First factory-restored MX-5

Mazda has completed its first nut-and-bolt restoration of a firstgeneration Roadster (MX-5) under its Japanese NA Roadster Restore programme.

The green Eunos Roadster V-Special’s new owner collected it on 12 September. Mazda announced plans to offer a concours MX-5 revival service last year, delighting fans and enthusiasts by putting many obsolete body panels back into production.

Specialists at its Hiroshima factory built one ‘proof of concept’ car – a red S Package model – to test the strength of its remanufactured components.

The ‘drive in, drive out’ restoration incentive is currently available only to Japanese customers; Mazda UK currently has no plans to offer a similar service.

That said, a list of newly produced parts has appeared on the market thanks to the programme, including V-Special steering wheels, hoods and original equipment specification Bridgestone tyres, together with a spreadsheet listing the new-old stock list in its entirety.

These spares can be ordered internationally, and have been greeted positively by specialists. Autolink UK director, Andy Stott, said: ‘Certain body panels, especially critical sill pieces, were unavailable for more than ten years for MkI “NA” MX-5s. Specialists like us tend to band together and order a container load of parts from Japan every six months – and we’ve noticed prices have started to reappear on bits long superseded. It’s very encouraging.’ mazda.co.jp/carlife/restore/