BF Exclusive: 1994 Mazda Miata Special Edition

Asking: $9,000Make Offer

Disclosure: Barn Finds may receive compensation from clicks and purchases. Use caution when purchasing vehicles long distance. We recommend inspections before sending money.
  • Seller: David B rill (Contact)
  • Location: Higganum, Connecticut
  • Mileage: 206,151 Shown
  • Chassis #: JM1NA3535R0501986
  • Title Status: Clean
  • Engine: 1.8L DOHC Inline-4
  • Transmission: 5-Speed Manual

They say the best cars are the ones that were truly loved. This Classic Red 1994 Mazda Miata has had exactly two owners over its 32 years, and the second one, affectionately known as “Ro”,  drove it everywhere and took care of it like a member of the family. This 1994 Mazda Miata is located in Higganum, Connecticut, and the seller is asking $9,000. It’s listed here as a Barn Finds Exclusive!

The original owner clearly had good taste. This isn’t a stripped-down base Miata, it was optioned up with all three factory option packages (A, B, and C), giving it power windows, power mirrors in body color, power steering and brakes with four-wheel disc, a cassette/CD/stereo, air conditioning, cruise control, dual airbags, ABS, tan leather bucket seats, a power antenna, full gauges, alloy wheels, a limited-slip differential, rear defrost, and, perhaps most notably, a body-colored fiberglass hardtop. By 1997, the original owner had put about 26,000 miles on it before Ro took the wheel and never looked back.

And look back she didn’t, she drove this Miata coast to coast, city to city: Palo Alto, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; Florida; and back to Connecticut. With 206,151 miles, this little roadster has seen more of America than most cars on the road today. But here’s the thing: Ro wasn’t just a driver, she was a caretaker. Oil changes every 3,000 miles like clockwork, always at a Mazda dealer. The head gasket has been replaced twice, timing belts have been done at least four times (every 60,000 miles, right on schedule), and the brakes have been serviced numerous times. There is reportedly a 2-inch-thick folder of receipts to back all of this up.

The interior reflects that same careful stewardship. The tan leather seats show some minor color wear, but the leather itself is said to be in great shape — a little dye and you’d never know. The soft top is only a few years old and is described as tip-top. The car has been painted five times over the years: two accident-related touch-ups and a few general refreshes, with the last one done in 2015. The fenders have been replaced twice, and some rust repair was done at the sills just ahead of the rear wheel wells — the seller notes that area is starting to come back just slightly, so it’s worth a look. The Kumho Solus tires were replaced in 2015 and show little wear; garaged storage has kept UV damage to a minimum.

Turn the key and the 1.8L DOHC four-cylinder fires right up, oil pressure reportedly sitting at a healthy 60 psi at cold idle and 35 psi at warm idle. The clutch is where it should be, and the five-speed manual shifts smoothly throughout the range. Everything, the seller says, “sings harmoniously.” A 7-piece set of fitted luggage is included with the sale, along with the body-colored hardtop.

At around 90 years old, Ro and her husband were still driving this car, it was only an upcoming move to a smaller home with just two garage spaces that forced the sale. If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about this Miata, nothing will. Please have a look at the photos and reach out to the seller with any questions about this well-loved, well-documented 1994 Mazda Miata listed here as a Barn Finds Exclusive!

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