mx5cartalk.com

Hi all,

This is quite a personal thread, as this car is a family member as they all are, but with a story.

It’s an August build 1989 NA6. The VIN ends in 47, with all of the available zeroes in front. It was in the first shipment of MX5's to Australia and landed in VIC, and that's all I know.

Fast forward a few years, and the car was purchased in 1997 by my late father in law, a farmer who invented, modified and improved everything mechanical that he owned, except for this car.

He bought it on a day pass from hospital after he underwent a kidney transplant, as a gift for his wife who donated her kidney to him, hence the car's name "Kidney".

It currently has 280,000 km on the clock, so here's the beginning of the next stage of it's life.

Went to collect it today - it hadn't really been dríven much in the last 5 years, except when I had it back in 2012 as a loan car.

The mobile makes it look more flattering, but she's still a great little car.

Barn find anyone? (The right rear wheel is missing because we'd taken it for a puncture repair)


So dusty


Quick wash, felt so bad not doing it properly, and mobiles make the car look far better than it really is... it's ok, but not this good!


Made a friend while we were in Masters!


And safe at home with Maniac looking after her Grandmother, as is proper.



I'll try and update this thread regularly - it's going to be a long road ahead, and the car isn't going to be concours condition when she's done, just a nice looking NA6.

Plan at this stage is clean up, see what's what, respray, and go from there. She runs great, I had an absolute ball driving her the 40 mins home, and can see why the NA is a better MX5.

Should be a good thread this.... Interested to hear more and watch it bloom again.

Worthy project. Let me know if there are any internal parts as I'm stripping mine out.

Cool, nice story mate, I look forward to following your progress!

Looks like you're going to have to get a bigger carport though, you can't leave Maniac out in the weather like that.....

Spent today working on it - there was sawdust, mouse droppings and crap all throughout, including in the boot, car has lived on a farm since 5th Feb 1997.

Doors, seat backs and visors looked like this:


Driver's footwell, under the seats, passenger's footwell and boot looked like this:


Driver's side speaker doesn't work - now I know why:



A few hours later, including removing centre consol because passenger's side window was being temperamental (spray all connections with contact cleaner and all good again!)





Verdict: it now looks a lot better, and has some dignity back. Clearcoat has failed on the rear bumper, front bumper, rear corner of boot, and I think there's rust in the passenger's door.

The door cards could do with replacing, it needs a new ashtray, the leather on the steering wheel is looking a little tired, and most surprisingly - the driver's side bolster is in a lot better condition than I'd expect for the kilometers on it. (Must get pics of these parts - the car is in good condition for it's age and mileage and on first impressions or from a distance, actually looks pretty good)

Looks pretty good from the pictures.

Okibi wrote:Looks pretty good from the pictures.

It does, but you'll notice we haven't had an engine bay shot yet......

BTW, I didn't think the Red got a clearcoat from the factory.

Great story. Keep it coming.

Cool story. Great to see an early NA survive. Looking forward to seeing where this goes.

I have a spare set of Alpine door speakers that I could let go of for cheap...


Radio/Speakers--------------2.65kg

Plus I will be pulling out the electric windows at the end of October if you need some parts.

Going to enjoy watching this. Such an early arrival deserves some special treatment ...

Hi guys,

Thanks for the offers of stuff - will be looking to purchase replacement bits next year, this year so far is to see what I can fix without parts, locate a hard top, and decide when a respray will take place. Sooner rather than later as you'll see from the following photos.

So - damage on the seat for this many kms: pretty good - long trips, or repaired?


An easy job:


Going to need some more time on the soft top with a toothbrush!


Steering wheel is getting tired - can these be refurbished?


Faded rear bar:



Peeling Paint front bar:


Peeling Paint boot lid:


At this point, it looks like this won't be the first respray the car has had - I had a go on the bonnet with a rotary polisher, cutting compound and a coarse pad - result: no red on the pad at all, so I think there's clearcoat, not original. (All the other early red NAs I've had a go at polishing have made the pads look like they should be handed in as evidence in a murder case)


Here you go Nevyn72 - engine bay shots


Bolts need tensioning, or the valve cover gasket in need of replacement or both:


Any ideas for refurbishing rusty items like this?


Or this?


Or this?


Nevyn72 - don't need a bigger carport, just more creative parking! Line behind my car on the driveway is where the roof of the carport comes to.


And lastly, her badge of pride - both for the car, and us!


Her badge of service



I'll be researching all things NA for quite some time to come - this lady will have her day again!

Change those blue IGN leads before someone thinks your modding this NA !!

My first thought as soon as I opened the bonnet... and I think I know who did it too.

Well meaning lad, but he also thought that he might be able to purchase this one to turn into a V8 track pig. Not happening!

Well done saving the MX5, it is now in great hands. I can't wait to read more .....