https://www.youtube.com/embed/PqaWWj5AMxo
Which NA-chassis Mazda Miata is the one to buy? After all, the first-gen model received numerous changes during its production run from 1990-1997.
To help you decide, we breakdown of some of the most important model-year changes and even cover the many special editions released.
Thank you Tim for the video.
Nice compliment to your recent magazine article on NA Maita's.
I agree, the 1.6 are rev happy, which equates to a more Zoom-Zoom feeling of fun a car to drive, even slow speeds.
I have a NA6 and NA8 that I will be keeping until I can longer drive.
See you and staff and Monterey Kick-Off Aug 16,2022
My '95 NA is now and will always just be a driver. At 165,000 miles it has been enjoyed!
In reply to jr02518 :
There's something about those NB five-spokes on an NA. Nicely done.
And I took mine for another top-down drive last night. 
In reply to Crossworth :
Last night I took a friend for a quick drive in my 1.6. He echoed your comment: It just feels alive.
It's the cam. Mazda built the 1.6 to wake up at 4000. Customers started asking for "more low end power" so that's how they tuned the 1.8. The trend towards a big flat torque curve has continued ever since, with the ND2 finally picking up an interesting upper end for the first time since 1993.
I think the collector NA of choice is the 1993 LE. It's a more interesting and less common car than the 1991 BRG.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Oh yeah, seeing those red seats in the black car always makes me snap my head around. And you can't forget the stellar speaker covers in the doors.
The BBS wheels on the 93 LE also looked great. Seeing well kept ones in person is a treat.
It seems to me that some people will care if the car is before or after OBD2 / 1996. OBD2 makes the car easier to diagnose but many states have given up emissions tests for cars without an OBD2 port. You might want one for an all original car or you might want the other if you intend wild modifications. Classic Motorsports or Grassroots Motorsports.
Got a USB stick full of pics of my Miata and a couple of canvas prints for the garage for Christmas. This seems like a good excuse to put them up. '94R.
'94 = no emissions test. I love OBDII for helping diagnose things, but it does get in the way of tasteful mods...
Love that second picture, jwagner.
LS-powered track 1994, 1.8 swapped, turbocharged and reasonably heavily modified street 1990, early production 1990 survivor. It's the only pic I have of them all together, they don't often pose for pics at the same time.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
This reminds me 15 years ago I had a red, white and Blue car collection: a 92 blue NA, red 94 awd talon and a white 91 gallant VR-4.
wish I still 2 of the 3 :)
Every year on July 5th, I think "I should have taken a red white and blue photo. Next year."
I've had 3 NA's and 1 NB. They were all different, but all fun. Since my back and knees no longer function as designed, I'm out of the Miata market, but I still have fond memories. The silver car is a 90 1.6, it was my street car, casual autox car. The red 95 was a track car / autox car. It could be driven on the street, but the seats, harness and coil overs made it a bit uncomfortable. The Mica 95 was the first car I took to a track event. Learned a lot driving that car. The 2000 NB was a daily driver for a year, and was used in 5 different movie productions for a total of 16 days on set. I have to see it on screen once.
Current Miata. Definitely the quickest one I've owned, really wish I didn't sell my 94R though.
If anyone in TX has a pristine white front bumper (I'd love the NA1 with the "Mazda" logo on it), give me a PM please!
In reply to calteg :
The 1990-93 white is not the same as 1994-97, so you'll want to get a bumper from the same year range. The later white is more yellow. I forget the names, Chaste and something like Crystal.
1990-93 (commonly called NA6) white in the foreground.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Yes chaste. I had a chaste white 94 R. I wish I still had it.
Keith Tanner said:In reply to calteg :
The 1990-93 white is not the same as 1994-97, so you'll want to get a bumper from the same year range. The later white is more yellow. I forget the names, Chaste and something like Crystal.
1990-93 (commonly called NA6) white in the foreground.
Great info, I did not know that!
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