25K Original Miles: 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata

For anyone following my occasional posts on here, you know what I tend to pay some attention to cars and trucks that either keep accelerating value-wise or have reached a point of stagnation. A lot of vehicles have hit the skids from their pandemic-era highs, and while I might have put the original MX-5 Miata among them, I do believe the most reliable roadster ever built is going to remain a sought-after specimen. This low-mileage, early production car listed here on craigslist has just 25,266 miles and is offered for $16,900.

The original Miata was, and is, a simple affair. The interiors were spartan at best, and in base trim like this car, you didn’t get much in the way of convenience features. But that was part of the charm, of course, and necessary in many ways to conjure the original spirit of the Lotus Elan roadster. As the model evolved and became more popular, it became necessary to offer more features, and special models like the M-Edition came along with leather seats, headrest speakers, Nardi steering wheels, and unique alloy wheels.

The engine remained the same, however, through the first generation of NA-chassis cars. That means this low-mileage unit is equipped with a 1.6-liter DOHC inline-four rated at 116 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque. It may not seem like much, but the modest curb weight and rev happy nature of the engine made it feel far faster than it actually was. And if you wanted to go really crazy, you could call up the likes of Jackson Racing and ask them to build a supercharger kit for you.

Despite the low mileage, the seller reports there are some cosmetic defects including dings and other paint blemishes. The top is a replacement and not original, and the tires – despite having good tread – need to be swapped out as well. There’s no mention of a timing belt replacement, and that’s a must-do on these interference engines. Still, the cosmetics appear to be quite nice and the highly original condition is a major plus. These early Miatas are holding steady right now, and I don’t see any signs of that changing any time soon. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the find.