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The Miata will be 30 years old at Retromóvil Madrid

TEXT: RETROMOBILE / PHOTOS: MAZDA

In the early 80s an important automotive concept was dying: That of the moderately affordable sports convertibles. MG, Triumph, Fiat or Alfa-Romeo gave less and less importance to their little roadsters and spyders that had given them such good results. Not to mention Lotus, who had played in another league with their Elans.

Those little convertibles had hitherto been the quintessence of sportsmanship. With hardly any concessions to superficialities, they were built around a good chassis with simple but reliable mechanics that found their best complement in the double carburetion. Unfortunately, from the decade of the shoulder pads, the trend in motorsports was towards an ever greater gentrification, incompatible with the classic.

30th anniversary miata retromobile
Mazda MX-5: heir to the English and Italian sports convertibles

MAZDA MX-5: ESSENCE OF MOTORSPORTS

The credit for revitalizing - almost resurrecting - this fun type of car belongs to Mazda. In 1981, the legendary Kenichi yamamoto he realized, thanks to Bob Hall -a journalist like you and me-, that they should not die. He still wasn't sure if he would save them in their traditional form or by upgrading them to front-wheel drive or mid-engine, but of course he had to do it somehow: They represented first and foremost the essence of motorsport.

They gave two approaches, one American and one Japanese. Finally the first triumphed: The country that made possible the existence of the MG T, the Porsche Speedster or the Trimph TR, to give just a few examples, was able to hit the mark by maintaining a traditional front-center engine and rear-wheel drive configuration. Thus, the P729 project was gradually taking shape under the orders of the engineer Toshihiko Hirai, awarding the design to the prestigious British cabinet IAD.

30th anniversary miata retromobile
This is done, gentlemen

Paradoxically, the Lotus Elan was taken as a reference, a very expensive model in its time, undoubtedly managing to lower its benefits when the MX-5 It was unveiled at the 1989 Chicago show. In its basic configuration—which was really basic, with sheet metal wheels, no air conditioning, power windows, or power steering—it sold for just $14,000. A whole minutiae to enter in the Olympus of driving sensations.

COMMITTED AND THEREFORE SATISFIED

Jinba Ittai. Miata. The first term refers in Japan to the perfect rapport between the rider and his horse. The second, coming from the old German, to the reward that is received in the form of satisfaction. Both presided over the philosophy that gave birth to the Mazda MX-5, which embedded a 16cc 1600V injection bi-shaft engine and 115 hp (later 1.8 of 130) which, together with the gearbox and transmission to increase rigidity, was relatively good for moving a set of around 960 kilos.

The thrust was more than enough for a 0 to 100 in around 8 seconds. Frame-wise, the car was simply on rails thanks to its 50/50 weight split, with a delightful bias toward a fully controllable rear survival. A few simple and modern multi-link suspensions took care of keeping it on the ground. And all this enjoyment was wrapped in a very modern and consistent biological design, whose sympathy and timelessness can be affirmed without fear today. Suffice it to say that its rear lights are on display at the MOMA in New York as an example of the best industrial design of the 80s and 90s.

Through their first two generations, known as NA (1989-1997) and NB (1998-2005), the Miata It was maintained as a race sports car, with options such as a limited-slip differential or a 6-speed gearbox, as well as slightly more powerful mechanics. In some places, such as Japan or Australia, the brand came to couple a turbo that catapulted power up to 180 and 210 hp respectively.

On the other hand, the solidity of the group grew more and more…

mazda mx5 retromovil madrid

4 GENERATIONS AT RETROMOVIL MADRID

And then came what could be considered the ugly duckling of the series. The NC, marketed between 2005 and 2015, represents a change of course towards a truly more comfortable convertible. Even with its brand new design, and although it continued to maintain a sporty character, its equipment and, consequently, its weight, made it clear. The displacement grew to two liters and the rear suspensions were sophisticated, but it was a certainly different animal that could even be conceived of buying with an automatic gearbox (in its predecessors it was also possible but it looked more like a mistake than just would commit the uninitiated).

Fortunately, the fourth and last generation knew how to correct the rudder. The ND, on sale since 2016, is once again everything a motorist could wish for. And at an unbeatable price: As Jeremy Clarkson stated at the time, no one gives more for less, making it difficult to understand why someone might want to buy, for example, a Porsche Boxster.

For all this, and although the Mazda MX-5 be for now a Young timer newcomer to the world of classics, Retromobile Madrid wants to pay tribute to him on his 30th anniversary. A special Mazda stand will house the four generations of this thoroughbred, which since its launch has exceeded one million units sold.

Objective achieved: It is the most successful roadster in the world.

Do you want to know more about the MX-5? read our test clicking here 😉

Not only the most successful, but also the happiest! (Photo: N. Sáenz de Cámara)

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Written by The Escudería

LA ESCUDERÍA is the main website in Spanish dedicated to Classic Cars. We give all kinds of machinery to move by itself: From cars to tractors, from motorcycles to buses and trucks preferably powered by fossil fuels...

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