MAZDA MX-5 1.8is

Year of manufacture 1997 Recorded mileage 24,664 Asking price £9995 Vendor KGF Classic Cars, Peterborough; 01733 425140; kgfclassiccars.co.uk

WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £17,995 Max power 138bhp Max torque 119lb ft 0-62mph 8.7 secs Top speed 127mph Mpg 27.7

I’ll be teased by the cynical (by which I mean my dear colleagues) for my selection this month. But no, it’s not an unimaginative choice, it’s the right one. An MX-5 is always the right choice. It won’t excel at carrying a family of four or moving a chest of drawers, but any journey in it will put a smile on your face – especially with the roof down. That is, in part, why it’s my pick: I’m trying to be optimistic and looking forward to summer roads kissed with sunshine.

This late-model NA2 is currently listed with Peterborough-based KGF Classic Cars, whose stock often catches my eye, and, incredibly, its odometer is yet to hit 25,000 miles. That’s around 1000 miles a year, which seems an awful waste. In 2019 I had the privilege of driving Mazda UK’S delightful 1.6i Mk1 and its charming simplicity, agility and no-frills thrills blew me away. If this were mine I don’t think I could resist adding to that mileage.

Having covered so few miles with two careful owners, its third keeper lucks in with an apparently as-new car inside and out. I’ll concede I prefer the ‘Daisy,’ Minilite-esque alloys, but these almost-unmarked factory items look smart. British Racing Green is a becoming shade on this timeless shape, as well as a nod to the models that inspired its creation. Its black fabric roof appears to be in excellent condition, with the look of a car of a few months not almost a quarter of a century old. A previous owner even fitted a rear-screen protector to keep the plastic scratch-free when the hood is lowered. But then this is a car with not just branded mats, but also optional rubber overmats. So as well as being lovingly cared for, it’s well specced, too. Other dealer and aftermarket accessories include a tonneau, a wind deflector and a spare-wheel caddy bag.

Delve into the bulging history file and you’ll see it was registered on 29 September 1997 on Jersey, where its first owner kept it until the 11,550-mile mark around six years later, when it was sold back to the supplying dealer before meeting the dedicated model enthusiast who has loved it ever since.

It is definitely not the cheapest Mk1 out there, but a few quid shy of £10k still isn’t a fortune when you consider the fun you’ll have – and how many miles this example has left in it. And while I bet you’ve never meet someone who’s regretted buying an MX-5, you’ll meet many who’ve regretted letting one go.