Highlights
• Lots of recent key maintenance work undertaken to the tune of £2K
• Version with power steering and electric windows
• Very nice original condition with just the right amount of personalisation
The Background
The origins of the hugely successful MX5 can be traced all the way back to 1976 when Mazda head of research, Kenichi Yamamoto, asked a famed American motoring journalist what car Mazda should build next. He was allegedly told “a bugs-in-the-teeth, wind-in-the hair, classically British sports car doesn’t exist anymore. You should make one!”
It was another 13 years before the iconic MX5 appeared, appearing to lean very heavily in concept of the small and light British sports cars of the 60’s. Cars like the Lotus Elan and early Triumph TR series cars.
The History
This very well presented MX5 is a post 1994 car meaning that the new owner can enjoy the original “Elan-esque” design credo with pop up lights. The current owner attests to it being “extremely fun to drive, with pristine handling and the ability to bring a smile to your face every time.”
During his ownership, the current owner has undertaken a schedule of key upgrades and maintenance to the car, differentiating it both aesthetically and mechanically. This includes significant engine maintenance and useful, yet unusual, touches like the fittings and electrics for a removable towbar which comes with the car.
The Paperwork
The car comes with a significant amount of paperwork detailing its maintenance history. Included are the original book pack, the V5 in the name of the current owner and numerous MOT’s and invoices.
As you will see from our photographic package, there is also a wide range of MX5 literature, workshop manuals and magazines, indicative of the enthusiasm for the MX5 of the current owner.
The Interior
The interior appears to present very well indeed. It features the original cloth seats, black carpets and large bossed steering wheel. The owner reports that the interior has never been smoked in and everything works as it should.
Additional to this there are a few subtle additions such as the red accents, gear shift gaiter and handbrake gaiter, and chromed rollover hoops to set this car apart from the crowd.
The Exterior
The exterior presents well and is in good original condition mindful of the age of the car. The quarter sills have been replaced and cavities and underbody have been wax-oiled. The running gear has been painted and the windscreen surround has been painted silver.
The wheels are finished in silver, but the current owner has also highlighted the spokes in gold to make them stand out and contrast with the red of the car. The wheels have a few minor curb marks but are not buckled or cracked. They are shod with recently new Avon ZT1 tyres all around.
The black, folding canvas roof is reported to be in very good condition for a 28-year-old car.
The Mechanics
The car is reported to run very well indeed as you would expect from such a well-maintained example. The current owner has had a schedule of mechanical work undertaken on the car. These include new gearbox, new brake discs and pads, new water pump, new camshaft, and brand-new engine hoses.
You can see from the under-bonnet presentation of this car that it has been well cared for and well maintained during its life and the current owner reports that all mechanical systems work as you would expect from a well maintained and engineered Mazda.
The Appeal
The MX5’s stock is certainly rising, especially in the original pop-up light iterations as with this 1994 example. This car, in fact, occupies something of a sweet-spot in the MX5’s evolution, enjoying the more powerful 1.8i engine and the accompanying stiffer shell but still with the original and purest exterior aesthetic.
The MX5’s appeal prevails thanks to its reimagining of the 1960’s British sports car ethic of low weight, manageable costs and a “smile-a-mile” personality. This little car remains true to that spirit and is surely an appreciating and eminently useable sports car prospect.
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