1998 Mazda MX-5 1.8is

‘R166 OEH’ is a bit unusual in that it started life as a UK-spec Mazda MX-5 and has been converted to a Japan-market Eunos Roadster.

You see, the seller loves the JDM look, which led him to buy a green Eunos with a tan interior. Sadly, this turned out to be a bit of a dog and rather than invest a five-figure sum in restoring it and then owning a restored five-figure dog, he talked to The MX-5 Restorer who just happened to have their eye on a rather nice UK-spec MX-5 that was painted in the same shade of green.

A plan was hatched and money changed hands to execute it – and it was a LOT of money as it involved far more than just swapping the interior: As an enthusiast the seller knows the MX-5’s weaknesses better than most, so he paid to have it stripped down and have what little rust there was cut out and new metal welded in.

The photos online show how limited the corrosion was, but part of his cunning plan was to completely replace the chassis rails with 3mm thick steel versions from The MX-5 Restorer, to reduce scuttle shake while also ensuring that ham-fisted mechanics wouldn’t be able to compromise the MX-5’s rigidity by bending the sills with an ill-placed jack.

He changed the interior too, including some frankly OTT details like sourcing matching wood trim for the handbrake and then having it restored to a slightly patinated finish to match the rest of the interior.

He is, as you will have guessed, a lovely chap as well as a dyed-in-the-wool MX-5/Eunos obsessive, which makes him exactly the right person to buy one from.

The folding vinyl roof, with its zip-out plastic rear window, which makes it ideal for a cooler cockpit on scorching days, was replaced in February 2024 at the same time as the paintwork was machine polished, the front bumper painted, the windscreen replaced, and the rear panel swapped from the customer’s old MX-5 onto this one. The same car also donated its wiper arms, wind deflector, side reflectors, rear panel, and door bushes.

Plus its fully refurbished, seven-spoke, 14-inch Eunos alloy wheels, which are fitted with matching 185/60R14 Uniroyal Rain Expert 5 tyres. Everything is in an excellent condition with no scuffs or scrapes to the rims and plenty of tread left on the rubber, which was made in 2023.

The headlamps were realigned within their aperture too, and he has since upgraded them to LED units. However, if you prefer originality to being able to see where you’re going, he was careful to retain the originals.

Speaking of which, the bonnet badge is the Eunos one, as are the ones at the rear that identify it as a ‘Eunos Roadster’. The rear numberplate surround is also sized to accommodate Japan-market size plates, and the front plate sits off-centre too. These were conscious decisions, and we admire his singlemindedness in creating the JDM-style Eunos he loves.

The rear lamp units are in good shape with no cracks, chips, or other damage, and that recent hood furls and unfurls very well indeed; others might have arrived since, but most still consider the MX-5 hood’s engineering to be a masterpiece in elegant simplicity.

The doors latch very well too, not least because of the ‘Just Send It’ upgraded door bushes, which prevent rattling while also stiffening the feel of the car a little thanks to reduced flex within the door apertures. Oh, and the small sections of rubber seal you can with doors open are simply there to prevent dashboard end plug rattles. (Today’s word is “meticulous”.)

As for flaws and blemishes, the front end shows lots of stonechips, and the bonnet has three small dents in it, one above the nearside headlamp and two at the front. Both doors have dents in them as well as road rash along the bottom. The nearside headlamp cover has a scratch and there are chips in the paint on the nearside door and rear wing, the boot lid, and the offside door and front wing.

He’s been happy to chalk this up to the Mazda’s developing patina, and we suspect you could be happy to do the same, perhaps after investing in having a paintless dent removal expert knock out the worst of the dinks.

As we mentioned, the seller’s Eunos donated its interior, including the Nardi steering wheel and oil pressure gauge. The seller felt the Eunos’s oil pressure gauge was a crucial update as the one on early cars displays an actual reading, whereas the later version tells you only that the engine has oil pressure, not how much – and being a perfectionist he wanted to ensure he knows exactly what is going on under the bonnet…

This fastidiousness means you probably won’t be surprised to learn that he also had the dashboard painted at the same time, nor that he later had the seats reupholstered in vinyl and Alcantara, which means they still look like new.

