Iconic sports car that’s considered a ‘future classic’ left in a barn for six years… before it’s meticulously restored
AN ICONIC sports car that was left gathering dust in a barn for six years has been meticulously restored back to its former glory.
A Mazda MX-5, a motor that’s adored by petrolheads all over the world, was taken off the road after its owner started a family – until a team of experts brought it back to life.
In a video posted to YouTube by WD Detailing, the forgotten MX-5 – which is known as the Mazda Miata in the US – was pulled out into the light having not moved an inch for six years.
According to the video, the owner bought the first generation MX-5 – built between 1989 and 1997 – as their very first car when they just 17 years old.
The owner said: “I saw it on the side of the road [when I was 17] and I just fell in love with it – and it was fast!”
They added: “When we moved in, we had one-year-old – so obviously I didn’t drive it when I was pregnant or when he was born.
“Then we just kept having kids, so I never got back into it and it’s just been sitting here.”
The WD Detailing team noted that the MX-5 was in great condition having been kept dry in the barn, and will likely be fine to drive as they’re renowned for being reliable.
While the motor did require fresh set of tyres, the team mainly just needed to give it a good clean – which included using a pressure washer to leave its unique grey paint finish undamaged.
The interior was also cleaned up and vacuumed, and the rubber top to the convertible was carefully scrubbed.
After what likely took days to complete, the crew presented the owner their fully cleaned up Mazda.
“Wow, it looks brand new,” they said.
The MX-5 is widely considered to be Mazda’s signature motor, having been a best-seller for the brand for 35 years.
Originally inspired by the Lotus Elan of the 1960s, the MX-5 has been a global favourite with more than one million examples sold worldwide.
In fact, with its modern take on the classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive roadster, the little Mazda remains the world’s best-selling two-seat sports car.
Wheeler Dealers host Mike Brewer is a massive fan of the little car – claiming that they’ll be considered classics in the not-so-distant future.
In a recent interview, Mike chose the MX-5 as his choice for the best motor money can buy for pure fun value.
He said: “My top choice would be the best-engineered British sports car in the world; the Mazda MX-5 Mk3, from 2005 to 2015.
“I call it that because effectively it’s a reverse-engineered British sports car, isn’t it?
“The Japanese took the best the British had to offer in terms of MG and Healey back in the day, reverse-engineered it and made an amazing car with the MX-5.”
Our friend and columist James Russell of The Motor Grid loves the MX-5 too, recently writing that it “celebrates the art of driving by keeping things brilliantly simple.”
