NA black (speckled egg) hardtop should I paint it?

[Chris P]

Hello everyone,

I recently bought a hardtop that featured on early NA's. Its got a flat black colour and supposedly its stronger and much more rare than later hardtops.

Structurally its A1 but its got dozens of surface scratches on the exterior (showing a lovely yellow/white undercoat) and the interior has scratches too (there is no interior trim). Bought it last week from a guy out on a farm for $1,000...supposedly it was left in the shed with the chooks and animals

I don't like it looking that way and all I want to do is restore it to its former glory...flat black (not glossy) with that rippled/speckled/rough paint surface thanks to my local crash repairer for the grand sum of $350 (to paint outside and inside)...but I reckon I can talk him down to $300

However, die hard mx5 enthusiasts are telling me not to fearing the hardtop will lose its \"limited editioness\"

I'm interested in saving money and buying some spray cans and preparing the surface and doing it myself. So here are my questions

1) Should I get the hardtop repainted black or leave it with its character

2) Can I do it myself (things to look out for?) with some sandpaper and some \"graffitti\" spray cans from the local hardware store

[SuperMazdaKart]

is this the same Chris P thats in Adelaide with the Titanium MX5?

i'd just have repainted unless it can be DIY'd well. your buying it for your car, not as an investment so better to have it looking good.

[Chris P]

G'day Zoombie

Yes thats me.

I bought it for many reasons...security, looks, winter


You are right, its not as an investment, I'll never sell the car, its a car for life.

I thought of re-painting it black (the hardtop's original colour) because it looks nice that way, it would be a fraction more expensive to have it painted body colour - Ti Grey - mazda paint code 25G.

If I had $$$ to burn I thought of having the interior lined in camel brown vinyl.

[SuperMazdaKart]

hrm.. out of all the adelaide guys here i've met, i'm the only one who doesn't have a hardtop...

bleh, i just know i wouldn't be stuffed having to move it on & off.

[Craig]

Chris,

No hartop is a limited edition, and no one hardtop is stronger than another! Talk about Mr Farmer being a salesperson!

Just spray the bugger Titanium...they look great in the factory paint!

Craig

P.S. Did I mention my factory Titanium hardtop cost $1250

[kula]

i had my eggshell black HT painted gloss black..
its a bit tricky to do properly, as it has to be hi-filled and then rubber back before painting...

but the results are good..

[red63sprint]

Im sure a standard accesory for a car that sold 700,000 units cant be too rare.
Paint it!

THe black hardtop thing looks great.

Mines a matching red for a red car and is very nice.

And Adelaides COLD in winter.

[Chris P]

Its settled! I'm a gonna paint the mutha f*cK@

I still like it in black...its looks sporty. At Natmeet I saw a silver NB8A from NSW with a lovely exhaust note and glossy black hardtop and it looked sensational.

Craig holy cow! $1250? What a bargain! I scoured the earth to find a hardtop. Auto wreckers (when they had some in stock) sold hardtops for $950 and I thought I bought mine for a steal...and you got one in Ti grey for $1250! very happy for you and green with envy!

I'm so happy this forum exists. I was actually told by other Adelaide mx5 enthusiasts that it was rare..and was chastised at the suggestion of painting it.

Thanks for the advice guys.

[SuperMazdaKart]

just quote Cartman

\"ey ey! You will respect my Authoritahh!\"

& you got a law background haha.

[Craig]

Craig holy cow! $1250? What a bargain! I scoured the earth to find a hardtop. Auto wreckers (when they had some in stock) sold hardtops for $950 and I thought I bought mine for a steal...and you got one in Ti grey for $1250! very happy for you and green with envy!

Considering the one I bought for my NA cost $1750 (5 years ago now!) and a further $700 to repaint it, it was about time I scored a bargain! A fellow member who I was kinda helping trade up to an SP (lucky so & so) spotted it in his internet searches on Carpoint of all places for $1500 which for a 2002 build HT in the right colour was a bargain as is, let alone being a hideously rare beastie. I mean like out of 150 Titaniums sold how many would have optioned one, let alone have one for sale! Needless to say I was chuffed when they accepted $1250!

I had a pic of the car with it on but seem to have deleted it somehow, but if you'd like to see what it'd look like I can whack it on tomorrow and post you up a picture...you won't go the black look...trust me!

Craig

[Okibi]

I'm going to paint mine to match the car as soon as i can afford it.

[Chris P]

I never thought of it that way before Zoombie..it is my authoritah!

Craig I remember seeing pickies of when Mazboy had his Ti grey and matching hardtop...it did look very nice.

Just doing the math now, hoping to use some of my upcoming tax return to pay for it.

[Craig]

Craig I remember seeing pickies of when Mazboy had his Ti grey and matching hardtop...it did look very nice

A bit like this no doubt!

[Shadow]

and look at all that dirt

(and this coming from a guy who went to a rally down 3km of dirt roads )

but a nice look all the same, very shmick.

[SuperMazdaKart]

so i gather it doesn't have a demister on it?

i think Rain X make some anti fog stuff for glass.