Expense account

[turbodrabbit]

So I am new to this forum, I felt like one of the bigger ones wasn't for me. Too much passive aggressive middle aged men

Anyhow, I have been in love with Miatas since I was 16, my father is a car dealer and brought home a black 1994 R Package. It was a great deal, I think he paid like $2,100 in 2001. We made a deal that I would buy it if my grades were good, and they were, but while I was on vacation he sold it to my uncle. So fast forward 10 years and I was driving back to MD from San Diego in my veggie diesel rig aka "Kingsley"




My friends and I drove through Austin TX for South by Southwest, and I spotted this sad looking 1994 Miata with dead tags, covered in leaves. I left a note under the wiper, and two days later the lady called me. She had owned it for years, but it needed work. She wanted $1500 which was way too much, so I spent three months working the price down to $700. At that point I was in MD, so I jumped a plane and my girlfriend caught a ride out from San Diego.




Well, it had one daisy wheel, a broken steering rack mount, dented passenger door/fender, dirty interior, and a bad back window. But it only had under 70k miles on it.


I also forgot to mention the hail damage, the trunk looked like it had been beat on by a ball peen hammer. So strapping our luggage to it wouldn't do any harm. So the road trip started and it took us through Houston, Amarillo, Colorado Springs, Denver, Salt Lake, Bay Area. Then I was solo to Arcata, Portland, Spokane, Missoula, Minneapolis, Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, S. Indiana for a wedding, Denver, Pittsburgh, and back to MD. All in three months!

So I got home and started the repairs. Scored a door,fender, and trunk lid off another black 1994 Miata. A friend gifted me a set of 1994 polished M edition wheels, but I hated the looks. So I found this one craigslist:



I got it cheap, it had been sitting and that pictures was when I had gotten it back from the detailer. I love the 1995 M edition, but sadly it was an east coast car and I couldn't keep both. We parted ways, but only after I got the seats, door panels, 15" bbs wheels, and the door sills.



Since that photo I have added an R package front lip, and I have the trunk spoiler and rear lip waiting to go on. Added a protege steering wheel and 2011 Miata shift knob. I also picked up a black hardtop from this ahole old man I met in a junkyard. He mentioned that he was looking for a radio for his Miata because the insurance company was about to pick up his wifes 1999. She had hit someone and he thought it was totaled, but he wanted to keep the stereo, which he had rebuilt. Apparently the insurance company told him he needed to have one in the car.

Anyhow, he mentioned it had a hardtop. Then and there I offered to buy the car from him with the top, as most insurance companies give you an option to buy. I told him I would pay the price plus some in his pocket. It took some talking but I got his phone number. I called him the next day and he said he would call me. Anyhow I didn't hear back for a week, made a call and he said the insurance company picked up the car. Frustrated I hung up on him, but he called me back to say he kept the hardtop.

I wish it ended there, but the guy stood me up twice and the last time I laid into him, told him now or never. I picked up the top for $700 and it was beautiful. The women had never taken it off the car.

Performance wise the car is fairly stock, I have a set of KYB AGX with Racing Beat springs/NB tophats waiting to be installed. I have installed a short shifter, and a set of 2003 SE pedals. I found a 1995 Miata in a salvage yard which is supercharged, roll bar, but the yard wouldn't budge on the price, and I believe it was a bit high. We will see how that one pans out, wish I new the history on the car (what kit, etc.)

Anyhow, I think that is a good start. Oh, and I just picked this up:



By the way, never start adding what you have in a car. I downloaded a nice excel app for my phone and started tracking what I had in the Miata, I dubbed it expense account. Since it is so far from being done, and it adds up quick.

[WASABI]

That's quite a story, and looks like you have a very nice car. I think you have all the good parts from all different year Miatas too. The BBS/interior bits from the '95 were a great addition....hard top as well. Now just get that super charger and you're golden. Good luck with the build.

-Jim

[— Phatmiata —]

nice finds!!! you have a lot of the choice parts now!!

[moerdogg]

Nice Miata, good luck! Love the diesel wagon, too.

[—atank—]

It all looks good!!!

[—tsingson—]

BBS wheels look good on there man! Welcome and make yourself at home.