We’re talking, of course, of the Mazda MX-5, known widely since it first appeared as the Miata. A post like this one can make you really feel your years, I guess, given that this marks 30 years since the first Miata scampered onto our shores. With more than 1 million units sold across four generations, the MX-5 Miata is far and away the biggest-selling two-seat roadster in automotive history. Then and now, its success is based in large part on its mating Japanese reliability with the ethos of the classic British sports car, like those from MG and Triumph: Simple, totally fun and sanely priced.
Mazda, obviously, wasn’t going to let the 30th anniversary of its bite-size delight pass unnoticed. This year, its dealers have been offering a commemorative run of MX-5 Miatas, all done in a paint and stripe scheme of Racing Orange, with special badging, plus Brembo brakes and Recaro seats to build its road cred. Just 3,000 copies will be sold worldwide, and much of the U.S. allotment is already spoken for through customer pre-orders. See your local dealer.
Jim Donnelly On Wheels 