Vehicle Description
1990 Mazda Miata MX-5
"There's no use trying to hide our enthusiasm for this car. No way
can we keep the envelope sealed until the end of this cri�tique.
You see, the Miata fairly glows with the automotive ideals that
this magazine holds dear, exciting looks, fun to drive, sen�sible
ergonomics, quality construction, fun to drive, refined
mechanicals, affordable price, and did we forget to mention? Fun to
drive. We feel like cheering." Car and Driver, September 1989. That
was praise for the first year Miata and accolades have been pouring
in for 35 years straight.
For consignment, a 1990 Mazda Miata MX-5 showing 35,305 miles which
are unverifiable. This car has been in the same family since it was
new and has been garage kept the entire time. And bonus! It comes
with the desirable accessory hard top painted to match.
Exterior
Demur, diminutive, and decked out in Silver Stone Metallic, this
iconic little sports car has all the right elements to make it fun
to simply look at, let alone drive. Hidden headlights would be a
first generation feature only and they ride in line with the hood
while oval marker lights sit on the nose piece. Oval is a bit of a
theme here and in profile, you can almost describe the car as
oval-like with round ends and with the hardtop on, more egg shaped
than wedge shaped. Meanwhile, an oval intake "mouth" is front and
center while oval tail lights gently wrap around the rounded
corners. Also in back, a luggage rack and sporty wing. Want more
ovals? You got it! The door handles harken back to British sports
cars and are indeed pill shaped. Side markers, front and rear,
oval. The 14-inch wheels look like they were made for this silver
car but of course, were used on all color Miatas. There's a bit of
hazing on the plastic window of the soft top, but everything else
is in very good condition. Minor imperfections include a scratch, a
ding, and the usual chin scrapes.
Interior
Predictably, the door handle on the inside is oval, but that's the
extent of our geometry tour for the interior. Maybe. The rest of
the door panels are formed in smooth, black plastic and have held
up very well over the years. Black cloth bucket seats look clean
and tight showing no perceptible wear or even much usage. In front
of the driver, the steering wheel is replete with, you guessed it,
ovals, first etched vertical versions as horn buttons and then
thumb controls on the spokes. Beyond that, the instrument cluster
is a simple affair with basic gauges, clean and easy to read. The
center stack houses the climate control panel, some vents, and an
AM/FM/Cassette radio. Yes, cassette, because in 1990, that's how we
rolled! A neat little shifter sits in the center console wrapped in
a black leather boot over black loop carpet that covers the floor
and the small package shelf behind the seats. The contoured truck
is clean and covered and contains a spare.
Drivetrain
Under the hood we find a clean version of the 1.6 liter DOHC inline
4 cylinder engine, rated at 115 horsepower and electronically fuel
injected. The venerable 5-speed manual transmission is at hand and
sends power to the rear axle with upgraded 3.90 limited slip
gearing. Power disc brakes are found at all four corners.
Undercarriage
Driver quality but generally clean underneath with typical surface
rust, but not much, and no signs of oil leaks anywhere. The belly
pans and frame rails look great and are evidence of a gently used
car. The single exhaust flows through original equipment including
the muffler and exits via a single tip out back. Independent
suspension occupies the front and back and consists of coil
springs.
Drive-Ability
Miatas have grown in size over the generations but these first gens
remain a nimble and tossable version that was such a huge success.
All that to say, this still performs with the zippy fun it was
built for 34 years ago. Quick on its feet for 115 horsepower and
possessing great handling and balance, the Miata is one for the
books and hopefully that book is your autobiography. All functions
work as intended. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these
functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot
guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your
purchase.
This much fun has never been more affordable. Classic, yes. But
also, a car you could drive every day with the assurance of
reliability and smiles with every mile. Or maybe you tuck this in
the back of the garage and bring it out for weekend joy rides.
Either way, Miatas have a way of scooting out of the mall pretty
quickly, especially clean examples like this. So, if this silver
roadster puts a sparkle in your eye, contact us sooner rather than
later.
JM1NA3511L0146093
J-Japan
M-Mazda
1-Passenger Car
NA-M1
35-Convertible
1-1.6L B6P
1-Check Digit
L-1990
0-Hiroshima Japan Assy Plant
146093-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
