New Used 1995 M-Edition Miata

[AutobahnSHO]

John, your kitchen garage always cracks me up and hits me with the envy bug.

Someday when I'm not dealing with back-to-school krap...........................................................

[Onslaught]

Do you have the left and right A pillar strikes for an early (90-91) hardtop?

Would you be talking about these?

[Byteme]

Would you be talking about these?

That looks like one 

[Onslaught]

Well then I have them. Both left and right. Did they put in the new interior trim that has the holes cut out for them? I had some in the tan color but can't find them now. I could've trashed them because my car has black and I've got like 2 sets of new black ones and would never need the tan ones.

If you need these I can send them to you. All they need is a little black paint to look new again.

[BimmerM3]

I've got it stored out of the way.  Yes, it's hanging over the E-=type.  Thanks for the offer though.  

Do you have the left and right A pillar strikes for an early (90-91) hardtop?

You must really trust your roping skillz to hang that thing above the E.


Also, that's a gorgeous Miata. I am jealous.

[Rupert]

Nice! I wish that car was around here. I would have bought it.

[Byteme]

Well then I have them. Both left and right. Did they put in the new interior trim that has the holes cut out for them? I had some in the tan color but can't find them now. I could've trashed them because my car has black and I've got like 2 sets of new black ones and would never need the tan ones.

If you need these I can send them to you. All they need is a little black paint to look new again.

Thank you.  I'll contact you off list.  I've been told the panels have score marks on the backside that show the proper cutout for the brackets.  Also, Miata.net has a writeup on their installation and adjustment.  

BTW, what year is the red Miata in the picture and do you still have it?

[Byteme]

You must really trust your roping skillz to hang that thing above the E.

As I told my wife:  If we hear a big bang about 3AM followed by the sound of my opening the garage door and that followed by a lot of loud cussing you'll know what happened.   

The top weighs just 50 pounds and the rope and hardware are rated at over double that; and that's the working load, not the fail point.  Besides, that top wouldn't dare fall on Lola.   

[Onslaught]

Thank you.  I'll contact you off list.  I've been told the panels have score marks on the backside that show the proper cutout for the brackets.  Also, Miata.net has a writeup on their installation and adjustment.  

BTW, what year is the red Miata in the picture and do you still have it?

I'll go take a look and see if they have the cut out or not. If not I can take some paper and trace the pattern out for you from one of my black ones. I'll also look again to see if I've got some tan ones. I KNOW I had one years ago brand new in the bag. But it could've been put on ebay.

The Miata in the picture is my 1990 MX-5 and I still have it. I've going to restore it in the next year or so unless I lose my job and can't buy the stuff I need.

[Rupert]

Wow, people are restoring Miatas now...

[Onslaught]

Wow, people are restoring Miatas now...

Makes me feel old. I was in high school when they hit the roads. But they are over 20 years old.

[Byteme]

Wow, people are restoring Miatas now...

Apparently so.  Like Onslaught said, the earliest are over 20 years old.  In 5 years the oldest ones will be exempt from Texas emissions inspections and qualified for Texas Antique Auto plates.

I'm busy "restoring" mine. Cleaning the engine compartment to like showroom condition and replacing damaged or missing underhood stickers.

 

[sportyaccordy]

Wow, crazy that people are restoring them, but they are modern classics, and thankfully I imagine still are easy to find parts for. Inside Line has a Project Miata that's pretty interesting.

Nice pick up by the way.

[MrH]

What would be the point of re-adding missing underhood stickers...?

I couldn't tell if you were being serious, but I think you were.

[Cookie Monster]

What would be the point of re-adding missing underhood stickers...?

I couldn't tell if you were being serious, but I think you were.

Every little detail counts for a show car. I don't know if John is going to use his as a show car but he already has a Jag, so he might want another one...

[Byteme]

What would be the point of re-adding missing underhood stickers...?

I couldn't tell if you were being serious, but I think you were.

Because it had them when it rolled out of the showroom for the first time.  I'm kind of obsessive compulsive and a bit anal when it comes to cars. 

I don't know if I will show thiscar or not.  It's near concours but that last bit of perfection to make it the mythical 100 point car becomes both time consuming and expensive.  Think law of diminishing returns.

