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The Mazda MX5 was first produced in 1989 and is now in its 28th year of production
Here is an article on the early years ;
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-vid...&utm_content=1
Please feel free to post any MX5 related items on this thread;
My own 1991 V- Spec Limited Edition ;
photo from 2014
Attachment 46086
photo from "Caffeine and Classics August 2017
Attachment 46087
cheers
Roger
There are close to 500 members in the Mazda MX5 Car Club nationwide now.
Would love to find an early coupe but they only made around 160 I believe.
http://i65.tinypic.com/302ul2b.png
Nice car, have never seen one .. the NB Coupe,Quote:
Originally Posted by Growler
here is a Roadster.
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Pukekohe Track Day 2004
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The car now June 2017 ..
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They do a Fastback fibreglass kit in the States that turns it into a coupe. I reckon it makes a great looking race car.
How long have you had yours now?
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/IMG_4982.jpg
Growler, its a 1991 V - Spec and have owned it since it arrived in New Zealand in September 1996, has its 21st Birthday under my ownership on the 24th ..Quote:
Originally Posted by Growler
Attachment 46241
Still have the original 14 inch wheels, they need to be refurbished,as does the whole car.
It came with many accessories;
Wind Blocker, half Tonneau, V-Spec floor mats,
I got a chrome roll bar that arrived on another car at the time, and later on the Black Hardtop.
Ha! That's about the same time I bought mine - April 1996. Mines a 1989 so one of the very first ones off the line. I have modified mine of course. It still has the 1600 in it but from a 1993 as I had the crank nose issue, and it worked out cheaper to put another block into it.
I did lighten the flywheel slightly while I was at it.Other mods are suspension and exhaust. I'm toying with the idea of adapting the Mini supercharger to it but that's when I get time.
I have been gifted another MX5 (1990) from my Step Mother as she has now retired and bought a "more sensible car". This one is a bit tired but have fixed a lot of things on it. Not sure what I'll do with it just yet.
About to start refurbish on partner's 1989 MX5, need LF guard & LH door if anybody has them, car has done over300,000 K's only trouble it has had was crank nose, brilliant machine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Growler
Kevin, try Ross Campbell at MX5 Mart in Tauranga - he may either have the parts or know who has ;Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hirst
phone 07 543 4567 he is at 389 Joyce Road, Pyes Pa.. has a website but not sure if the address is a workshop / warehouse or his home..
Agree about the longevity / reliability, as mentioned mine has done over 226,000 k's and now need a good tidy up, seats and door panels, minor panelwork and repaint, new or repaired soft top, and refitting of some components, Roll / Style bar and some accessories, Tonneau, Wind Blocker etc ..
Hope it goes well Kevin !!
Growler, hang onto it if you can, great car and a worthy 1990's idea of a 1960/70's British Sports car.
How would you lads like to have one of these ?
1991 Mazda MX-5 Le Mans EDITION
Year: 1991 0-62 mph: 6.8 secs Engine: 1,598 cc Top Speed: 130 mph Number Built: 24
As well as being the most distinctive special-edition car ever produced by Mazda, the MX-5 Le Mans is definitely the rarest. Built to celebrate Mazda winning the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans race, just 24 of these roadsters were built by Mazda UK between August and December of that year—one for each of the 24 hours raced by the triumphant rotary-powered 787B race car.
Only available in the same team colors as the 787B, the MX-5 Le Mans’ stunning livery was a proper paint job, rather than a modern-day wrap. And there was performance to back up those racy looks. Underneath the hood lurked a BBR low-pressure turbo kit that boosted the car’s 1.6-liter engine from 115 hp to 150 hp, with torque rising from 135 Nm to 208 Nm. That meant a top speed of 130 mph and the 0-62 mph dash taking just 6.8 seconds.
“Each car came with a certificate of authenticity signed by racing driver Johnny Herbert”
Attachment 46362
p.s. Moss Miata will have a new website next month and it should have some interesting information but I still say to them their products are all "foo foo" stuff compared to the British side of Moss Motors.
(Ken H)
The easiest fix for the crank nose is just do an engine swap. I have done 6 now for various members. (Only takes about 15 hours!). You can glue the bottom pulley on, but that usually is a temporary measure. Halfway through 1990 Mazda identified the issue and fixed it by increasing the shaft diameter, increasing the length of the key way and using a larger bolt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hirst
The only other issues they have are the rear calipers, and sometimes rust under the stainless steel door sill covers if they are fitted.
