1958 Honda Super Cub

The Honda Super Cub is the best-selling motor vehicle in human history. Not motorcycle — motor vehicle. Over 100 million produced and counting. Soichiro Honda designed it after watching housewives struggle with baskets in Tokyo. The step-through frame, automatic clutch, and weather shielding made it usable by anyone. Then the 'You meet the nicest people on a Honda' campaign cracked the American market by divorcing motorcycles from the Brando/outlaw image. The Super Cub didn't just sell motorcycles — it made the entire concept of motorized two-wheelers respectable worldwide.

Early C100s (1958-1966) are the holy grail. The pressed-steel bodywork ages with a particular grace — surface rust creates a warm patina that looks intentional. Original paint in any condition has value because reproductions are everywhere and easy to spot. The chrome trim on the headlight nacelle and exhaust pits but doesn't crumble. Watch for leg shield damage — they're the first thing to hit the ground. Japanese-market examples with period accessories (baskets, mirrors, windscreens) are especially desirable.

These are the simplest motorized vehicles you can own. The engine is so basic it's almost agricultural — a single cylinder, barely any moving parts, and Honda reliability from day one. Parts for later models are everywhere. Early C100 parts are harder but not impossible — the global Super Cub community spans every continent. Don't expect speed. Expect to smile at every intersection. Fuel economy is measured in 'I forgot when I last filled up.' Insurance is negligible. The only real challenge is resisting the urge to buy more.