Tony Stark's Acura NSX Roadster Could Be Yours, But It's Older Than It Looks
Tony Stark and Bruce Bannon were in this car at the end of "The Avengers," and now you could own it!
Do you remember the the 2012 blockbuster film "The Avengers" when Tony Stark swapped his Audi R8 for an Acura NSX Roadster? Well, that movie car up for sale right now, giving you a chance to own a piece of Marvel's superhero history with the full proceeds going to charity. Not only that, but the auction also gives fans a more insight about what went into creating such a gorgeous vehicle.
While the supercar looks suggest an open-air variant of the most recent NSX, it hides a secret under the skin. The one-off was designed in the Acura Advanced Design Studio in Los Angeles, and later brought to life by Trans FX in California. After the film, it was preserved by Acura and got displayed as part of the 35th-anniversary celebration for the NSX.
The Acura NSX Roadster may look like a static prototype due to its decorative headlights and fully blocked cooling intakes, but it was required to be fully functional for its appearance in the film. With the second-generation NSX still four years away from production at the time of filming, Acura had to find another solution. This was to base the movie prop on a classic 1991 Acura NSX, which was unfortunately sacrificed in order to become the shiny ride of Tony Stark, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.
Modern exterior, classic interior
Inspired by the 2011 NSX Concept, this car wears custom, handmade bodywork made of resin and fiberglass. Bear in mind that the production design wasn't introduced until 2015, and, even then, the second-gen NSX was never available in roadster form, that makes this auction car a unique piece of automotive history.
The movie car is finished in a Hot Rod Red shade, reminiscent of the Ironman suit. It rides on a new set of alloy wheels measuring 18 inches up front and 20 inches at the back, combined with a lowered suspension. It doesn't have a roof, and the windshield is sourced from a Chrysler PT Cruiser. Instead of headlights it sports silver trim, but the full-width LED taillights are operational from a switch. Another cool touch is the "STARK 33" New York license plate, also used in the film.
The exposed cabin is even more interesting than the exterior, with a pair of aftermarket bucket seats and a dashboard directly sourced from the original NSX. This explains the carefully curated angles on the filming sequence, focused on the exterior. Still, if you ask us, there is nothing wrong with the inclined center console, the physical controls and the lack of touchscreens.
VTEC engine mated to a manual gearbox
Under the engine cover lies the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter VTEC V6 of the first-generation NSX, instead of the hybrid setup found in the most-recent model. One of the caveats is that the non-electrified mill is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, sending power to the rear axle.
The donor vehicle has 252,200 miles (405,900 km) on the odometer, although the model is known for its reliability. The only real problem is that you can't legally drive it on public roads since it is a movie prop with a "fragile custom bodywork." According to the listing, known flaws include a few micro-scratches on the bumpers, A-pillars, and doors, some paint cracks on the C-pillars, and scuffs around the cabin. The unique roadster is being auctioned through Cars & Bids. At the time of writing (just two days into the seven-day auction), the highest bid is $98,500, suggesting it will easily enter a six-digit territory.