Ayrton Senna's last Honda V10 is for sale, but it's in bits

David Linklater

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Yes, yes, we know it's much nicer laid out like this.

Yes, yes, we know it's much nicer laid out like this.

  • Last complete Honda V10 engine used by Senna to be sold in its entirely.
  • Comes dissasembled, in a display case. Now that's a challenge.
  • Powered Senna at Suzuka and Adelaide in 1990.

Handy with a spanner? You might be intersted in this new auction item from the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) memorabilia division: the last Honda V10 engined raced by Ayrton Senna.

Last Honda V10 used by Ayrton Senna.
F1 engines of the era were normally discarded, but this one was kept.

Number V805 of RA100E, the last Honda V10 engine raced by Ayrton Senna in the 1990 FIA Formula One World Championship, which was installed in the McLaren Honda MP4/5B. The auction will take place on August 15 in Carmel, California, at the Bonhams Quail Auction.

It's the first item to be offered for sale in the new collectible venture by HRC (announced in April), which aims to offer core motorsport fans globally the opportunity to own pieces of genuine motorsport history by selling valuable race machines, engines, and their parts.

Oh, one thing: it's in bits. Beautifully presented, in bits. The engine, disassembled by HRC mechanics, comes in a display case containing all parts. 

Ayrton Senna's last Honda V10 engine.
Fully authenticated by HRC. What would you pay?

HRC originally anounced it would be offering individual parts from Senna-adjacent V10 engines for sale (and presumably still will), but confirmation that this complete and historically signficant engine is up for grabs in its entirely makes it very special indeed.

This particular serial #V805 engine was used by Senna during the warm-up session of the Japanese Grand Prix held at Suzuka Circuit in October 1990 and in the race session at the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide on November 4, 1990. An original certificate from HRC proving the authenticity of the engine is included.

Ayrton Senna's last Honda V10 engine.
Engine was originally kept complete after 1990 season, due to its significance.

Honda F1 engines from this era were usually returned to Japan for analysis, disassembled to check for wear and fatigue, and often discarded. However, since 1990 was the last year for the V10 engine and development of the V12 engine for the following year had already begun, the V805 was preserved in its original state without being disassembled. This makes it the last Honda F1 V10 engine actually used by Ayrton Senna in a race.

Every August, the Monterey Peninsula in California hosts the "Monterey Car Week," a week-long event featuring concours, auctions, and historic car races. Enthusiasts and collectors from around the world gather to see and bid on historically significant automobiles.

HRC plans to expand this business in Japan through auctions and other means in the future.

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