1991 Mazda MX5 Mk1 Eunos *Sold £3,200*

Description

• Classic Mk1 MX5 
• Good condition 
• Repainted and refurbished recently 
• 91,000 miles 
• Cambelt changed 
• First UK registered in 1998 
• Part of a private collection 

Like so many things in life, simplicity is key. The classic Mazda MX5 Mk1 is an attractive, lightweight classic car that’s easy to operate and easy to love. Mazda focused its resources on the bits that matter, the way the MX5 rides, handles and, above all, enjoyment. Get those right, and it’s a recipe for success and longevity.

With its classic rear-wheel drive transmission, all-round double wishbone suspension, twin cam engine and light weight, the MX-5 is the spiritual successor to the MGB and Lotus Elan all wrapped up in one lovely package. Today, the sought after first gen Mazda MX5 make perfect sense as a classic, it’s great fun and marvellous value.

In a breath-taking piece of research and planning, (it’s reported that Mazda actually bought and reworked a couple of Lotus Elans) Mazda nailed the Mk1 straight from the off. Pop-up headlights were a stroke of genius that were just the icing on an already sweet cake. You will have immense pleasure raising and retracting them just for the banter of it.

The whole package just works, perfectly. The touchpoints, the stubby gear-lever which just falls easily to hand, with its snappy shifts, the interactive steering and the rapid throttle response, all have a wonderful sense of being at one with a great, fun little car. And then there is that simple to operate convertible roof, which make the Mk1 a very practical classic car. As an example, once the two-catch system roof is down, if it does start to unexpectedly precipitate down with rain, you can raise the roof back up, from the drivers seat, with just one hand.

At around 950kg you can really chuck the MX5 about without the dead hand of the Nanny State interfering with so-called safety regs. It is a wonderfully balance drivers’ car with no electronic aids. The original twin-cam engine, more powerful than the lovely Lotus Elan it was modelled on, is a super, super performer.

Overview

This car is a Eunos badged classic Mazda MX5 Mk1 imported from Japan in 1998. Apart from a few badges it’s visually and mechanically identical.

The MX5 is part of the Baston Collection, which houses, amongst other beauties, Stags, MG’s Austin Healeys and many other great British classics. The MX5 was brought into the collection ‘blind’ in part payment for a classic that was being sold.

When it arrived, it needed some paintwork here and there. Rather than ending up as a patchwork of different red paint all over the MX5, our collector had the whole exterior repainted and any minor dings and dents and cosmetic bits of detritus sorted as part of that repaint process. His plan was to keep the MX5. He held on to it for a while, because he liked it so much. But now it is time to go.

It does now look very smart. He admits, he probably should have just driven it for fun as it was, but he is not one, not to do things properly; just take a look at his other cars.

So some lucky bidder is going to get the benefit of a very lovely, professional and pretty expensive respray. It could well be the smartest Mk1 we’ve seen in paintwork terms.

There are the odd bits of paperwork with the car. Invoices show, for a few years, it had a female owner, who, from the invoices appeared to look after it reasonably well.

Records show the twin cam engine’s cambelt was replaced about at “97,049 miles” but the odometer is in KM’s. The current KM’s show 148,749.  We’re as puzzled as you, but either way the belt has been replaced.

The simple but superbly functional interior is nice, as you can see from the images. The hood is in good condition.

Our vendor does feel it would benefit from a set of front brake pads at some point, like we say, he is fastidious about his cars. The new owner can do that at their leisure.

At some time, we’re not sure when, the classic MX5 has acquired a rather canny set of deep dish white coloured alloys, which suit it very well.

It is the handling that makes these MX5’s enjoyable. We’re told this one is bags of fun to drive.

Our view

There are lot of MX5’s out there, less so, the early first gen Mk1 models. And very few in this condition, wearing an expensive respray.

We’re told this MX5 drives very well, offering all of the qualities that made the classic Mk1 MX5 the best-selling roadster of all time; simplicity, reliability, great handling and massive fun factor.

After a time, it is the first generation of any classic that becomes the most sought after. And it is interesting to see that Mk1 MX5 values are beginning to firm up.

With all this in mind, we think this very cute, red MX5 will work out very inexpensive in terms of smiles per hour. Grab a bargain, enjoy it for a Summer or two, and if you fancy a change, you’ll either get your money back or you’re more likely get a touch more.

 

Vehicle Location: Peterborough– it’s the responsibility of the winning bidder to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor

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