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Mk1 Mazda MX5 (aka Mindy!)

This is the latest addition to our modern classic family! A Mk1 Mazda MX5 1.6 (UK car). I've wanted one of these since the day they were launched back in 1989. Was at the Car show in Glasgow seeing all the new cars, when they pulled the cover off to reveal this gorgeous little red sports car. Was love at first sight, and said there an then I have to have one of these one day! Only taken me nigh on 30 years to realize that dream, but I was a skint teenager back then (now I'm a skint oldie! lol).
As I've been down lately, Gayle my Mrs suggested I needed a new project to help pick me up. She also loves the mx5's, so initial plan was to get a total rust bucket without mot and do a full restoration. After looking at prospective cars, realized that the £1000 budget really did just buy cars that were totally gone. So we upped the budget and came up with plan B! This plan was to buy a decent enough car to start with that just needed TLC, so we spent ages viewing lots of cars that appeared decent but once we arrived to view found they too needed too much work rust wise. Finally found this one which was in Stirling.
So, she's a 1997 UK car (so one of the last mk1's) with 90K on the clock, came with almost a years mot and the chap selling really didn't want to sell her! As everyone knows, all MX5's rot in the rear inner/outer sills and the rear arches. Mindy still has her original arches, but has had the very lower outer sills replaced on both sides. Not the prettiest repair, but look to be a very solid one. Underneath she's solid, and the previous owner has spent a fair bit on her with the welding and also replacing both rear brake calipers. There wasn't a service book which was disappointing, but there are receipts and old MOT's so some history of what she's had done.
Faults we noticed that needed dealing with first were the hood. It was completely shot, and had temp gaffa tape repairs. There was also a really bad vibration when at 65-70mph. These repairs are detailed in later posts.
So here she is the day we arrived home!

We'd literally just arrived home 5 mins before, and I thought I'd get a couple of pics but as I did, Gayle and my step daughter promptly jumped in and off they went for a wee run!! lol
My plan is to restore her to as close to new as I can get, along with some subtle mods. So planning the following:
Replace all suspension including shocks/springs, all wishbones etc then laser 4 wheel alignment Stainless steel exhaust Replace hood fully strip underneath and apply new underseal plus having chassis wax injected. New brakes Rear sills to be replaced by BorderMX5 so done professionally and will be undetactable once done Full respray (in either the original classic red or possibly the new Mazda "Soul red" metallic red.) Custom leather Interior retrim including replacing the seats with tombstone ones New wheels and tyres (Cades Enos with a bit of dish) Fully detailed engine bay Follow her progress in "Members Cars" in the forum.
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Unicyclingtom

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Unicyclingtom last won the day on March 27 2018

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  • Name
    Tom
  • Location
    Dorsetshire
  • Car Make and model
    Push bike rider
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  1. Unicyclingtom

    Good afternoon squires.

    Unicyclingtom replied to Unicyclingtom's topic in Newbies

    Might have to import a black one
  2. Unicyclingtom

    Your very first car

    Unicyclingtom replied to HIGHLANDER's topic in Chat Central

    @Dave my uncle owns a Tiger! My first car. 1.1L MK2 Ford Fiesta
  3. Unicyclingtom

    Good afternoon squires.

    Unicyclingtom replied to Unicyclingtom's topic in Newbies

    Found this photo. Amazing.
  4. Unicyclingtom

    hello from HIGHLANDER

    Unicyclingtom replied to HIGHLANDER's topic in Newbies

    I knew you'd be fun. after midnight with a little lubrication.
  5. Unicyclingtom

    hello from HIGHLANDER

    Unicyclingtom replied to HIGHLANDER's topic in Newbies

    Oh no, there are more of you!
  6. Unicyclingtom

    Good afternoon squires.

    Unicyclingtom replied to Unicyclingtom's topic in Newbies

    Of course you do. Because
  7. Unicyclingtom

    How you found us

    Unicyclingtom replied to Dave's topic in Chat Central

    @Dave dragged me in kicking and screaming, he bound me, gagged me and had his wicked way. I rather enjoyed it.
  8. Unicyclingtom

    Random thoughts here

    Unicyclingtom replied to Krzys's topic in Chat Central

    Lots of time spent doing bank stuff currently! Sorting Mortgage before I become a director and waiting for the bank to get back to me with the money so I can become a director!!
  9. Unicyclingtom

    Good afternoon squires.

    Unicyclingtom replied to Unicyclingtom's topic in Newbies

    And you can guarantee that the homeward bound journey will be awesome.
  10. Unicyclingtom

    Good afternoon squires.

    Unicyclingtom replied to Unicyclingtom's topic in Newbies

    So do I, not what I call 'up to date' they are around 16 years old now!
  11. Unicyclingtom

    Good afternoon squires.

    Unicyclingtom posted a topic in Newbies

    Most of you know me, some of you won't! My name is Tom and I live in deepest Dorsetshire. My list of previous cars includes such future classics as... Mazda 323f GTi Nissan 200sx RPS13 Honda Civic Aerodeck VTi Currently, I personally don't own a car, but my wife has a nice Volvo V50 2.0D I'm currently working on a plan to get myself back into a fast longroof, which hopefully will result in me importing on of these.... A Toyota Crown Athlete V Estate, should tick all my boxes. In the meantime I shall stick with my other hobby of riding mountain bikes!
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