Mazda MX-5 Miata NA 1.6

Mazda MX-5 Miata NA 1.6

The Mazda MX-5 (known as the Miata in America and the Eunos Roadster in Japan) is the car that saved the sports car. By the late 1980s, the affordable British roadster was dead — MG, Triumph, and Fiat had all abandoned the segment. A team of Mazda engineers and designers, led by project manager Toshihiko Hirai, set out to recreate the magic of the Lotus Elan and MGB in a modern, reliable package.

The result was an instant classic. The NA Miata weighed under a ton, had a rev-happy DOHC four-cylinder engine, double-wishbone suspension at all four corners, rear-wheel drive, a manual soft top, and perfect 50:50 weight distribution. It wasn't fast — 116 hp saw to that — but it was perfectly balanced, supremely communicative, and utterly joyful to drive.

Mazda called the driving philosophy 'jinba ittai' — horse and rider as one. The Miata's steering, pedals, shifter, and chassis all worked in harmony, creating an analog driving experience that larger, more powerful cars couldn't match. The 5-speed manual gearbox had one of the best shift actions in the industry.

The business case was equally brilliant. Priced at just $13,800 in 1989, the Miata sold like wildfire. Mazda had projected 40,000 units per year; they sold over 100,000 in the first two years alone. The waiting lists stretched for months.

The NA MX-5 spawned an enormous racing, tuning, and modification culture. It remains the most-raced car in America, the backbone of amateur motorsport, and a beloved platform for everything from autocross to time attack to spec racing series. The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes it as the best-selling two-seat sports car ever, with over 1 million units across all generations.