Lifelong Acura Enthusiast Finally Adds NSX to Expansive Collection
Tyson Hugie is a legendary fan of the brand and has owned more than 22 Acura cars through the years. Safe to say, he is obsessed.
Do you remember what was the first Honda that sparked your love for the brand? Everybody has that initial interaction that makes everything click for the first time.
For Tyson Hugie, a now die-hard devotee to the Honda/Acura logo, it was 3rd generation Honda Prelude with a manual transmission. This was the first car he would purchase after obtaining his driver’s license.
Hagerty’s excellent Why I Drive series on their YouTube channel has dedicated an episode to understand how Hugie went from his first Acura to owning over 22 different Acura models throughout the years. Let’s dive in to some details.
‘It just started with one’
From the get-go, it was clear that Hugie was not your average enthusiast. Raised in a family composed of gearheads, he was exposed the rabbit-hole known as car culture at a young age.
However, even Hugie wouldn’t understand how far his likeness of the brand would go. When he would turn 21, Hugie would buy a ’94 Acura Legend LS 6-speed coupe.
Fast forward 18 years of ownership later, he and the Legend would build an inseparable bond together through travel. The car has visited over 37 states and amassed a jaw-dropping 482,000 miles.
All while keeping the vehicle in mint condition the entire duration of its long and healthy life. Talk about dedication. Nonetheless, this was far from the end of his on-going relationship with Acura and their products.
First-generation NSX: A Penultimate Goal
One of the goals Hugie had set for himself at a young age was to eventually own a first-generation NSX, the most-prized gem for any Acura fan. Thus, he told himself he would do whatever possible to own the car by 30 years old.
“I ended up buying the car just two weeks before my 30th birthday,” said Hugie. To no surprise, the enthrallment of the NSX, the original brand icon, was not one he would allow to escape.
Since purchasing the 1992 model, he has put more than 40,000 miles on the odometer, now sitting around 117,000 miles. While the original NSX may not be as fast or advanced as today’s modern supercars, its value is undeniable.
Now considered a timeless icon, Hugie resonates the idea that the NSX is truly the ideological epitome of Acura’s original tagline: Precision Crafted Performance. A raw and unique driving experience irreplaceable by the complexity of modern technology.
“I’m one of those people who will intentionally take the long way home, just because it gives me a little bit more time in the car,” said Hugie. “I definitely feel like there is something special about driving a car that leaves you in complete control.”
‘Hugie Acura’
The Formula Red NSX now joins a host of other Acuras including the original Legend in his garage, informally known as Hugie Acura. Hugie has gone the extra step to convert the garage into a Acura musuem of sorts, with hundreds of collectible items on display throughout the space.
“Die-cast model cars, watches, anything you can find that has the Acura brand tied to it is probably something I am interested in for my collection,” said Hugie.
Other enthusiasts within the Honda community still send new collectibles to Hugie to add to the display. He states that one of the best parts about owning these cars has been being “connected with such an awesome enthusiast community.”
While his gathering of all things Acura has now exceed over two decades, Hugie still continues to support the brand. Just recently he purchased a brand new 2021 TLX Type S, which he took on a road trip down the California coast.
Keep on keeping on Hugie, we hope you keep loving the amazing products Honda has offered to consumers for decades on end!
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