This 1991 Mazda Miata has just 16,000 miles from new, and the seller is quite confident it is the only one left in the world in this sort of condition. I’m not sure whether that claim holds any water, but a lot of these were set aside as summer-only drivers and kept indoors during the winter months. This isn’t one of the desirable Limited models, but rather your bread-and-butter Miata in the very classic combination of red paint over black cloth interior. The seller is asking a reasonable $12,900 for the Miata, and it is listed here on craigslist in Staten Island, New York. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Ikey H. for the find.
The NA series Miata is a conundrum of sorts for collectors, as they are undoubtedly one of the purest forms of the quintessential sports car ever made, but also mass produced and not exactly hard to find. I’ve entered some debates on social media (what fun!) about the values of a top-shelf M edition model, the ones that came loaded with leather, BBS wheels, and usually a hardtop, and there’s a large contingent both for and against prices that reach the low $20K range for a mothballed example. The price seems to drop off significantly when you’re talking about a base model trim like this one, unless you’re talking about an example optioned with the factory limited slip differential.
The base model trim is still a fine car, but it’s tough to get even low mileage examples like this one to crack the upper teens value-wise. Mass production can seriously limit the potential of a car, no matter how good it may be or how well preserved it is. Personally, I think this makes them outstanding deals on the collector car market because buying a Miata like this means getting a car that will be hugely fun to drive, very cheap to run, and won’t lose a dime of its value (but likely won’t increase substantially, either.) The crowd that feels like these cars aren’t worth more point to the number of beater-quality examples they scored for $500, and that simply isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison.
The seller notes that this example comes with the full assortment of OEM goodies, from the factory manuals to the original front bra to the tonneau cover for the soft top. The tires are even the original rubber. Given the location, I’m sure this was purchased as a suburbanite’s weekend toy for the summer season, and otherwise sat unused. I’d still do a preventative timing belt change and other likely-deferred maintenance, given most non-enthusiasts register low mileage as an excuse not to do any significant servicing. The price seems more than fair to me for what you’re getting, and I doubt this one will last long.
Original tires?Would you trust tires that almost
30 years old?For that price,it should have new tires.
Heck, at that price, I’d want the cam belt changed, too!
I love NA Miatas. From Day One, I was amazed at how well Mazda channeled the Lotus Elan, and at half the price of that delectable white Elan featured earlier, I’d go for this in a heartbeat. After, that is, I perused the service records.
Even in base form, these are great, great fun. I’d have no trouble doubling the car’s mileage in short order!
2 weeks ago I bought a 1999 540 sport. 40 K on the clock. The tires looked brand new. After 2 hours of 80 mph on the I heading North out of the Windy City with a ton of traffic because of the Fourth of July holiday. I took the first Wisconsin exit. Blew a steer tire on the exit ramp. Full sized spare so I made it home. I checked the date code at home. Those tires were 17 yaers old! Lesson learned. I must have had an Angel riding shotgun, It could have been way worse if it blew on the Interstate.
There are more of these Miatas squirreled away than people think. I have a 1990, with the B package and only 24,000 miles. Never seen rain and in showroom condition. These low mileage ones pop up on a regular basis, it is just a matter of asking price and finding the buyer that just has to have THAT one.
jaloppe, yes. And the person who said tires are mandatory is correct. The car is about 3000 miles from me, but someone local to it go and put your hands on it and if it is what the ad says, jump on it. You won’t be disappointed.
This is not a”base” model. Base would have had steel wheels etc. This is an A package car as it does not have PW.
Looks like a great car but hardly the only one in the world, and if you want a collectible NA1 with low miles you want a late 1990 without the crank issue, higher than VIN 209446. 1st year Matas will always be worth more than 1991 all things equal. It is possible this has a short nose crank even though it is 1991.
Spot on, check the VIN on it to see if it’s got the short nosed crank and do change the timing belt,. Rest assured though that these are non interference engines and if the timing belt does bite the dust you wont be looking at a huge engine repair bill
GuysWithRides.com first featured this Miata back in mid-February when the original owner first asked $20K for it with no takers. Since then, that site has tracked every new listing and subsequent price change. That’s why they’ve labeled the post for it “Pick A Price.” Even though the original tires are valuable for the next caretaker who wants to display the car in a concours competition or AACA preservation car show, you’d never drive the car on them any longer.