Posted on ” target=”_blank”>The Smoking Tire, Matt Farah sits down one enthusiast who possesses an unmolested, bone stock 1991 Acura NSX.

With 85,000 miles on the clock, the owner has only changed out the tires and brakes. A set of Dunlop Direzza Z2’s and Hawk Performance brake pads are the only parts the owner has added to the car.

The 3.0-liter V6 engine holds an 8,000 RPM redline, which is plenty of room for the 270 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque resting under the hood to flex its muscle. Call it an exotic if you will, but you never see an NSX in immaculate condition and not subject to a slew of upgrades.

Moving on from an AP2 S2000, the owner called his move to the NSX a logical upgrade. More like a lucky find, if you ask us. Driving it to work on occasion and using it on the occasional race course, the car has been on the track at Laguna Seca three times.

A Japanese masterpiece, the first-generation NSX stood tall in the JDM scene as more of an exotic and rarity, much like the Acura Integra Type R. It has a body style that was ahead of its time and still looks fresh to this day; the NSX represents engineering perfection and timeless design.

Weighing in at just over 3,000 pounds, the NSX isn’t a car you typically see on the streets, simply because it has grown to become more of a collector’s car than a daily driver. With value that never depreciates, it’s no wonder the first iteration of the NSX has become a coveted find.

inside and out, this NSX is in immaculate shape.

The engine grew to a 3.2-liter V6 in 1997, bumping its power output to 290 horsepower to go along with a six-speed manual transmission, which was swapped out from the original five-speed offering.

With production of the first NSX halting in 2005, the car has recently been revived with new looks and a high-performing, capable engine. Looking back at the original NSX, they didn’t come with power steering, which Farah explains as he traversed the canyon curves.

Sporting great linear power across the RPM range, this NSX is a blessing in disguise. At a time where quality was paramount, the ‘90s featured several offerings from Japanese manufacturers that still resonate with us today, like the R33 and R34 Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra RZ, and six generations of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

The NSX was clearly ahead of its time, which is why its still relevant today.

Japan was at the top of their game in the ‘90s and we haven’t forgotten that. With several automakers making the transition to smaller, turbocharged engines, the “There’s no replacement for displacement” statement is almost up in the air.

The first-generation NSX will remain forever young as it is a poster child of the JDM arena, and the people who own them now aren’t likely to retire them, even with the new NSX on the streets. What are your thoughts of the first-generation NSX? If you owned one, would you leave it bone stock?

We’d love to hear your opinion on this, so be sure to leave a comment below.

Note the legendary R32 Skyline GT-R just in the background, the NSX is a monster in its own outright.