The first-generation Miata was the right car at the right time. Pretty much every manufacturer abandoned the small roadster in favor of heavier sports cars by the end of the 1990s, while Lotus made the baffling mistake of resurrecting the legendary Elan with front-wheel drive in 1989.
Lotus produced a meager 3,855 units through 1992, while Mazda celebrated the 250,000th unit of the Miata in late 1992 for the 1993 model year. Heavily inspired by the original Elan, the NA would be retired in 1997 for the slightly more refined NB. All told, NA production for North America totaled 215,364 vehicles. Worldwide production, meanwhile, ended after the 421,119th example rolled off the assembly line in Hiroshima, Japan.
The black-painted NA we found on Bring a Trailer isn't it, but rather a 1994 model with seriously low miles. The first owner took care of chassis number JM1NA3534R0519430 until November 2023, and the second owner is now trying to find this fellow a third owner. As if the sub-30,000 mileage wasn't good enough of a reason to bid on the car, the dinky roadster is presented in superb overall condition.
Located in Trout Valley, Illinois, JM1NA3534R0519430 comes with a clean history report from Carfax that shows no reported accidents and no mileage inconsistencies. Offered with a clean title in the seller's name and a blue cover, the rear-drive thriller had its differential fluid changed in October 2022. The clutch was also replaced within the last two years for extra peace of mind.
Pictured on the original four-lug wheels mounted with 185/60 R14 tires from the folks at Firestone, this pristine sports car shows no signs of rust on the wheel wells or door sills. Damage to the underbody is nonexistent, and the interior looks brand-spanking new as well. The same can be said about the tan vinyl top and the convertible top boot.
Photo: Kdmiller261955 on Bring a Trailer
Tan leather-wrapped bucket seats are joined by matching door panels. The upper part of the center console and dashboard are black. As for amenities, don't expect a digital instrument cluster and wireless Apple CarPlay. Power windows, cruise control, headrest speakers, and a CD stereo will have to make do, along with a pair of cup holders.
Instead of the Mazda logo featured on modern vehicles, the 1994 model is rocking the sun-and-flame logo referred to by enthusiasts as the cylon. The Hiroshima-based automaker smoothed out the cylon shortly after it was adopted in 1991, then rolled out the V-shape winged logo in 1997.
Although the speedometer goes to 140 miles per hour (225 kilometers per hour), the 1.8-liter engine of the 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata cannot achieve that speed in combination with the standard five-speed manual transmission. Still, remember that the NA isn't about going fast, but rather enjoying yourself at any speed, with an emphasis on cornering due to the car's rear-drive layout and small weight.
Tipping the scales at 2,293 pounds or 1,040 kilograms if you prefer the metric system, the NA from this era packs 128 horsepower and 110 pound-feet (nearly 150 Nm). By comparison, the ND3 available to configure today belts out 155 horsepower and 148 pound-feet (200 Nm) from a 2.0-liter unit from the Skyactiv-G engine family.
The question is, would you spend $28,985 (excluding the destination charge) on a 2024 model or bid on the black-painted NA? With six days left until the auction ends, the highest bid stands at $2,500.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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