Good luck with using Ross at MX5 Mart. I have never used him but I believe its pretty hit-n-miss with the service he offers.
There is a closed group on Facebook (NZ MX5) who are of the younger generation but you can get a lot of parts reasonably cheaply. A few guys part them out occasionally.
MazSpares in Christchurch also look after club members and they are reasonably priced. I can send you the contact details if you want it.
Thanks Ken,should I do that as part of the repaint ??, not really as would need all the trick sills and grilles spoilers etc..
Oh come on Roger, you are part way there, it's just your green is a different shade but with some orange paint and some Moss "foo foo " spoilers etc you could be quite the lad about town !
Kevin. An excellent source for parts is Neil Ellison at New Plymouth he is mx5spares.co.nz phone 027 6455777.Quote:
Originally Posted by khyndart in CA
I am building a kit car with MX5 donor parts, Neill is very helpful and obliging, he has dismantled a large number of MX5.
My experience with Ross at MX5 mart Tauranga is very ordinary.
Thank's for the information guy's a big help'Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter M
Thanks Roger the Silver one GRA3M3 is my one. 1998 205,000kms 1600cc Auto Graeme Banks
Great Graeme, the Cars seem to do huge " mileage " - old word, without much trouble..Quote:
Originally Posted by GeebeeNZ
I have been to " Caffeine and Classics " in May and August, will miss September but should be there for October, may run in to you ..
cheers Roger D.
A couple more pics of the car ;
Attachment 46391
Engine Bay with POD Filter
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Dash and Nardi Steering Wheel [ yes It has a Momo Horn Boss - centre as when I got the car it had a Red Mazda Personal Horn Boss ]
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My old 1971 issue NZ standard Crash Helmet, that was used 1971 to 1983. It is now hanging up in the garage probably cannot be used as complied to NZS at the time
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The instrument panel in January 2017 Odometer at 226210 km, has only done about 600km since then
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The Chassis plate - Eunos Roadster had the NA prefix whereas MX5's [ for export ] had a J prefix JMX I believe
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There are various explanations but still haven't found out all of the details on the Jap imports into NZ numbers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
http://i67.tinypic.com/2rp5roo.png
http://i68.tinypic.com/28714c7.png
Growler, thanks had seen it before but had not saved the details.. mine being a Japan only,they left of the JMZ part .. must now try to trace its actual manufacture date with the info, cheers
Greeting from west of the Tasman. Here's my current NA6. Very standard apart from the wheels. It is relatively low mileage with just over 160,000km from new. I bought it late last year in Cairns, QLD and drove it back to the outskirts of Melbourne, VIC, a distance of approx 3,200km. On that trip, I had no number plates and was running on temporary registration. I was not pulled over at all during the QLD leg (approx half the entire distance) but got pulled over 3 times in NSW by their Highway Patrol, including whilst doing a very legal lap of Mt Panorama.... This car replaces an earlier red NA6 I had which was set up for tarmac rallies. I sold it due to it being a bit tired in all areas. I do have pics of it but they will take a bit of finding. Attachment 46419Attachment 46420
an American look at the creation of the Mazda Miata - MX5 - Eunos Roadster ..
https://www.facebook.com/donutmedia/...6564143839065/
Good story, had to remove Jayne's MX5 from storage shed yesterday, fitted battery & fired up like it had been running continually, not sitting in shed for over a year, just love that fuel injection.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
Spose I should take mine out at some point. It was last used in March when I had to get a warrant.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hirst
There are three MX5's / Eunos Roadsters in my neighbourhood, so a few photos of the other two...
On seven spoke Alloys
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On BBS Alloys in the multispoke [ Hotwire ] style
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They both look like NZ new cars...
Will go and check the Rego stickers, the SI plate would be NZ new but CWR either second hand import or re-registered, will have a play on Carjam ..my new hobby !! being MX5's they have the different badges and the rear Number Plate surround is different,Quote:
Originally Posted by Growler
--wider--.
UN7284 my 1991 Eunos Roadster, owned since September 1996. The first and only owner in NZ had 35720km on the Odo when bought, has just clicked over 227,000 in the last week
Attachment 47378
1995 Mazda MX5
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Growler, obviously " DOODS " and " JANES1 " liked their personalised plates
Car NZ new in 1995 had the 1839 cc engine 98kw, not the 1598 cc 88kw
From Carjam
Plates History
Plate Effective Date
CWR154 03-Nov-2005
JANESI 09-Feb-2001
DOODS 06-Nov-1998
TW858 13-Dec-1995
SI4795 is a 1994 model also NZ New with no change of plates .. 1839 cc 98 Kw engine
Carjam has confused me.
