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Thread: Red Retro NA on a new Baby budget

  1. #1
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch CitizenSteve's Avatar
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    Red Retro NA on a new Baby budget

    I have recently picked up a 1990 Red Mk1 (NA) after having owned a Mk2 (NB) for a couple of years. I have recently had a baby and my wife decided a Miata was not a suitable family car so I agreed to sell the NB but regretted it from that day. So after 2 months of constant moaning I have a NA which I already prefer over the NB and plan on going in a vintage / retro direction with it. Progress will be slow as babies seem to be expensive and I lack any mechanical skill but I am keen to learn!

    I plan on creating a retro / vintage themed roadster as this look was what got me back into Mx5 ownership. I have a lot of plans and have made a few updates so far. I am going to concentrate on the interior mostly this year. However, the wheels are currently really letting down the exterior as other than the scruffy wheels the exterior is in great condition for its age. I knew I would not be able to convince my wife at this moment to let me buy new wheels and the wheels on my NA were in pretty shocking condition. Therefore, I decided I would do some research and attempt to refurb the daisies myself.



    First I started by sanding them down as best I could before adding 3 coats of primer.








    Then I added 3 coats of silver wheel paint and 3 coats of clear lacquer





    I am really pleased with the way they have come out considering I have very little talent or skill in this area, just wished I had masked the tyres a little better but they will do until next year when I can replace them.



    Also added an offset plate


  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to CitizenSteve For This Useful Post:

    20bppmx5 (06-30-2014),Hammy (07-01-2014)

  3. #2
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch CitizenSteve's Avatar
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    Next to turn my attention to the faded and worn interior. First thing I needed to do was a very thorough clean.

















    At the same time I changed the gaiters and headunit



    Looking and smelling much nicer inside there now

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    20bppmx5 (06-30-2014)

  5. #3
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch CitizenSteve's Avatar
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    Replaced the cracked white mirrors with cheap ebay chrome ones. I will update these when funds allow as they look ok but aren't very functional.








  6. #4
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch CitizenSteve's Avatar
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    The gentleman advised when I bought the car that the clutch was slipping and would need replacing, this was reflected in the price I paid. Although I want to use this car as an opportunity to teach myself basic mechanics but after researching online I didn't want to attempt this job so I ordered the below which was fitted by my mechanic friend.

    I ordered this clutch kit and a full service kit from MX5Parts



    I have really enjoyed reading the retro / vintage thread on this forum and have taken a lot of inspiration from cars in it. One of the most worn parts of the car was the door cards and handles. I ordered some quilted material on eBay and read a few guides online on how to make your own door covers.













    I ordered a few bits from Jass Performance including these leather door straps. As always excellent customer service and quality from Vlad at Jass Performance.







    I have loads of material left over so I covered the arm rest


  7. The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to CitizenSteve For This Useful Post:

    20bppmx5 (06-30-2014),BlitzWing (07-01-2014),Hammy (07-01-2014),RuckkehrMiata (07-06-2014),speedypenguin (07-01-2014),ueru (07-01-2014),WASABI (06-30-2014)

  8. #5
    Admin / Pit Boss / Miataholic Phatmiata's Avatar
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    Welcome!!! Wow a bunch of improvements already!!! Looks great!!

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    CitizenSteve (07-02-2014)

  10. #6
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch CitizenSteve's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Phatmiata View Post
    Welcome!!! Wow a bunch of improvements already!!! Looks great!!
    Thank you mate.

    Received these very nice retro toggle loveliness from DaveM on a different forum. Feel excellent quality and look great fitted.







    A few more bits have arrived which I will hopefully fit soon and update on here. I also ordered a custom piece which should look amazing when it arrived.

    Thanks for reading.

  11. #7
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power BlitzWing's Avatar
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    those door cards look great.

    hey if you want a set of Bilstein shocks I've got the set that came off my 94 just kicking around. I will be honest the springs are starting to sag but its all yours if you want them.

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    CitizenSteve (07-02-2014)

  13. #8
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch CitizenSteve's Avatar
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    Blitzwing that would be great. How much do you want for them and where are you mate.

  14. #9
    Super Moderator atank's Avatar
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    Steve your Roadster is coming along very well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    CitizenSteve (07-02-2014)

  16. #10
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch Hammy's Avatar
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    Good work Steve. Keep it up.

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    CitizenSteve (07-02-2014)

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    Very nice!

    Will you show the underside of the arm rest, please?

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    CitizenSteve (07-02-2014)

  20. #12
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch CitizenSteve's Avatar
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    Thanks for the feedback all. Martin - I will try and get a pic of the underside and post it up on the forum.
    Cheers
    S

  21. #13
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch CitizenSteve's Avatar
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    Next on my ever growing list was a stainless steal cup holder and gear surround. They only took a couple of mins to fit but here are a couple of pics.






    Next thing I wanted to do was update was the instrument cluster surround. Again, I have seen how amazing these can look on the right theme on the Retro thread on this forum. I ordered from Jass Performance but was worried that fitting this may be a little beyond me. I won't lie, I did find it quite tricky, especially removing the clear plastic cover. Despite being slow and patient I did crack it a little but thankfully it doesn't really notice. Maybe it wasn't warm enough for the glue to soft, who knows. Other than that I am really pleased with how it has turned out, there are a couple of tiny finger prints but I can barely notice and don't have the urge any time soon to remove the glass panel again.












  22. #14
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch CitizenSteve's Avatar
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    I really like the hazard toggle switches and feel they really set off the look I am going for so decided that the window switches needed to be a similar style. I decided I would try and make my own after buying some switches from Maplin but just didn't have the skill to make it look manufactured. I decided to swap out the cup holder and swap it for the combined cup holder and toggle switch.






  23. #15
    Supporting Member fwdtamiya's Avatar
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    Those gauges are pretty cool

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