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PLC380 - Brad's Evolution Gold NB8A

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:27 pm
by tuned_to_fly
Hi guys and girls,

I previously owned a fairly well modded Mazda3 and was getting to the stage where everything had to be custom made so I decided it was time to sell up and move on. Having paid off loans etc I didn't want more debt so I thought an NB MX-5 fitted my needs perfectly as a weekend warrior.

Its a 1998 model in Evolution Gold and as of Sunday has 40,228kms on the clock! Its in what can only be described as perfect condition and has already received a few mods and 2 clay bars, paint protection, numerous waxes etc etc.

Image Image Image Image Image

Mods already on the car were:
-Antera 123 16x7.5 wheels imported from Italy with Bridgestone Potenza GIII 215/45/16 tyres.
-Rob Bliss exhaust designed by Loch Stewart.
-Mazda rear wing.
-Ghetto Alpine fold out screen and six stacker in boot. My audio installer said this was one of the first Alpine fold out screens ever back in 97 and was worth a fortune back then.
-Momo Combat Carbon gear knob.

Mods in my 2.5 weeks of ownership:
-Replaced head unit with an Alpine CD/IPod/USB unit and added DDLinear speakers. Also removed stacker and all wiring.
-New exhaust tip.
-TWM Performance Classic shift knob.
-MX5Plus front number plate bracket.
-PLC380 plates.
-A few new interior trim pieces to replace the ones his handsfree kit was screwed into.

Mods coming up in the next 2 or so weeks (hopefully):
-Enkei RPF1 wheels 16x7 35+.
-GT500 carbon mirrors.
-Coilovers will be later this year.

It's an awesome car and I can't wait to hit the track when time permits I also spent a lot of time on ozmazdaclub.com so hopefully I can be as active here as I am on that site in the coming years.

Few pics of the old 3 before it was stripped naked:
Image Image Image

Cheers
Brad

From Mazda3 to MX-5 - PLC380

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:52 pm
by timetorelax
love the colour :wink:

You can tell in the pictures your 5 is in fantastic condition! BTW your 3 looked pretty good as well.

From Mazda3 to MX-5 - PLC380

Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:27 am
by philz
Nice car!

And funnily enough your car interior looks very similar/exact to mine, alpine headunit in same location and "diamond shape" gearknob.

From Mazda3 to MX-5 - PLC380

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:50 pm
by timk
Pretty sure it was you I bumped into you at Queen Mary Falls, if so I was the dude with the red SE.

From Mazda3 to MX-5 - PLC380

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:00 pm
by Hot Rodders
:o Be sill my beating heart! Great choice in colour. I also frequent ozmazda. I have also put in the chrome vent rings and fuel cap which gives it a nice lift.
Welcome over from The Dark Side. 8)

From Mazda3 to MX-5 - PLC380

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:20 pm
by d-mag
Clean car man!

I was a big fan of your 3, it was one of the best 3's in the country! Easily.

Look forward to seeing what you do with the 5. Lots of potential there mate.

From Mazda3 to MX-5 - PLC380

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:52 am
by Okibi
Awesome shine :mrgreen:

PLC380 - Brad's Evolution Gold NB8A

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 2:59 pm
by tuned_to_fly
Alright, it's been months since I first posted so time for an update on the slow but steady progress.

Mods since my last post include:
-Federal battery.
-Sun visor blanking plates to fill the spaces left from removing the visors.
-Blue LED dash lighting.
-Formula GT3 Carbon Fibre mirrors.
-Fire extinguisher mounted to passenger floor via VIC MX-5 Club mount.
-Beatrush radiator cooling panel.
-Jackson Racing ignition wires.
-Rennenmetal tow hooks.
-MX-5 Plus Single Hoop roll bar in satin black.

My main focus to date has been insuring the car is running the best fluids and semi-consumables have been replaced. Gearbox & Diff are now running Redline Oil, gear boots and pedal covers have been replaced etc etc.

A massive thanks to the boys at MX-5 Plus also :mrgreen: The roll bar was installed a few days ago along with a 50k service and their service and quality was spot on. Finally I have found somewhere I feel I can leave my car without having to worry!

It was raining outside and I only have a point and shoot camera so photos are quite poor...

Image Image Image Image

Cheers
Brad

PLC380 - Brad's Evolution Gold NB8A - Updated 21/06/09

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 3:07 pm
by sliq
Generally i dislike evo gold but this car's an exception. I dig it.

PLC380 - Brad's Evolution Gold NB8A - Updated 21/06/09

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:16 pm
by Jeo
How are the mirrors?

And if you don't mind, price/where from?

PLC380 - Brad's Evolution Gold NB8A - Updated 21/06/09

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:34 pm
by tuned_to_fly
Jeo wrote:How are the mirrors?

And if you don't mind, price/where from?


Mirrors are great Jeo. Perfect height and are blue tinted for better night vision. Only downside is you look through the black piece of metal holding in the triangular window on the passenger side. After a while you don't even notice it though.

They are APR Performance universal mirrors which are modified by Slickauto to fit Miatas. US$249.

http://www.slickauto.com/sa-miata01.html

PLC380 - Brad's Evolution Gold NB8A - Updated 21/06/09

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:54 pm
by Steampunk
you HAVE to get rid of those anchors you are using as wheels Brad. :wink:

PLC380 - Brad's Evolution Gold NB8A - Updated 21/06/09

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:17 pm
by Szemen
Agreed! Great great car! But ditch those things, those make my ugly rims pretty :P

PLC380 - Brad's Evolution Gold NB8A - Updated 21/06/09

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:45 pm
by tuned_to_fly
Working on the wheels. Damn RPF1s in a decent offset are harder to come by then I could have imagined.

PLC380 - Brad's Evolution Gold NB8A - Updated 21/06/09

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:51 pm
by Hammer
Dude, that's one shiny car. 8)

Now I want to claybar my car, but with all these rain, no point at this stage really. :frown: