Highlights

• A highly original example of the game changing MKI Mazda MX-5
• With just two owners since import to the UK in 1998
• Having covered a mere 96,000 km equating to a shade under 60,000 miles
  
  

The Appeal

The History and Paperwork

• This MX-5 is understood to have left the Hiroshima plant in 1990
• For the first eight years of its life it lived overseas, likely in Japan
• The car was first registered in the UK in August 1998
• The first UK owner kept the car for just under a year
• The current owner acquired the MX-5 in June 1999
• In 2005 the hood of the car was slashed 
• At that point it was placed into dry storage for the next 17 years
• The car was then fully recommissioned around a year ago
• The paperwork included the V5 in the name of the owner
• The current, advisory free MOT is present in hard copy
• This is valid until November 2023
• There is also a 2022 invoice on hand detailing the 2022 recommissioning
  
  

The Interior

• Much like its inspiration, the Lotus Elan, the MX-5 has a delightfully focussed cabin
• The condition looks to be in keeping with the car’s modest mileage
• The signature, high-blacked “tombstone” seats are finished in fabric
• This fabric is the original, self-patterned textured material which came as standard
• The carpets have been protected by heavy-duty over mats
• The carpets we can see look to be in a good, original condition
• The dashboard is in a great, original condition overall
• This is finished in black vinyl with no imperfections noted
• The big, white on black dials are original and the speedometer reads in KMS
• A three-spoke “Eunos” embossed sports steering wheel is fitted
• The door cards and centre console all look to be in a great, original condition
• The usefully shaped boot is finished with a heard wearing carpet mat
• The originality and condition of the interior is impressive
  
  

The Exterior

• This little MX-5 is finished in a bright silver livery
• This appears to be mostly original and in fine order
• The owner does report that a little localised paintwork has been undertaken
• The bodywork looks great, too, for a Japanese car of this vintage
• The owner reports that even the original spot-welds remain in the wheel arches
• A small ripple was noted on the nearside door bottom 
• The NA MKI model was well known for its Elan-type pop up headlights
• A new, black fabric hood was fitted at the point of recommissioning
• As such this looks to be in an excellent, overall condition
• The MX-5 still wears its original 14-inch “daisy” alloy wheels
• This are centred with the correct Mazda hub caps
• The wheels are in a good, overall condition but could be further improved if desired
• The wheels are shod in a matching set of Goodyear Eagles in a 185/60 configuration
• The car wears “Eunos Roadster” badging, suggesting this was a domestic Japanese model
• A boot mounted luggage rack is fitted 
  
  

The Mechanics

• Being from the second year of MX-5 production this car is fitted with the 1,600cc engine
• This is an inline four-cylinder petrol engine producing around 114 bhp
• Although modest Mazda kept kerb weight to under 1,000 kgs
• This ensured a spirited driving experience, quite faithful to the Lotus Elan
• The maintain this modest weight power steering and brakes were absent
• The mechanical simplicity of the early cars is a key facet of their charm
• The car enjoyed a full recommissioning in July 2022
• This work included a new clutch, timing belt and water pump
• Fluids and filters were also changed at this point
• Combine that with the car’s low, original mileage and this should be a mechanically sound example
• The under-bonnet presentation is original looking and in good order
• The requisite data plates appear to be present and correct
• The underside of the car looks straight and clean with no corrosion evident
• Add in this car’s low mileage and it should have plenty of life ahead of it
  
  

Summary