Mazda to restore early MX-5s

Factory restoration programme, but for Japan only

UP TO NOW, factory-enacted restorations have been the province of car makers perceived as prestigious – witness the ‘Reborn’ Range Rovers and Jaguar E-types, the creations of Porsche Classic, the output of Aston Martin Works Service. Now Mazda is to carry out full refurbs of the Mk1 MX-5.

The man behind the plan is Nobuhiro Yamamoto, deeply involved with the sports car’s gestation and 1989 launch and nowadays the Mazda Corporation’s Roadster Ambassador. There are two strands to the project: currentlyunavailable parts will be manufactured again, and following a pilot project at an ‘experienced third-party organisation’ Mazda will restore customers’ cars in-house.

The idea comes in response to pleas from enthusiasts in Japan, who say they want to continue driving their cars ‘for all time’ and crave genuine parts. The business, dubbed Restore, will start accepting cars later this year with a view to starting work in early 2018, which is when new parts such as the hood, originalpattern Bridgestone tyres and Nardi steering wheel with matching gearlever knob will become available. More parts will follow.

At the moment, this is to be a Japan-only operation handling the Eunos Roadster, as the MX-5 was known in Japan. Early Roadsters in top condition are becoming very valuable in their homeland, which helps make restoration viable. British and American enthusiasts will be watching developments with interest.