The Mazda MX-5 was a game-changer when it launched back in 1989. Its combination of eager performance and everyday usability, along with its cuteness and clear aesthetic debt to the European roadsters of yore, proved to be a winning formula – Mazda shifted bucketloads of them. The designers took the spirit of the Triumph Spitfire and Alfa Romeo Spider, wrapped it all up in a package shamelessly cribbed from the Lotus Elan, and kitted it out with bulletproof modern mechanicals. They even tuned the exhaust to sound like a classic British roadster’s.

Sold as ‘Miata’ in the States, and ‘Eunos Roadster’ in Japan, the car came with a perky little twin-cam motor – a choice of 115bhp 1.6 or, later, a 131bhp 1.8, the difference largely conceived for Japanese tax reasons – and arguably the most tactile gearbox ever made. You sit low and snug, and steer the car with your hips like a Caterham. Best of all, with that body design so unashamedly stolen from the Elan, it’s now genuinely possible to buy what is effectively a budget Lotus that will always be faultlessly reliable, for far less than the cost of a rusty Fiesta. Look as hard as you like, you won’t find a downside. This car is an everyman legend.

The current owner bought the car back in 2014, and it was a little the worse for wear at that time. Bought as a project, it was the condition of the Mazda’s engine which really proved that this was a car worth saving, and over a period of time he completed a variety of functional jobs to get it road-worthy, before embarking upon the more serious and structural stuff. Anybody who knows what’s what when it comes to these first-generation (NA) models will be aware that the real trouble area in terms of rust is along the rear end of the sills and into the rear wheel arches, where blocked drainage channels can cause them to rust from the inside out. All of this was fastidiously addressed three years ago – not simply re-skinning the wounds, but cutting out the rot and replacing the inner and outer metalwork to make it all solid and correct. The start of this year was when the project was finished off, with a full respray in its OEM shade of silver being the Mazda’s crowning glory. However, with a variety of other ongoing automotive projects, and the fact that he’s recently finished a house build and is looking to realise some assets, the owner isn’t getting as much use out of the car as he imagined, so it’s time to pass it on to a new owner who can enjoy it to the full. 

This is one of the earliest of the production run, being a June 1990 car, which was imported to the UK in 1999. Having had all of the major MX-5 issues correctly rectified, and running in beautifully standard and original spec, this is a Roadster with no skeletons in its closet. MOT’ed until May 2021, having passed with no advisories, it’s ready for you to pull that mohair hood down and get out in the glorious summer sunshine.

Documentation can be an issue with imports, particularly those that were imported to the UK a number of years ago, so we’re not looking at a comprehensive history of its life in Japan. However, the owner has full and complete paperwork for everything that’s happened with the car during his tenure over the last six years – and given that the meat of the restoration work happened in this time, that’s reassurance indeed. It’s also worth noting that the odometer reading is in kilometres, this being a Japanese-market example: 217,000km equates to around 135,000 miles, which is still relatively spritely for these engines which are revered for the long-livedness and bulletproof reliability.

The Roadster’s interior is a masterclass in minimalism and tactility. Anyone who’s driven one of these cars will appreciate the oh-so-special feel of the slender seats, somehow perfectly supportive for all body shapes; there is a minor one-inch rip in the fabric on the right hand side at the base of the driver’s seat, as is the case in many MX-5s, but otherwise everything is in excellent and original condition. The Nardi steering wheel is in superb condition; we cannot confirm whether it’s the car’s original wheel, but these were standard-issue in a variety of special editions such as the V-Spec, so it is very much period-correct. The handbrake handle is finished in matching wood, and as this is a JDM car you’ll also find air-con fitted. There’s no broken or missing switchgear, and everything works as it should.

As previously alluded to, the sills and rear arches are something that needs checking with an NA MX-5/Eunos, and the photos here clearly demonstrate that this Eunos has no issues when it comes to corrosion. It also enjoyed a full respray in its original factory shade of Silver Stone earlier this year, and the finish really does gleam like new. The only parts not finished in Silver Stone, are the wing mirrors and the frame surrounding the windscreen. These were finished in a non-standard black, at the sellers choosing, and we think it looks awesome!

The roof is another area that’s vital to check with these cars, and it’s reassuring to note that the owner has fitted a quality mohair hood from Jack Smith Trimmers a few years ago, which has a glass rear screen rather than a cheaper plastic one. An important upgrade that really adds to the driving experience, particularly at night and in poor weather.

Overall, the exterior condition is impeccable – the elbow grease that’s been put into finessing this Roadster is evident in the details and it wears its years like a much younger car. The only very minor negative mark is a stone chip in the driver-side sidelight; this is a part which would only cost around £30 to replace, so it’s not a concern. Other than that, it really is a beautifully presented example.

The 1.6 and 1.8 models each have their champions: the 1.6 we have here is surely the purist’s choice, as it’s the motor that the car bore at launch and is reportedly the more rev-happy of the two. Furthermore, being such an early car, this one has the sought-after short-nose crank pulley. The owner has taken care of all the engine’s servicing, and is very enthusiastic about how it pulls like a dream – a properly strong and honest engine. 

The slick manual gearbox is a defining feature of the MX-5 experience, and all is well with this unit. Furthermore, being a JDM car, there’s also a factory LSD fitted. The car is equipped with power steering, which is functioning as it should, and the suspension is all in standard spec with no aftermarket modifications.

Any MX-5 aficionado will tell you that the rear callipers are something you need to check out: notoriously sticky, they have a habit of seizing if the car’s left parked up with the handbrake on for long periods of time. No such worries with this car however, as the owner has had new callipers fitted a few months ago. They’re sitting behind a lovely and freshly painted set of the original-spec 14” ‘daisy’ alloy wheels, which are all shod with decent rubber. The underside of the car is all impressively straight and rust-free too, as the owner-supplied photographs show.

As you’d imagine with one of the world’s best-selling cars, there are myriad spec and detail options on the market to befuddle your decision-making faculties – but fundamentally, this is a simple rear-drive drop-top with a playful motor and a brilliant gearbox, inexpensive to run and maintain, and always ready for fun. And the example we have here essentially removes any complexity from the decision-making process: it is, quite simply, the right MX-5/Eunos. The desirable one. The early car with the revvy 1.6-litre motor, unadorned by needless modification and wearing the ever-so-period Nardi wheel and ‘daisy’ wheels. 

The usual trouble spots (rear callipers, rusty sills/arches, ageing roof) have all been dealt with, so this really is a trouble-free buying proposition. Some will see it as a blank canvas for reimagining in their own style using the huge MX-5 aftermarket, while others will appreciate it for what it is: a rare example of an early Eunos in original spec, properly looked after and ready to be used as Mazda intended – roof down, revving out that eager motor, exploiting the playful chassis, and generally having a thoroughly nice time. An early ’5 like this makes every journey a joy, even if you’re just popping out for a pint of milk. And with the inherently hassle-free nature of this cared-for example, that everyday joy will be wholly unfettered.

Please note: The pictures in this listing have been provided by the seller.