This work was done by Peter at Upholstery Mate, and he decided to take this route rather than simply buying better seats because his not only have the speakers in the headrests, they also have the rare factory fitment of speakers within the backrest.

He has also installed a matching Nardi handbrake sleeve (carefully restored so as not to look too new…) and gearknob, plus a Jass uprated gearshift boot kit. A Rostra cruise control found a new home here too, which he believes might be unique in the UK.

Extra sound-deadening and heat insulation has also been fitted under the (very good) carpets, while early MK1 window switches have been retrofitted to provide one-touch operation on the driver's side.

A Pioneer DAB CD player also offers Bluetooth connectivity, while a dashcam offers recordings of the front, inside, and rear of the car.

A fold-down wind deflector is fitted and even the overmats are noteworthy, being from the Japan-market Eunos V Special and worth a few quid all by themselves.

The result is superb; plush and yet very durable, the combination of the wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel and tan-coloured seats and trim is an eye-catching combination that echoes classic sportscars of yesteryear while remaining resolutely of its own era.

The boot contains a space-saver spare wheel plus a good carpet. Oh, and the correct-sized battery and bracket to replace the incorrect one the car came with. (He also sourced and fitted a new washer bottle bracket too, just because…)

As might be expected, the MX-5 had its underside reinforced with 3mm-thick plates in September 2025. Previous repairs had been made to the sills and A-pillars by the MX5 Restorer in February 2024, after which it was undersealed and cavity waxed.

The cambelt and waterpump were changed at the same time, and the limited-slip differential, front and rear droplinks, and brake discs and pads from his old car swapped onto his new one.

He has since fitted a Japspeed aluminium radiator and a Whiteline adjustable anti-roll bar and droplink kit.

Previous service work includes services by Vehicle Life Support in May 2014 September 2012, and April 2010, with Mazda main agents having also serviced it in May of 2006, 2005, 2003, and 2002.

The most recent service, which the seller carried out in February 2025, included a K&N oil filter and Millers CFS 10w40 Fully Synthetic engine oil. He also fitted a Japspeed radiator at the same time, taking the opportunity to flush the coolant system while the swap was being made.

The engine starts well – it is an MX-5 after all – and idles and revs every bit as well as you’d expect. It drives nicely too, because it is a well-fettled Mazda MX-5.

You’d have every right to expect the underside to be both clean and solid, which it is thanks to that significant investment in restoring and upgrading it.

Sure, there are a few rusty fasteners plus a little bit of rust on the offside sill, but these are minor issues and everything else looks superb, including the plastics which are surprisingly free of the sort of scuffs and scrapes you’d expect to see on such a low-slung sportscar.

A few spares are included: Please see the photos for details.

The Mazda’s MoT certificate is valid until February 2027. The only advisory was for a binding offside front brake – and even that was rectified a few days later with a new caliper slider kit. The year before that was a clear pass.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes photos of the restorative work plus invoices, the Mazda wallet and book pack, a workshop manual, and a V5C in the seller’s name.

The VIN identifies it as having been built at the Hiroshima plant in 1996-97 as a Euro-model car.

We haven’t met a single owner who regrets buying an MX-5 – but we’ve met plenty who regret selling.

Because they genuinely are an MGB for the modern era, combining modern-car dynamics with the sort of foot-to-the-floor fun you only get with modestly-powered cars.

And yet, despite everyone touting them as a potential investment for as long as we can remember, they have yet to appreciate as we suspect they will; even this one, with a massive recent expenditure to eradicate the MX-5’s only significant weakness, will probably only fetch somewhere between £6,000 and £8,000.

Which is bonkers – but not as bonkers as the fact the seller is offering it with no reserve, so it’ll be going to a new home wherever the bidding ends up.

So, why not have a cheeky bid and see what happens? After all, it’s not every day you get the chance to put a well-fettled example of a legendary sportscar in your garage for so little.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.