Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu’s JDM car fleet has grown to hundreds of vehicles, including many unique models. Recently, the Vietnamese JDM car community was surprised when the Mazda MX-5 Miata NA sports car was delivered to the Trung Nguyen Chairman. Interestingly, the car purchase process was kept a secret. The car was then taken to a garage that specializes in restoring Mr. Vu’s “warriors.” After a few months, it was delivered to his residence.
Images shared by the garage show that the original Mazda MX-5 Miata was red with a black soft top. The car’s interior was severely deteriorated, so it was completely removed. The engine was also taken out for inspection. The car was then given a black exterior, and the interior and engine were completely rebuilt.
There are less than five Mazda MX-5 Miata NA models in Vietnam, demonstrating Mr. Vu’s passion for collecting such vehicles. According to our research, this appears to be the second Mazda MX-5 Miata in Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu’s collection. Unlike the frequently seen vehicle, this one belongs to the first generation and is designated as the NA.
The Mazda MX-5 Miata NA is a JDM masterpiece that has appeared in numerous racing and animated films. Its distinctive feature is its adorable pop-up headlights. The NA is the first generation of the Mazda MX-5, which was produced from 1989 to 1997. Inspired by post-war British sports cars, the MX-5 rekindled interest in roadsters after the demise of vehicles like the MG B and Triumph Spitfire. Since its introduction, the MX-5 has won numerous automotive awards and has become the world’s best-selling sports car.
The MX-5 was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show on February 10, 1989, with a price tag of $14,000 (equivalent to $34,12 in 2023). In Japan, the car was not branded as a Mazda because the company was in the process of launching different brands for its luxury models, similar to Nissan’s Infiniti, Honda’s Acura, and Toyota’s Lexus. Instead, the Mazda MX-5 was sold under the name Eunos Roadster and was paired with the MX-3/AZ-3/Eunos Presso (based on Japanese Mazda dealerships). The exterior dimensions and engine displacement also complied with Japanese Government compact car regulations.
The NA has a steel unibody with a lightweight aluminum hood. The overall dimensions are 3,970 mm long, 1,675 mm wide, and 1,235 mm high. Without options, the NA weighs only 980 kg. It has a drag coefficient of 0.38. The suspension is independent double wishbone on all four wheels with anti-roll bars front and rear. Four-wheel disc brakes are ventilated in the front and come with 185/60HR14 radial tires on alloy wheels. Base models came with steel wheels with hubcaps from the current 323/Protege.
The original MX-5, with its standard manual transmission, came with a 1.6 L inline-four DOHC engine that produces 115 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 136 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm. The engine uses an electronic fuel injection system with a vane airflow meter and an electronic ignition system with a camshaft angle sensor instead of a distributor.
This engine, codenamed B6ZE(RS), was specifically designed for the MX-5 and features a lighter aluminum crankshaft, flywheel, and sump with cooling fins. An MX-5 with the optional automatic transmission has a 1.6-liter engine that is tuned to develop maximum torque at lower rpm (136 Nm at 4000 rpm) to better suit the torque requirements of the automatic transmission. This adjustment results in a lower maximum power output of 105 horsepower at 6500 rpm. Mazda reported that the 1990 NA could accelerate from a standstill to 97 km/h (60 mph) in 8.6 seconds, with a top speed of 188 km/h (117 mph).
The standard transmission was a 5-speed manual, derived from the transmission used in the rear-wheel-drive Mazda 929/Luce. Shifting was a focus of attention during development, with engineers asked to make it shift with the smallest possible gear lever travel and the least effort. In the US and Japanese markets, a 4-speed automatic transmission was also offered, as was an optional viscous limited-slip differential on manual-transmission cars.
Photo: Man Nguyen
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