I know people with Jaguars who have their car painted every year or so so it's perfect for concours.  I'm fanatical, but not that fanatical, which is why the best I've ever scored is something like 99.97

[Onslaught]

Apparently so.  Like Onslaught said, the earliest are over 20 years old.  In 5 years the oldest ones will be exempt from Texas emissions inspections and qualified for Texas Antique Auto plates.

I'm busy "restoring" mine. Cleaning the engine compartment to like showroom condition and replacing damaged or missing underhood stickers.

 

Damn it. I think I threw all those away but I'll look and see at work. I have a box full of Mazda hood stickers from years and years of working on the things. But they're so old I knew I'd never need them and trashed most of them. I'll see if I saved any MX-5 ones for a 1.8

That's why you NEVER throw things away!


As for restoring Miata's. Mazda isn't making all the parts for them anymore. And I've had some people call me looking for parts as of late. Apparently a back glass for a hard top is a very hard to find item these days. Probably because they're all on race Miata's now and you can't get a hard top without looking hard.

I'd LOVE to restore MX-5's on the side if I thought there was any money in it. I learned how to do body work on those cars and know almost every part, bolt and screw. But anymore who wanted a nice NA would already had got one new and it still be running because it's a miata.

[Byteme]

Damn it. I think I threw all those away but I'll look and see at work. I have a box full of Mazda hood stickers from years and years of working on the things. But they're so old I knew I'd never need them and trashed most of them. I'll see if I saved any MX-5 ones for a 1.8

That's why you NEVER throw things away!


As for restoring Miata's. Mazda isn't making all the parts for them anymore. And I've had some people call me looking for parts as of late. Apparently a back glass for a hard top is a very hard to find item these days. Probably because they're all on race Miata's now and you can't get a hard top without looking hard.

I'd LOVE to restore MX-5's on the side if I thought there was any money in it. I learned how to do body work on those cars and know almost every part, bolt and screw. But anymore who wanted a nice NA would already had got one new and it still be running because it's a miata.

I got the part numbers and ordered the stickers from the Mazda dealer yesterday.  Thanks though. 

Better to buy one someone else has restored or had professionally restored.  It's much cheaper to let them take the financial hit of funding a restoration that's far in excess of the value of the restored car.

[hotrodalex]

Yeah, if you are buying a restored car it's smarter to get one that is already finished. I like to customize cars, though, so I prefer beat up ones that need some loving anyway.

[Byteme]

Yeah, if you are buying a restored car it's smarter to get one that is already finished. I like to customize cars, though, so I prefer beat up ones that need some loving anyway.

That's what I originally set out to buy but then this opportunity came by.  The Miata crowd tells me I got a super deal on a very desirable model.  Luck, pure luck.

[Laconian]

So what are your driving impressions?

[Byteme]

I've only put about 100 miles on it, but thus far, "Nice, really nice".  It's tight, responsive, easy to fling around.  Needs 20 more HP :-)

[AutobahnSHO]

I'm "restoring" my subaru, so why not?







(Bought a bottle of touchup paint and hit some bigger dings and scratches... )

[Morris Minor]

John, congratulations. It looks great and... inspiring. I need a fun car...

[BimmerM3]

John, congratulations. It looks great and... inspiring. I need a fun car...

We're not far from each other. We could go halvsies and hand it off every week.

[Laconian]

We're not far from each other. We could go halvsies and hand it off every week.

Hotlanta G2G!

[Morris Minor]

My wife wants a convertible, not a sports car, but a convertible: she's serious. So my fun car will have to wait.

[Byteme]

My wife wants a convertible, not a sports car, but a convertible: she's serious. So my fun car will have to wait.

Well then, get this:

[Morris Minor]

Well then, get this:

Oh Momma...   

[Morris Minor]

I've only put about 100 miles on it, but thus far, "Nice, really nice".  It's tight, responsive, easy to fling around.  Needs 20 more HP :-)

Maybe, down the road, you could breathe on it a little. 20 HP should, while taking care not to ruin the look & nature of the car, not be too difficult to extract.