Honda’s Folding Motocompo Scooter From 1981 Found Its Place in an NSX Trunk

Chris Scott, owner of a brilliant red NSX, was at a Japanese car gathering in York, England, when he spotted a vintage Honda Motocompo folded up tight, and he knew right away that this was the perfect time to finally get an answer to a long-standing question: could the little 80s folding scooter fit inside his powerful mid-engined sports car? The Motocompo initially arrived on the market in 1981, as a useful accessory for the Honda City hatchback.

Its genius lay in collapsing down into an ultra compact shape that fit perfectly in the trunk, as the design included anchor points and a strap to keep it firmly in place. A small 49cc two-stroke air-cooled engine provided just enough oomph, while the dry weight was a respectable 42 kilos. The engineers had even gone above and beyond to prevent all of the usual leaks when the scooter was stood on its side.

Honda introduced the NSX in 1990 with a very different aim in mind; its cargo space is beneath the V6 engine and is a huge 154 liters. Initially, there was no relationship between the two vehicles; nevertheless, it found out that they had comparable curves. Someone eventually took the time to double-check, and voila, the shapes matched. Scott prepared thoroughly before beginning the experiment. He drained the Motocompo’s fluids, folded down the handlebars and seat, and placed it flat in the trunk, wheels included. It simply slid into position, requiring no fussing or modifications to either car.

That small preparation step is important because if the scooter leaks fluids on the carpet liner when tipped on its side, you’re in for a messy surprise. Scott dodged the nightmare entirely by draining everything beforehand. Later, he came to the conclusion in a nutshell, saying that he’d always wondered if the scooter would fit, and the answer was a simple yes. The scooter pretty much slipped into place like it was meant for it. The Motocompo’s wheels slotted into the broad gap between the engine and the boot lining.

Speaking of which, Honda has subsequently developed a newer electric version of the Motocompo, the Motocompacto, which folds up even smaller, so it should fit inside later NSX vehicles with little concern about fluids. For those crazy Honda fans out there who enjoy seeing old and new concepts on their shirts, there was a big smile on their cheeks as Scott’s experiment paid off in a very satisfying way. The Motocompo never needed the NSX, but as it turned out, they could certainly share space if someone had bothered to try first.
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