[EastsussexEunosMK1]

Good Afternoon all,

After spending a bit of time yesterday evening talking with @boxerdog1and @Slushbox I think it’s safe to say I’ll be spending a fair bit of time on here.

i have just taken ownership of this 123,000km 1993 Eunos, which I am already falling in love with!

after some conversing with the guys on here I’ve made the decision that it’s probably financially viable to restore this one back to its former glory.

anyway just a hello and I will keep you updated as time goes on.
Cheers.

 

[Garffey]

Hi...👋

Welcome to the 'Life' forum....
Anyone saving a Mk1 is more than welcome here,👍 I'm sure pretty much all of us here will have loved a Mk1 at some point in our MX-5 lives... look forward to seeing how you progress, and keep us updated.

Enjoy!

 

[GDCobra]

Welcome mad from East Sussex.

Must admit I am a little jealous, the MK 1 is a stand out car in my opinion, it's where it all started and has many really classic touches most of all for me are the pop up lights.
To be honest from the pictures it doesn't look like it needs a fortune spending on it (as long as the underside is sound).
My thinking has changed on cars recenlty. If I'd been looking at something like that a couple of years ago I'd want to be tidying it up to a state where it looks like new but now I tend to think there is no problem with a car having a bit of wear on it, patina seems to be quite a common word these days.
The interior looks nice, OK there's a bit of wear on the drivers seat but what does that say? Someone loved driving it.
Body work looks good too, bit of polish needed maybe but other than that no problem.

The engine though is another matter! I'd just have to clean up that oxidization from the cam covers and other aluminium parts but little cost in that and it would look really good, I do like an engine that looks like and engine rather than a bunch of plastic covers and this model looks like some thought was put into it. I suspect the designer wanted it to be looked at.
Of course you could drop a V8 in there (plenty done) and I do like that idea but it would take it away from its original design intent so there are pros and cons to that.

Good luck with it, hope it goes well.

 

[Qu1ckn1ck]

Hi and welcome to "Life" !

 

[boxerdog1]

Welcome mad from East Sussex.

Must admit I am a little jealous, the MK 1 is a stand out car in my opinion, it's where it all started and has many really classic touches most of all for me are the pop up lights.
To be honest from the pictures it doesn't look like it needs a fortune spending on it (as long as the underside is sound).
My thinking has changed on cars recenlty. If I'd been looking at something like that a couple of years ago I'd want to be tidying it up to a state where it looks like new but now I tend to think there is no problem with a car having a bit of wear on it, patina seems to be quite a common word these days.
The interior looks nice, OK there's a bit of wear on the drivers seat but what does that say? Someone loved driving it.
Body work looks good too, bit of polish needed maybe but other than that no problem.

The engine though is another matter! I'd just have to clean up that oxidization from the cam covers and other aluminium parts but little cost in that and it would look really good, I do like an engine that looks like and engine rather than a bunch of plastic covers and this model looks like some thought was put into it. I suspect the designer wanted it to be looked at.
Of course you could drop a V8 in there (plenty done) and I do like that idea but it would take it away from its original design intent so there are pros and cons to that.

Good luck with it, hope it goes well.

They do clean up quite well

 

[Pat]

Hi EastsussexEunosMK1 a warm welcome to 'life' 🖐

That is one little beauty you have got there

As you have seen we are a very friendly knowledgeable bunch of 5ers

Great to have you on board

Enjoy

 

[EastsussexEunosMK1]

Thanks for the welcome all,

can anyone tell me, are the 1.8s rarer than the 1.6? I can’t seem to see any 1.8s for sale that are older than 1997…..

This is a 1993 model.

Also any idea on the number of these 1.8s that are around? What determines special editions etc? I keep seeing R-Limited, what does this have that mine doesn’t?
Thanks in advance

 

[Qu1ckn1ck]

This link to Bourne Road Garage list of MX-5 Limited Editions may be of some help:

Bourne Road Garage Ltd

Welcome to Bourne Road Garage Ltd ... the one-stop-shop for every MX5, Eunos Roadster and Miata enthusiast

www.mx5-mazda.co.uk

 

[GDCobra]

They do clean up quite well View attachment 76163

Now that is nice, what you'd expect to find under the bonnet of a British roadster. Wouldn't put the air filter there myself but probably not a big problem once there's some airflow under the 'hood'.
My personal favourite engine is the Jaguar XK straight six. Is it sad to have a favourite engine?

