I often wonder what the reaction was like in the 70s or 80s when a car we now found incredibly desirable was unearthed. For instance, what about finding an old Lotus Elan in the garage in 1978 – would that have made an enthusiast’s heart start to beat a little faster, or was it just an old convertible that no one cared much about? In the case of two sorely neglected Mazda Miatas pulled out of a garage in western Massachusetts, these are definitely cheap project cars at this juncture – but could they some day be seen as more? Find the listing here on craigslist where the pair of Miatas is offered for $4,000 or best offer.

The blue Miata is the one that appears to have been locked away in the garage, covered with all the detritus of life that tends to accumulate around an unloved vehicle. The seller is not the owner – rather, he has listed these vehicles on a friend’s or relative’s behalf – and he claims that there were big plans for this Mariner Blue example. The listing describes a variety of new parts purchased for it, including wheels, tires, radiator, and a replacement front bumper that’s been stored in the basement of the house.

The Miata thankfully has the preferred manual transmission, which will make future restoration more appealing for a new owner. The NA Miata is becoming less of a ho-hum car and more of an item as its classic status is increasingly confirmed. The good thing about Miata interiors of this vintage is that they are quite durable, so you can treat them poorly and not have it look completely awful; still, mold is always a potential problem in neglected convertibles like this, so hopefully the garage it’s been parked in wasn’t too damp. The cracked steering wheel horn pad is a curious thing, however – I can’t recall if there’s an airbag in there.

The seller is including a black parts car as part of the deal, and this actually looks like a pretty decent opportunity for someone given this car has an attractive tan leather interior. It also has an automatic transmission which basically renders its rejuvenation fairly unlikely. Mariner Blue is a desirable color for those that chase the NA Miata, and we don’t even know yet if the VIN will reveal it has a limited-slip differential or other desirable parts under the skin. The $4,000 asking price is “or best offer” so perhaps you could snag these two forgotten roadsters for $3,500 or less.