
- UK Government · current processImporting vehicles into the UK ↗
Sources reviewed 4 October 2026. The hero is abstract typography, not a photograph of a vehicle. No individual vehicle, price, condition, current stock or publication rights to vehicle imagery is implied.
