1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata LS — 19,900 Original Miles — Exceptional Condition
Offered for sale is an exceptionally well-preserved 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata LS, finished in Brilliant Black over tan leather with just 19,900 original miles.
Power comes from Mazda’s 1.8-liter BP-4W four-cylinder engine, paired with a five-speed manual transmission and Torsen limited-slip differential. This is a non-ABS car. LS equipment includes tan leather upholstery and factory Bose audio.
Exceptional Preservation
The tan leather interior is one of the car’s most striking features. The seats show remarkably little wear, including the driver’s outer bolster, with no tears or significant scuffing. The steering wheel, carpeting, controls and trim are likewise exceptionally well preserved.
The Brilliant Black exterior is exceptionally well preserved. The paint retains excellent gloss and the body is remarkably clean. Known imperfections include a filled stone chip on the hood, a small scratch on the trunk lid, a minor scrape beneath the front chin, and a few small hail dings. These are shown in the photographs.
The convertible top and rear window are in excellent condition, with no holes or significant wear. The top raises, lowers and latches properly. The underside is exceptionally clean, and I have found no rust anywhere on the car.
Everything Works as It Should
There is no inoperative equipment or functions on the car.
The air conditioning blows very cold. The lights, turn signals, gauges, power windows, Bose audio system and power antenna all operate properly. When the driver’s door speaker was found to be inoperative, it was replaced with a new Bose speaker.
Mechanically, the five-speed manual transmission shifts correctly through all gears, the clutch engages properly with no slippage, and all controls and systems function as intended.
Throughout the recommissioning, when something needed attention, it was addressed.
Comprehensive 2026 Recommissioning
Low mileage preserves a car remarkably well, but age still affects belts, hoses, seals, fluids, cooling-system components, brakes and tires. I chose to address that age-related maintenance comprehensively.
Work completed in 2026 includes:
• Timing belt and tensioner replaced
• Water pump replaced
• Two camshaft seals and crankshaft seal replaced
• Valve-cover gasket replaced
• Both accessory drive belts replaced
• Mishimoto all-aluminum performance radiator and cap installed
• Mishimoto low-temperature thermostat installed
• Mishimoto silicone radiator hoses installed
• Additional molded coolant hoses replaced
• Cooling system flushed and refilled with fresh coolant
• Engine oil and filter replaced
• Manual transmission fluid drained and replaced
• Rear differential fluid drained and replaced
• Clutch hydraulic fluid flushed and replaced
• Stainless-steel braided brake hoses installed at all four corners
• All four brake rotors and pads replaced with new brake hardware
• Brake hydraulic system completely flushed and filled with fresh fluid
• Rear brakes and parking brake properly adjusted
• Engine air filter replaced
• New Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires installed July 2026
• New Bose driver’s door speaker installed
• Wind blocker installed
• Four-wheel alignment performed
Cooling-System Upgrade
The cooling system was a priority because age and repeated heat cycles affect components regardless of mileage. Rather than wait for a failure, the original radiator and associated components were proactively replaced with a Mishimoto system including an all-aluminum two-row performance radiator and cap, low-temperature thermostat and silicone radiator hoses. Additional molded coolant hoses and thermostat-related gaskets were replaced, and the system was flushed and refilled with fresh coolant.
This work was preventative and was not performed in response to an overheating problem.
Timing Belt, Water Pump and Related Engine Service
The timing belt and tensioner, water pump and both accessory drive belts were replaced. Both camshaft seals, the crankshaft seal and valve-cover gasket were also replaced while the engine was being serviced. This was preventative maintenance, not repair following a failure.
Braking-System Refresh
All four brake rotors and pads were replaced with new brake hardware. Associated caliper components were cleaned, lubricated and adjusted as appropriate. The original flexible brake hoses were replaced with stainless-steel braided hoses at all four corners. The hydraulic system was completely flushed from the reservoir through all four calipers and filled with fresh brake fluid. The rear brakes and parking brake were then properly adjusted.
Crankshaft Endplay Measured and Documented
Knowledgeable 1999 Miata enthusiasts may be familiar with the crankshaft thrust-bearing/endplay concern associated with certain early-production engines. Rather than assume there was no issue because the engine runs properly, I specifically asked Precision International, the shop performing the timing-belt and related engine service, to physically measure the crankshaft endplay.
Precision International measured the crankshaft endplay at 0.0033 inch. The measurement is recorded on the Precision International service invoice included with the car and shown in the documentation photographs.
For the 1999–2000 1.8-liter engine, the specified range is 0.0032–0.0111 inch, with a maximum allowable endplay of 0.012 inch.
At 0.0033 inch, the measurement is well within factory specification and confirms that excessive crankshaft endplay, the condition associated with the known early-engine concern, is not present in this engine.
Wheels, Tires and Driving
The Miata rides on lightweight 15-inch Miata-specific alloy wheels, approximately six pounds lighter per wheel than the wheels they replaced, fitted with new 205/50R15 Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 performance tires installed in July 2026. The correct socket for removing the wheel lug nuts is included with the car.
It starts readily, idles properly, runs beautifully, shifts cleanly and stops confidently. The steering remains light and direct, retaining the connected, uncomplicated driving experience for which the Miata is known.
History and Documentation
The Miata had one private owner before passing to the dealer from whom I acquired it. The Carfax shows no reported accidents or damage.
The car retains its original Mazda owner’s manual and accompanying service literature, which identify the original owner. Receipts and supporting documentation for the extensive 2026 maintenance accompany the car. Detailed photographs and videos document its condition and operation.
Why I Am Selling
I purchased this Miata because its exceptionally low mileage, condition and originality made it an unusually compelling example. After acquiring it, I undertook the extensive recommissioning described above—not simply to keep it running, but to address the age-related maintenance that matters on a vehicle of this age.
For me, much of the enjoyment of owning a car like this is the process itself: learning the car, working on it, addressing the details and bringing it to the condition I believe it should be in. I have genuinely enjoyed that process with this Miata.
I enjoy driving it as well, but the project and mechanical involvement are a large part of the experience for me. At this point, I have addressed everything I set out to address, and I am not aware of anything the car needs. It feels like the right point for me to pass it along to its next owner and eventually find another project to enjoy.
19,900 original miles. Clean title in hand. Located in Asheville, North Carolina.
