It's been three decades since the debut of the original Acura NSX. It was a car that combined typical Japanese dependability with a fantastic driving experience, and that first-generation model remained in production all the way up to 2005. Although the second-gen NSX hybrid pushed the performance envelope a lot further, the first-gen is still much sought-after.

Well, the one you see before you here may just be one of the finest examples we've ever seen. It's a 1999 NSX Zanardi Edition and it just sold for a whopping $277,017, which is over $100,000 more than a brand new NSX and over three times the original price of $84,745.

At that price, this has got to be a special NSX, and it really is. Only 51 special-edition models like these were built to honor Alex Zanardi's two CART championships behind the wheel of Honda race cars, and this Formula Red car is number 51, so it was the last one to be made.

As if that's not special enough, Honda gifted this car to another racer, AMA Superbike Champion Miguel Duhamel. It appears he spent more time on bikes than in cars since this NSX has covered under 12,000 miles in 20 years. While other US-specific NSXs featured a removable targa top, all Zanardi Editions had a fixed roof.

Other enhancements over the regular NSX included single-pane rear glass, BBS wheels, manual rack-and-pinion steering, a lightweight rear spoiler, and even a lightweight battery. Together, these changes reduced the curb weight by 149 pounds.

The mid-mounted 3.2-liter DOHC V6 engine is paired with a six-speed manual transaxle and produces 290 horsepower and 224 lb-ft of torque. As a sign of how things have evolved, today's Honda Civic Type R hatchback is both more powerful and a lot more torquey. A factory limited-slip differential is fitted. Although it appears in pristine condition, the Carfax report does note that the driver's door had to be resprayed following a low-speed accident in 2007.

The Onyx interior features sporty red stitching, orange needles for the various gauges that are refreshingly simple in their presentation, a titanium gear shift lever, and microsuede inserts on the power-adjustable front seats.

There are no signs of wear inside, with the carpeting, steering wheel, and door panels all looking pretty much as they did when the car was brand new. Despite the high price, the lucky buyer has driven off in surely one of the most desirable NSXs on the road today.