Rare MX5

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Sat Apr 12, 2025 2:22 pm

Saw one of these whilst out walking this am. First one I have ever seen 'in the flesh'. Definitely looked different on the road from any regular MX5 I have seen. They look good in Coupe form. I'd have bought one of these if they had been available when I bought the MX5.
I think there may have been a 'meet' happening 'up the mountain' as I saw a few other interesting cars as well. (Lotus Elise and a thirties Ford coupe).

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Sat Apr 12, 2025 2:28 pm

Another photo off the net.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Sat Apr 12, 2025 3:48 pm

Think I saw that car in the background of a Qld video.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Sat Apr 12, 2025 9:57 pm

Could have been lowered a bit. Seemed to hunker-down on the road. In the original yellow and didn't look like a repaint. I kept an eye out in case it came back down the road. I would have flagged it down for a closer look and a chat. Wonder if you can get a full-size spare in the boot.

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Sat Apr 12, 2025 10:07 pm

The late and much missed Russ Maxwell had one almost exactly like the photo, but no ducktail spoiler and IIRC no eyelids, I just looked at the photos from his memorial, all his MX5s were there but not that one. I remember chasing him around SMP South in it - but Russ was a hard man to catch!

I think it was the car that Chris Gough used to finally get through the old REVs scheme, allowing both the NA and NB hardtops to be registered here, and I think Russ bought it direct from Chris.

Niiice

.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 11:51 am

Russell Battisson also owned the yellow one, which eventually went on the market after his passing in 2014.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 12:56 pm

Some background:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=73023&hilit=coupe

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=73023&hilit=coupe&start=15

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=29504

viewtopic.php?f=57&t=29503

As per my post in the second URL, the yellow one, which has been owned by a couple of ACT club members, sold on ebay in very late 2014 or 2015 for $17k odd.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 2:38 pm

Only the NB came in coupe.
I'd buy one for $17k, easy.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 4:00 pm

I was wondering if it came with a back seat in any of the three guises, but no, just a 'parcel-tray' type of arrangement.

Mate's BRZ has a little back seat squeezed into the design which shows it can be done in even a small coupe. Also sports a full-size OE spare wheel! In overall concept the BRZ reminds me so much of the 240Z I would have bought in 1976 if I could have come up with another $2K.

Craig · Postby **Craig** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 4:36 pm

bruce wrote:Only the NB came in coupe.
I'd buy one for $17k, easy.

They had a crack at the NA too

https://www.rushmagazine.co.uk/post/maz ... mx-5-coupe

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 4:59 pm

Yeah, that is just 'drop-dead gorgeous' isn't it? I can't look at it too long as it makes me sad that I couldn't get my hands on one.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 8:53 pm

Yeah, but the NAs were one offs, NB went into very limited production.

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Thu Apr 17, 2025 11:59 am

bruce wrote:Only the NB came in coupe.
I'd buy one for $17k, easy.

$17k in 2014/5 was probably about double the value of an NB8B roadster. Not necessarily equivalent to current prices...

Rocky wrote:I was wondering if it came with a back seat in any of the three guises, but no, just a 'parcel-tray' type of arrangement.

That's where the fuel tank is - this looks basically identical to a roadster sans soft top. No easy way to incorporate a back seat without extending the wheelbase.