1997 Mazda Miata MX-5
For consignment, a final year generation 1 1997 Mazda Miata MX-5. A one owner car with an incredible title verified 16,794 actual miles. Not only is it now a classic, but it's a drivable one. If you've ever dreamed of owning a new first generation Miata, this is as close to showroom new as you might ever get.
Exterior
Classic Red is aptly named since it was the most common and recognizable color often used in press coverage. You'll be able to tell yours from the crowd as it has a double pinstripe down the side but beyond that, standard Miata with pop up headlights, oval lower intake, leading marker lights and yes, that cute tail with the flush, wrap around tail lights. The 14-inch wheels were standard too although changed since Miata's first years and some say, preferred. A black canvas soft top and its plastic window are in excellent condition, evidence that this car may have been garaged a good part, if not all its life. The door handles are inspired by British sports cars and the oval shape and inset actuator are fitting for a car full of ovals and rounded curves. Imperfections are few and include some scratches on the bumper cover.
Interior
And like those British sports cars, the door panels are simple and pragmatic, dressed in black plastic and housing a leather map pocket. The seats here are black leather with red inserts and based on our research, this was not a stock configuration in '97 so may have been ordered or recovered. Speakers are integrated in the high headrest and the driver's seat shows a small bit of wear at the entry point. Beyond that they look great and certainly match the car well. Miatas offer a simple yet driver focused cockpit that supplies the pilot with only essential information via a basic gauge cluster behind a black steering wheel, the center stack reserved for climate controls and the stock AM/FM/Cassette radio. In the center console, the short shifter wears a black leather boot and a tidy storage bin follows and serves as an armrest. Low pile black carpet covers the floor and not unexpectedly, it looks practically new. The trunk is clean and lined with a gray flannel covering, surprisingly roomy and certainly usable as a grocery getter. Please note that while the air conditioning was working at the time of our drive report, we cannot guarantee this system will continue proper operation in the future.
Drivetrain
Under the hood, we find the clean 1.8 liter DOHC inline 4 cylinder engine producing 133 horsepower rowed by a 5-speed manual transmission and sending the power to the rear wheels and 4.30 gears, because that's what true sportscars do! The Miata however, has the advantage of power disc brakes at all four corners, something vintage Brits didn't have.
Undercarriage
As expected for a car with this low mileage, utterly clean underneath. The biggest detractors from being pristine are the spider webs and occasional, expected surface rust. A single exhaust travels down the center tunnel then makes a sharp turn before entering the original muffler, then another quick turn to exist in the sculpted valance via a chrome tip. Independent suspension on front and back consists of coil springs.
Drive-Ability
These cars are fun because they instantly feel like adult toys, and not the kind you're thinking of! These are akin to being 6 years old and getting a battery powered car. That's the feeling Miata's evoke and why they've been so successful. There's nothing notably wrong with this car, it does everything well and all functional items work as expected.
There are plenty of first gens still on the road, but how many have this kind of mileage and can claim this kind of condition? This is a unique opportunity to purchase a like new Miata from the 90's. Use it daily or reserve it for shows, even Radwood. You don't need a ton of room to store it nor a bunch of gas to keep it going.
JM1NA3539V0731945
J-Japan
M-Mazda
1-Passenger Car
NA-M1
35-Convertible
3-1.8L
9-Check Digit
V-1997
0-Hiroshima Japan Assy Plant
731945-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 or call us at 855-201-7026. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
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!
For consignment, a final year generation 1 1997 Mazda Miata MX-5. A one owner car with an incredible title verified 16,794 actual miles. Not only is it now a classic, but it's a drivable one. If you've ever dreamed of owning a new first generation Miata, this is as close to showroom new as you might ever get.
Exterior
Classic Red is aptly named since it was the most common and recognizable color often used in press coverage. You'll be able to tell yours from the crowd as it has a double pinstripe down the side but beyond that, standard Miata with pop up headlights, oval lower intake, leading marker lights and yes, that cute tail with the flush, wrap around tail lights. The 14-inch wheels were standard too although changed since Miata's first years and some say, preferred. A black canvas soft top and its plastic window are in excellent condition, evidence that this car may have been garaged a good part, if not all its life. The door handles are inspired by British sports cars and the oval shape and inset actuator are fitting for a car full of ovals and rounded curves. Imperfections are few and include some scratches on the bumper cover.
Interior
And like those British sports cars, the door panels are simple and pragmatic, dressed in black plastic and housing a leather map pocket. The seats here are black leather with red inserts and based on our research, this was not a stock configuration in '97 so may have been ordered or recovered. Speakers are integrated in the high headrest and the driver's seat shows a small bit of wear at the entry point. Beyond that they look great and certainly match the car well. Miatas offer a simple yet driver focused cockpit that supplies the pilot with only essential information via a basic gauge cluster behind a black steering wheel, the center stack reserved for climate controls and the stock AM/FM/Cassette radio. In the center console, the short shifter wears a black leather boot and a tidy storage bin follows and serves as an armrest. Low pile black carpet covers the floor and not unexpectedly, it looks practically new. The trunk is clean and lined with a gray flannel covering, surprisingly roomy and certainly usable as a grocery getter. Please note that while the air conditioning was working at the time of our drive report, we cannot guarantee this system will continue proper operation in the future.
Drivetrain
Under the hood, we find the clean 1.8 liter DOHC inline 4 cylinder engine producing 133 horsepower rowed by a 5-speed manual transmission and sending the power to the rear wheels and 4.30 gears, because that's what true sportscars do! The Miata however, has the advantage of power disc brakes at all four corners, something vintage Brits didn't have.
Undercarriage
As expected for a car with this low mileage, utterly clean underneath. The biggest detractors from being pristine are the spider webs and occasional, expected surface rust. A single exhaust travels down the center tunnel then makes a sharp turn before entering the original muffler, then another quick turn to exist in the sculpted valance via a chrome tip. Independent suspension on front and back consists of coil springs.
Drive-Ability
These cars are fun because they instantly feel like adult toys, and not the kind you're thinking of! These are akin to being 6 years old and getting a battery powered car. That's the feeling Miata's evoke and why they've been so successful. There's nothing notably wrong with this car, it does everything well and all functional items work as expected.
There are plenty of first gens still on the road, but how many have this kind of mileage and can claim this kind of condition? This is a unique opportunity to purchase a like new Miata from the 90's. Use it daily or reserve it for shows, even Radwood. You don't need a ton of room to store it nor a bunch of gas to keep it going.
JM1NA3539V0731945
J-Japan
M-Mazda
1-Passenger Car
NA-M1
35-Convertible
3-1.8L
9-Check Digit
V-1997
0-Hiroshima Japan Assy Plant
731945-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 or call us at 855-201-7026. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
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!