Honda
NSX Alex Zanardi Edition (NA2)

Why it matters

The Zanardi Edition was the first NSX sold in North America with a fixed roof and a lightweight, track-tuned specification, effectively bringing some of the Japan-only Type R thinking to the US. It honoured Alex Zanardi's back-to-back CART championships with Chip Ganassi's Honda-powered team, and every car carries a numbered plaque with his signature.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Acura revealed the edition at the Miami International Auto Show and put it on sale in spring 1999. It started from the NSX-T but replaced the removable targa panel with a fixed hard top, and used a lighter rear spoiler, single-pane rear glass, lightweight BBS wheels, a lighter battery and a manual steering rack in place of electric power steering, saving 149 lb against the NSX-T. Springs, dampers and bushings were stiffened and the car sat lower.

The press release announced fifty cars, but the commonly quoted total is 51: the first car served as the press car, the second went to Zanardi himself and the remaining 49 were sold through US dealers. All were Formula Red with a black interior and the 3.2-litre V6 with six-speed manual gearbox.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Genuine cars are Formula Red with an Onyx (black) interior, a fixed roof, manual steering, six-speed manual gearbox and BBS lightweight wheels. A brushed aluminium plaque on the rear firewall and a second plaque between the seat headrests carry the car's production number and Zanardi's engraved signature.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Car Of The Day: 1999 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition Level B supercars.net

   • All 51 Zanardi models were produced in New Formula Red
   • weight reduction of 149 pounds compared to a standard NSX

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   One-of-51 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition For Sale Is the Best of Its Breed Level C

   • 51 cars built (press car, Zanardi's own car and 49 dealer cars); Acura's release announced fifty for sale

   Accessed 2026-11-12
3. 3
   One-of-51 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition For Sale Is the Best of Its Breed Level C Chris Constantine · The Drive · 2020-04-05

   • 3.2-liter V6

   Accessed 2026-11-12
4. 4
   Acura Debuts Alex Zanardi Edition NSX Level A American Honda Motor Co. (hondanews.com)

   • 3.2-liter, DOHC, 24-valve
   • 290 horsepower
   • 224 lb.-ft. of torque
   • 6-speed close-ratio manual transmission
   • manual steering rack in place of electric power steering

   Accessed 2026-11-12