 

[Qu1ckn1ck]

Now that is nice, what you'd expect to find under the bonnet of a British roadster. Wouldn't put the air filter there myself but probably not a big problem once there's some airflow under the 'hood'.
My personal favourite engine is the Jaguar XK straight six. Is it sad to have a favourite engine?

Possibly even more sad to take photos of them .........

 

[GDCobra]

Possibly even more sad to take photos of them .........

View attachment 76164

That is nice, my particular favourite for the Jaaaag engine is the later one with the crackle black finish and fly cut fins, although that engine I'm sure is of a lot more value than the one in a series 2 XJ6!

 

[Kev5]

Good afternoon, EastsussexEunosMk1 and welcome to mx5life.com 😊

Your new purchase looks a peach and will hopefully be solid underneath. The paintwork looks as if it will restore well with a little corrective 'elbow grease' and as GDCobra said, the engine bay should be easy enough to tidy up, with labour of love rather than expense 👍

Please keep us informed along the journey of restoration on this lovely little Mk1 😃

 

[boxerdog1]

Now that is nice, what you'd expect to find under the bonnet of a British roadster. Wouldn't put the air filter there myself but probably not a big problem once there's some airflow under the 'hood'.
My personal favourite engine is the Jaguar XK straight six. Is it sad to have a favourite engine?

Agree not ideal but was set up like this pre import in Japan with the Mazdaspeed 'heatshield free' exhaust manifold . Since acquisition I've added the bespoke heatshield on picture and although car runs well in current state there are plans for a Racing Beat High Flow Air Intake assembly which places the filter just behind a replacement vented headlamp cover .... watch this space

 

[GDCobra]

Agree not ideal but was set up like this pre import in Japan with the Mazdaspeed 'heatshield free' exhaust manifold . Since acquisition I've added the bespoke heatshield on picture and although car runs well in current state there are plans for a Racing Beat High Flow Air Intake assembly which places the filter just behind a replacement vented headlamp cover .... watch this space

Keep us posted, what I also meant to say was apart from how good the engine looks the whole underbonnet area look like a new car, surely it has to be around 25 years since the last MK1 was made.

 

[Mark]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

[Mark]

Thanks for the welcome all,

can anyone tell me, are the 1.8s rarer than the 1.6? I can’t seem to see any 1.8s for sale that are older than 1997…..

This is a 1993 model.

The earliest MX5s were all 1.6s. The 1.8 was introduced as a replacement for the 1.6 in about 1993 or 1994, and then a new low powered 1.6 was introduced alongside the 1.8 in about 1996 (for the UK market only), supposedly to take sales away from the recently introduced MGF, the 1.8 continuing as the sole engine for the Japanese market. The 1.6 and 1.8 continued for the UK market until the Mark 1 was replaced by the Mark 2 in 1998.

I have not looked on the usual sites for car sales, but I would anticipate that there would be a fair number of older 1.8s for sale, although it is not really peak MX5 selling season, and a proportion of older MX5s will be SORN at present, before being put back on the road, and possibly up for sale, in the Spring

 

[boxerdog1]

Keep us posted, what I also meant to say was apart from how good the engine looks the whole underbonnet area look like a new car, surely it has to be around 25 years since the last MK1 was made.

This one will be 33 years old in April ... at just under 59000 miles now so only just run in

 

[GDCobra]

This one will be 33 years old in April ... at just under 59000 miles now so only just run in

A mere baby!

 

[EastsussexEunosMK1]

Afternoon Folks,

Thought I’d update you all with the MK1 Eunos….

The car surfaced from the barn in which it has resided for the last 7 years today!

I ordered and fitted a new battery (which doesn’t fit in the holder!!!) today and she fired up first turn of the key. I blew the tyres up and she gently warmed up. I took her to the front of the barn after moving 5 other cars to get her out!

This gave me the first proper opportunity to get round her and see what I have to work with.
I am pleasantly surprised to be honest, although there are some suspect weld repairs on the back Sill, once I’ve had a chance to strip this back, I think that it will come up very well!

Just a few images to let you guys have a look too!

 

[EastsussexEunosMK1]