Last November, our own Jeff Sutton got a chance to experience the latest Mazda Miata. In so doing, he got a little insight into why people say that “Miata Is Always The Answer” (MIATA). Jeff’s story is here.
The Pick of the Day is the car that started it all, a low-mileage first-generation 1991 Mazda Miata listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Ventura, California. (Click the link to view the listing)
“Southern California car,” the listing states. “67,299 original miles. Kept clean, always garaged or covered, one owner.”
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The first-generation, or “NA” chassis Miata, was launched for the 1990 model year in the United States. It was assembled in Hiroshima, Japan and offered only as a two-door, two-seat roadster with compact proportions. Weighing in at only about 2,100 pounds without options, it was immediately touted as a tossable and balanced sports car that was track-ready right out of the box. And because of its nimble nature, the Miata could make do with a small 1.6-liter inline-four and only 115 horsepower. The motor sang effortlessly to the 7,200-rpm redline and became a popular platform for tuner modification.
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Today’s unmodified example car from 1991 looks as good as one would expect for a 32-year-old vehicle with about 70,000 miles on the odometer. The seller states that the soft top needs repairs, there is a blemish on the windshield, and there is a ding on the driver door (also shown in the photos). The bonus with this car is its rare color-matched removable hardtop, which offers an alternative to the standard-issue black cloth top. The Miata’s sheer simplicity was one of its most endearing traits: The cockpit was intimate, the controls were easy to figure out, and the analog gauges were clearly laid out.
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Despite falling into the sports car realm, the Miata had economy-car efficiency: The seller states that this car delivers between 25 and 30 miles per gallon. That makes it a high value in the smiles-per-gallon area.
Jeff stated in his review that the fourth-generation 2022 Miata was “one of the best driving experiences you can have chucking a sports car sideways.” I’m a firm believer that this vintage Miata could also provide the same experience for about half the price.
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“Ready for the road,” the listing concludes.
The asking price $16,500 for this well-kept, low-mileage Miata.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Source: www.classiccars.com