High specification Japanese market “Eunos Roadster”
Imported to the UK in 2008
The Background
By now, nobody should be unfamiliar with the Mazda MX-5. First introduced in 1989, it’s gone on to become one of the most successful and recognisable models ever to come out of Japan.
Oddly enough, the MX-5 is actually American at heart, designed by Mazda’s California design studio, and modelled after the classic British two-seat convertibles of the 1960s and 1970s, so perhaps its global success - over a million examples sold - shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.
The driving characteristics of the MX-5 have no small part to play too. Mazda’s philosophy was the Japanese phrase “Jinba ittai”: rider and horse are as one. As MX-5 enthusiasts will tell you, Mazda very much achieved that goal.
Though known now through its uniform global name of “Mazda MX-5”, the car wasn’t always called that. The first-generation (or “NA”) model, marked out by its pop-up headlights, came in a time Mazda was experimenting with sub-brands, and sold in Japan under the Eunos brand as the “Eunos Roadster”.
Of course the MX-5 is still in production now, over 30 years later, with the first-gen cars running from 1989 to 1998.
The MX-5 we have here is one of those Japanese market cars - which is why you won’t find Mazda badging anywhere on the body. It’s a Eunos Roadster, and more specifically a 1.8-litre, automatic Roadster, supplied in 1995.
We don’t know a great deal about the car’s life in Japan, though the various service stickers dotted about the door shuts and engine bay (standard practice in Japan) do indicate it was looked after. However it came over to the UK in 2008, and has spent much of that time in the North of England and on the Scottish Borders.
The current owners picked the MX-5 up in 2019 and it’s very much been a heart purchase. However time comes for us all eventually and it’s becoming a little harder to live with, hence the sale.
As noted, and as is very common, the Japanese part of the car’s life isn’t reflected in the paperwork, but the documentation for this country is more expansive.
Along with the expected items - V5C, MOTs (most recently this April), and so on - there’s a bundle of receipts for even minor work on the car, so it’s pretty clear it hasn’t had any expense spared. A previous owner also made hand-written notes on servicing.
There’s also a Haynes manual included for the Mazda Miata. That was the car’s name in North America and as it’s mechanically identical, it’s a useful reference tool for a future hands-on owner.
The MX-5’s cabin is famously compact, and features almost nothing that’s surplus to requirements - mostly within a very short arm movement’s reach. It’s a pretty simple two-seat layout, and the two fabric seats are in a generally good condition with some mild scuffing on the driver’s side bolster.
There’s a general rule that no two MX-5s are the same, as the breadth of customisation parts is astonishing, and this applies here too. You’ll find some common add-ons - silver dial surrounds, chrome air vent rings, cupholders, and floor mats from the UK’s best-known MX-5 parts supplier - but also something pretty unusual. There’s no clutch pedal, because this Roadster is an automatic model.
Other unusual features include electric door windows and air-conditioning - although this system isn’t functional at the moment - which might be due to the fact the Eunos Roadster is typically better specified than the equivalent European MX-5, though they could also be retrofitted. There’s also electric adjusting door mirrors, though this is an aftermarket upgrade as the mirror units are from a later, second-generation (NB) car.
An aftermarket Sony head-unit, with removable faceplate, sits in the upper half of the double DIN slot on the centre console, with a clock and cubby on the lower part. There’s a little damage around the edges of the cubby/clock, but it’s not a particularly pricey item to replace.
All of the vehicle functions we tried out work perfectly well, including the button for popping up the headlights without the lights - a vital feature for Mk1 MX-5s!
On the outside, the MX-5 comes in Mazda Chaste White paint and it’s in overall good condition. The rear wheel arches, a typical hotspot for MX-5s, are showing some surface rust.
There’s no concerns underneath either, with the sills and chassis rails not showing their age; that’ll be largely down to the 13 years and 75% of its mileage in Japan, where road salting doesn’t exist.
Of course a major component of an MX-5 is the roof, and this car has two of them. The regular vinyl roof is in excellent condition, without a mark on it, and it’s an original item with the plastic rear screen and zip. While there’s a little creasing on the plastic screen, it’s not damaged or yellowed, as can so easily happen.
In addition, there’s a hardtop for the car in the same Chaste White - and just as spotless. This adds an extra layer of security and weatherproofing, and it’s a highly desirable option. So too is the tonneau cover, which fits over the soft top when folded back, and is so often missing in these cars.
The Mazda 1.8 straight four “BP” engine is as bulletproof as they come, and with 80,000 miles on it this one is barely even run in. It fires up in a trice and there’s no drama about it; it settles quickly to idle and revs just as eagerly as any other MX-5.
Heading down the road, the car accelerates, brakes, and turns just as it should, which is to say very willingly and without any worrying sounds. That unusual auto also seems to shift between the gears well, and reverse was no problem either. The suspension also dealt well with speed bumps.
There’s a slightly fruitier noise from this 1.8, courtesy of an aftermarket K&N air filter. Another unexpected bonus is new front brake callipers - these can stick on Mk1s, so that’s a problem headed off for a while.
It’s a highly entertaining, personable, and reliable convertible sports car, with summer just around the corner. There simply isn’t a better way to enjoy it than a Mk1 MX-5, and it’s still a very affordable way too.
*** The photos in this listing have been provided to us by the seller ***
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1995 Mazda Eunos Roadster
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