Matt's Betty, NA8C

[MJT_MX5]

The newest member of the fleet.
Betty!

Pic from the drive home today.
First drive home from work had to include a National Park run .
influence for the name: Spiderbait ' Black Betty '
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU1VfYYKMDk

Had a week off work, meaning to get all those little projects you never quite get round to doing done!.
And what did i do, Bought another car, whoops.

Went for the 1100km (return) drive to look at the car last monday, Decided on a good price and put down the deposit.
Just picked it up this weekend,
1996 Aussie NA8C
128'000k's on the clock.
Full service history, well looked after.
lived in Melbourne before 2009, if anyone knows the car.

So far i've put my parts from Whitey on her.
* Hardtop, as the window on the softop is falling out, Included in the sale was a Brand New Robbins Softop!
* Watanabes 15's
* Zoom retro fuel lid
* OEM front lip

To do list:
* Clean & Polish
* Get to the Track!
* Install my Brown Davis Rollbar
* Exhaust
* Suspension

Any opinions on the Mis- Matched hardtop?
In two minds about painting it black.
I actually quite like the white on black.

[MJT_MX5]

Update:
2 weeks into ownership i was rear ended on my way home from work.
Only minor damage, boot lid,bumper, and beaver panel.

It's now in the shop getting repaired, when they said they'd try and give me a equivalent replacement vehicle ND ND ND!!! is all i could think.
Nope, a gutless Kia, does the job, but i'll be happy to hand the keys back.



Installed:
Exterior:
* Hardtop
* Watanabes 15x6.5 +45
* Zoom retro fuel lid
* OEM front lip
* Jet stream turn signal Tsi, Parker light relocated behind the mesh.
* Red bear Tow hooks ( front & Rear )

Interior:
* Vent Rings
* Red leather shift boot & Handbrake cover
* Automotive plus single hoop/ single diagonal tall boy roll bar
* Nardi 350mm
* Nb SE seats, black/ red insert

Engine Bay:
* New radiator

Some pics from before the accident:




Bear tow Hooks!

[joshuam]

Very nice - I like how the subtle red accents on the outside (tow hooks, center caps) all tie in with the interior. A lot of fancy new parts in general too

I was run into back in July and they are finally redoing the job properly at the end of the month. Really annoyed because this has been my final semester of uni, so not much time to enjoy the car.... then as soon as exams are done I can't drive for 1-2 weeks because of an operation and then immediately after that I have to hand my keys in for a week for the repairs and deal with a similarly useless hire car (Then I leave the country for 2 months a week after that.... so yeah, poor unloved MX5 ) All I can say is hopefully they do the job properly for you!

As for mismatched hard top..... its not bad.... but I don't think it ties in with the rest of the style as well as it could. Maybe think of something inventive instead of just black and give it a go?

[Roadster2]

As for mismatched hard top..... its not bad.... but I don't think it ties in with the rest of the style as well as it could. Maybe think of something inventive instead of just black and give it a go?

Agreed regarding the hardtop. I do think black on black would look more neat. Not sure what other colours out there, perhaps some browsing on the net might find something quite nice. A hardtop spoiler may give off a more aggressive look which might be what you're looking for perhaps ?

By the way, whens that shiny part you got off me going in the car ;D ?

[MXO005]

I like it too.

Those TSI's really work on a black car. Best outcome I've seen yet.

Not sure about the white hardtop.
First thoughts were slap some "To protect and to serve" stickers on the doors or wings.
Or "To punish and enslave" if that's your preference.

[MJT_MX5]

The Shiny part is on the LE, sounds good too!
Yeah i was thinking about getting the hardtop painted while in the shop, but the white has grown on me,
This is my muse for keeping it white.


The Job will definitely be done well, its through a mate and a quality smash repair.

[Roadster2]

The Shiny part is on the LE, sounds good too!

Interesting ! Did it make a difference performance wise (I never got around to fitting it on so im curious haha). I've heard it gives a deeper note, although I didn't think it could be heard with a louder sounding intake like mania's.

[KevGoat]

From first looking at the exterior, I really like the white over black. But then the later shots with the red interior accents, the white hard top looks out of place, a distraction. Personally, I'd go all black exterior, maybe with some mild chrome accents to break it up. and allow the interior to really stand out, but that's just my thoughts. Looks great anyway!

[joshuam]

Just popped up in my news feed..... only a few similarities!!!! :O

[MJT_MX5]

New Shoes!
Had these sitting in the garage for awhile, Needed a really good clean before going on the car.
I think there was years of brake dust built up on them, so filthy.
Spec's are SSR reverse Mesh 14x7 +22

[Leon_]

nice wheel, suspension next?

[MJT_MX5]

yeah suspension might be down the track,
got a little bit of work done on the weekend.
Finally got a new/old soft top for it.
I pulled the old one out when i bought the car as it was useless with the window falling out, and have just been running the hardtop.
NB Softop came up for sale, so she finally got a new roof.

So happy when i pulled the carpet up it looked like this, Absolutely No Rust!

New roof in, didn't take much more than 1hr.

[MJT_MX5]

Not too many changes,
Picked up a pair of Lotus which should be good for the upcoming regularity event with the club,
Very comfortable for a fixed back seat, and sits nice and low.

Over the Long weekend i got the other one out for some overdue driving.
Pity the don't both fit in the garage.


Need some better photos of them together.

[MJT_MX5]

First time out at Marulan earlier this month for a Regularity Event with the MX5 club.
Serviced and numbers on, ready for the day.

Car was flawless All-Day, unlike the driver.
My driving skills have hugely improved, and have found a new appreciation for the car.
With a stock car on street tyres i managed a respectable 54.104 sec Lap, Experienced guys in stock 1.8's are low 50's.
Don't think i put a complete lap together, i'd get a few corners right.
but still need to work on driving out of the corner, and later braking

The Whole day was great, very well run and alot of help and Advice from the experienced racers.
Anyone whose thought about getting their car on the track, Do It!
You won't be disappointed.
Few Pic's from the day.




When i was pushing at the end of the day, not sure how controlled it was

Link to the full album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/138178876 ... 829575455/