Red Lobster

So begins chapter 5 of Marco's Roadster Chronicles,

So a few days before the buyer of the BRG was set on buying my car I found this NA. It is a 2 Owner 1995 C-Package (I was told it was an R but after a phone call with Mazda we found out it was a C.) with 104k Miles. The original owner was a Military higher up so he didn't see or drive it that often but was very VERY on top of maintenance. Regardless of miles driven the oil was changed every 3 months on the same date exactly 90 days apart until late 2018 when it was sold to owner #2, I have a receipt for an oil change where the mileage difference between the 3 months was 448 miles. I am tempted to take the valve cover off just to see how clean it is. Speaking of maintenance the car was only ever taken to 1 Mazda Dealership in South Carolina (Where it is originally from) and was serviced for 20+ years at the same exact dealer and I have every single receipt to prove it. It had its water pump and timing belt done 2 times and had its clutch done in 2015 along with a rear main seal. In 2017 is the first receipt that isn't from Mazda and it was for a respray. Sounds odd to respray a car that doesn't drive often and receives lots of maintenance but I later found out this was his only car since 1995 so it did everything so I guess the miles and age caught up and the paint needed a refresh. I have never seen a better respray with my own 2 eyes. the inside of the doors were not repainted but you cannot see any paint or shading difference between the original and new paint it looks fresh off the show room floor. So thankfully owner#1 was a maniac and setup the car to be a very clean platform for a build.

Owner#2 took a very different approach than owner#1. Maintenence and overall care was a huge concern for him as well but he was focused on making the best Autox/Trackcar in existence. The mods on this stockish looking NA are beyond extensive. As someone had told me it is a very USDM Miata the way it has been modded, I have always preferred a 90s styling but the way he modded it really is what a modern track focused american Miata is and I just thought that was really neat personally.

I will list them 96BRG style:

Exterior/Wheels/Brakes/Suspension:

R-Package Front Lip
eBay Turn Signals (Which I will admit have grown on me. I do have a OEM set ready to go on but I want to run these for a little.
MazdaSpeed Front and Rear Towhooks
NB2 Soft Top with Glass Window.
Enkei RPF-1 (14x7 +28)
Falken Azenis (195/60/14)
Flyin Miata Strut Bar
Flyin Miata SS Brake Lines
GLOC Front Pads
Hawk HPS Rear Pads
Motul 600 Brake Fluid
MazdaSpeed Motor and Differential Mounts
Racing Beat Front and Rear Sway Bar
Racing Beat Endlinks
Fortune Auto Coilovers with Swift Springs


Attachment 22533
Attachment 22534
Attachment 22535

Interior:

Works Bell Hub
Personal Wheel with matching Red Stitching
Track Dog Racing Seats and Floor Mounts and a 1 Inch Floor Drop
Sparco Harnesses (These need to be changed because I work at OMP :teehee:)
Voodoo Shifter
5X Racing Shifter Rebuild and Brass Bushing
AutoMeter Gauges (Oil Pressure and Coolant Temp)
BlackbirdFabWorks Rollbar in a custom grey color.

Attachment 22536
Attachment 22537

Performance:

Racing Beat Header
Racing Beat Test Pipe
Fujitsubo RM01A Catback
DDM Works Heat Shield.
California made intake filter with no specific brand but works great.(No worries I have a cool replacement)
Depowered Steering Rack
AC Delete
Torsen LSD (Factory)

Attachment 22538
Attachment 22539

Now that the car has been picked up it was time for the trek home. It started in Tampa Florida where I visited Randy he happened to be super close to where the sale took place and then I made my way to Orlando to see Evan and his gorgeous Supercharged 2000 SE (He has just started a build thread for it so give it a read!). After driving backroads, Boba Tea and catching up I had to make the 3 Hour 30 Minute trek home. Made it home thankfully in 1 piece and the car drover perfectly and had 0 issues at all. I am really happy with the new roadster and cant wait to drive and mod it even more!

The interior is so damn nice. Love the half carpet idea.

Looks so well sorted. agreed on the half carpet. don't see that very often but I have to say I'm tempted myself now.

Very nice.

The Best thing about the half carpet is it is only on the drivers side, the passenger side maintains all of its carpet still.

Retropower UK had done something similar with painted/exposed metal panels on an Alfa; really tempted to do something similar in a well sorted, simplified NA build.

I would like to do a carpeted center console to really enhance the race car appeal of it yet keep some comfort.

How's the Fujitsubo exhaust? I've been debating different exhausts to get, and the RM01A is on the list.

Love the car and can't wait to see what you do with it!

The exhaust sounds amazing!

Remember I have a RB Header, and a RB Test Pipe so it is louder than a car with a cat for sure but its a nice loud. Has an aggressive race car tone with lots of pops on decel and down shifts.

Soon I will record a nice video for everyone.

However the exhaust is discontinued so if you can find one buy it. I think supermiata has a couple left.

1 Month Ownership Update:

So this NA has been fantastic, 0% problems, and 100% fun. No AC has been ehhhh especially being in Miami but that is why I have the Fit and no PS isn't too bad especially with aggressive camber. I just have a few tiny little things I need to do and somethings I have done for today's update.

First up is Moss Miatas Visor Delete plates. I sit so low due to the floor drop that visors are completely useless so might as well get rid of them and save a pound. The quality is top tier you can say they're OEM. Tad pricey for a visor delete but well worth it and fits so nicely.
Attachment 22610
Attachment 22611
Attachment 22617
Attachment 22616

Next up is a set of Mazda OEM Windshield wiper arm caps. I was missing one and you just cant buy 1 or it looks off both need to be super fresh.
Attachment 22612

Now to the fun stuff- This Roadster as many have described is USDM Spec. I do like the styling, it is neat and different for someone like myself because I love the JDM styling but I am sure we all know that I at least need some cool stuff.

First up is something I found very cool. From the BRG I kept its radiator cap because I found it peculiar because it is made by Calsonic and it looks very neat and better than OEM. I didn't know a Calsonic cap came on the USDM Miatas but I found it interesting, kept it, and put it to use on my Roadster.
Attachment 22613

Next up are 2 really special goodies.

First is my ARC air box which I kept from my old NA8, has an almost new ARC filter in it.
Second part means a lot to me because it is my first ever rare part which is my Mazdaspeed Strut Bar, I have had it for 5 years and has been on 4 Roadsters.
Attachment 22614
Attachment 22615

Finally I had a furry friend decide to be in my picture session.
Attachment 22618
Attachment 22619

Kitteh!!!

Attachment 22631

seen this car in person, its in fantastic shape !!!