Here are the details for the Rego plate " DOODS "
Year: 1995
Make: MAZDA
Model: MX5
Colour: Blue
Submodel: ROADSTER S/T 1.8 M5
Body Style: Convertible
VIN: JM0NA30P500100018
Plate: DOODS
Engine No: BP980440
Chassis: JMONA30P500100018
and here for " CWR154 " the car I photographed here in Hillcrest, Auckland
Year: 1995
Make: MAZDA
Model: MX5
Colour: BLUE
Submodel: ROADSTER S/T 1.8 M5
Body Style: Convertible
VIN: JM0NA30P500100018
Plate: CWR154
Engine No: BP980440
Chassis: JMONA30P500100018
Same VIN -
So what car is the plate " DOODS " actually on ??
-------------Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
Hi Roger,
The car is currently registered CWR154, but was registered DOODS at one point in the past (by the look if it, there's been a few plate changes over the years).
DOODS is currently unassigned to a car, so is presumably sitting in a cupboard somewhere.
Cheers, Alan.
Growler !! are you the same Growler on the MX5 Forum ?? , I have just joined ..Quote:
Originally Posted by Growler
Alan H .. yes DOODS and CWR154 both bring up the same car on Carjam, with DOODS page showing that there is a newer plate ..
Saw CWR154 out for a drive today, I was in my modern so couldn't honk or flash hello !!
Sane
Attachment 47504
Insane
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Meanwhile a more sedate approach with UN7284
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Here's one that was racing at Manfield last year.
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Ha! Yes I am. Also a life member of the NZ MX5 Car Club. Been a member for over 20 years. I don’t frequent the forum much these days. There is some really good information on there but I just don’t have time to check it on a daily basis.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
Yes there are a few V8 MX5’s here in NZ. I have seen video of one racing at Ruapuna with a twin turbo Lexus V8!
Flying Miata in the States offer a kit so you can fit the Corvette motor (LS1 or LS3 from memory). They have just released a kit for the latest MX5 which looks impressive. I’ll see if I can find the video.
There was another crowd a few years ago called Monster Miata that were using the supercharged Mustang motor. Not sure if they are still around?
Reading your post Roger I think you purchased yours about the same time I purchased mine. It was April 1996. I have just ticked over 130k, however some of those km’s would have been around Taupo, Pukekohe and Hampton Downs, along with a few gymkhanas etc. The poor girl doesn’t get used much these days!
Roger just replaced my 1998 NB with a NZ new 2006 NC. it will also be wearing the GRA3M3 plate soon. sadly I will be in wellington for the next north shore caffeine and classics but if you see a metallic blue NC with that plate say Hello.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
There were quite a number of MX5's at Caffeine and Classics this month, mainly NA - first series a couple of NB's and the latest one;
snuck in the middle of this group!!
Attachment 48055
and again in the middle ..
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an NB
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something newer with a " Big "mate
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an NB with its bigger brother RX7 ..
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" That's all folks " as they said in Looney tunes cartoons..
Read this early in the year, from Takapuna Library
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and a couple of Publicity Photos for the V- Special from the book; My car doesn'tlook that good any more !!
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As an aside I also read around that time March 2018 the Howden Ganley Book " Road to Monaco ".
a good piece on NZ Motoring History is included as well as Howden's Overseas exploits. Book from the Takapuna Library
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A couple of the Ganley Cars
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Have finished Jaynes MX5 refurbish/repaint , car now lookes heaps better, only need's cut & polish now, did not need to buy door or guard as used long forgotten panel beating skills, as car is now complete & was looking for something to do bought rear damaged 92 model which is now all masked up waiting for some warm weather to apply paint. Got ih youch with Ross Campbell for rear panel secfions for 92 model, he was most helpfull & said come down & help yourself wich I did armed with cut off disc & saw. charged a very modest price & was most helpfull.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
Good to read Kevin. pleased Ross could help as heard from a couple of others he wasn't always helpful,he will be useful for me when UN7284 my NA model finally leaves Auckland for the bay of Plenty ..a long story involved here !!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hirst