Miata Inside: 1976 Triumph Spitfire

The biggest problem with driving a 90s Miata is that everyone knows it is fun, reliable, and easy version of a classic British roadster. While an MX-5 might be a great car for a curvy road on a fresh spring day, it doesn't get much attention or street cred at your local classic car night.  So, how do you marry the piquant reliability of an MX-5 with the buttery visage of a classic British roadster...well..you need a Spitfire, a donor MX-5 and a torch. Find this 1976 Triumph Spitfire with MX-5 running gear offered for $7000 in Santa Teresa, NM via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Déjà Ewww: 2000 Mazda MX-5 Custom 60s Alfa Look

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a fun little sports car wrapped in a boring exterior (sorry Miata fanboys, the shape is pretty blah...with maybe the exception of the newest model that brings some more style than the OG jelly bean) that is unfortunately slathered with a thick brush of innuendo about the driver and his dog.  Regardless, if you want the sweet driving experience of the modern Mazda platform with the classic looks of a 60s sports car 90s home-built-retro-custom, then I can imagine this next piece of Italiopanese sculpture might fit nicely in front of your Greco-Roman yard art. And if you get the vague sense of déjà ewwww...yes, we did feature this before. Find this 2000 Mazda MX-5 Custom 60s Alfa Look offered for $15500 in Temecula, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Now Better: 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The NB generation Mazda MX-5 was released in 1998 as an upgrade to the apex hunting 2-seat roadster for the masses. The MX-5 was originally launched in the US market as the Miata in 1989 just as the classic two seat European roadster market was imploding.  Sales of the MGB, Fiat Spider and Alfa Romeo Spider were either on their way down the drain or just a minute from slashdown.  At the time it may have looked foolish from the outside to release a car into a market that was drying up, but the folks at Mazda knew they had the recipe right.  The second generation MX-5 wasn't a huge change from the previous design, but it did feature updated RX-7 derived muscly looks and more power from the 1.8 liter BP 4-banger. Find this 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata offered for $4,990 in Clearwater, FL via Hemmings. Tip from BP.

Skittles Edition: 1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata

We all know the story of the multi-colored Harelquin Golf and what a commercial success that was...but did Mazda follow suit with a rainbow colored Miata? Nope, this is just the case of another seller with surplus paint and time.  Probably shoulda stopped after huffing the first can. Find this 1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata offered for $3,900 in Land o Lakes, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Low Miles, But Not Stupid Low: 1994 Mazda Miata

Whoever said he'd rather drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow has probably never owned a Lamborghini, but I'd like to ad my own permutation to the rather than club; I'd rather have an expensive version of the cheap car than a cheap version of an expensive car.  Or would I? My current fleet would indicate otherwise...but I digress!! Anyway, this existential crisis is still developing -- find this 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata offered for $5800 in Lutz, FL (not to be confused with the nearby town of LULZ, that place is hilarious) via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

I Told You So...Again: 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Back in 2015 we featured a 6k mile first generation MX-5 that was picked up by Jesse at Barnfinds.com and then sold for about the cost of 10 typical 200k MX-5s and at the time I wrote "Whoever buys this car will have a very nice example of one of the best selling roadsters of all time...but he will be faced with the same conundrum as the current seller -- how do you enjoy a car without racking up the miles?  Likely, this story will be continued."  The car was subsequently sold by the then owner because..well..you know.  A few months later in July 2016 the car showed back up on craigslist (now with 8k miles) with the then current owner trying to milk $11k from the little red cash cow.  Two years later and this car is back on the market, now with several modifications, 11,500 miles and offered for $11,500 -- find this 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata offered for sale in Menlo Park, CA via craigslist. Tip from Matthew.

Electric overload(ed): Electrified 1998 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Another day, another Miata post on good old DT.  We've done a fastback, blown heart transplant and cream puff and there was once even a diesel conversion featured, so now today's answer is a plug-in electric conversion.  Supposedly, this is the future of classic car ownership, once the last gallon of crude is burned off in China while making a rubber spatula for Walmart.  I'm skeptical, but I'm always the last in line.  Find this 1998(?) Mazda MX-5 Miata EV - Plug in Electric Conversion for sale in Spanaway, WA for $29,999 via craigslist.

Jinba ittai 35k Miles: 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata

A used MX-5 Miata is great little inexpensive sports car for anybody who enjoys driving and prices are very cheap these days.  It might be because Mazda built a million of the little machines...no seriously, in 2016 Mazda produced the MILLIONTH MX-5.  But, finding one from the first generation with 35k miles in immaculate condition isn't an everyday occurance. Find this 1994 Mazda Miata offered for $8800 in Ojai, CA via craigslist. Tip from Sean S.

Get Hiroshima on the Blower: 1990 Blown Mazda Miata

The Mazda Miata has a reputation as a hairdresser's car, mainly among those who have either never driven one or have some sort of image projection issues.  This unfair characterization has lead to some interesting compensation techniques.  Here's one that probably has some tie-back to an early 80's Mel Gibson film about a dystopian future.  Find this 1990 Monster Mazda Miata for sale in Fallbrook, CA for $18,500 via craigslist.

Got Back: 1995 Mazda Miata Fastback

Most people fall into either the "convertibles are OK" or "I would never own a convertible" camps.  For campers in the later position, when one brings up the quintessential convertible, the Mazda Miata, it's the old "I'd give Mazda my money if they built it as a coupe" song and dance.  Outside of Japan, those people have been out of luck.  Until now... Find this 1995 M-Edition Mazda Miata Fastback here for sale in Anaheim, CA for a price only Serious Buyers can find out, via craigslist.

S2000 Power: 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda MX-5 is lauded for its excellent handling chassis and essential sports car credentials, but nobody is going to accuse it of being too fast in stock form. But today's example is far from stock -- don't worry it isn't one of those V8 swaps that ruins the weight distribution and is instead powered by the 9000 rpm screaming beast from a Honda S2000.  Find this 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata here on eBay offered for $6,950 buy-it-now or make-offer located in Miami, FL.

Turbo'd V8: 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The original Mazda MX-5 is known around the globe as a great car for the discerning sportsman who wants a car that handles well and needs a good driver to ring the maximum out of the small engine.  It is the opposite of the ham-fisted V8 muscle car crowd and is the spiritual revival of the small British roadster...expect that today's example is a Cobra in disguise.  Find this 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata here on eBay offered for $24,999 buy-it-now or make-offer located in San Luis Obispo, CA.

Beached: 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata

All kinds of fancy schmancy car events happen at the beach at places like Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, or Boca Raton...but sometimes the best cars are for driving around on the beach instead of showing at the beach.  Like this 1991 Mazda MX-5 offered for $7000 near Grover Beach, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Sean who writes: The answer is always Miata, even at Pismo Beach

Miata Power: 1969 Datsun Roadster

The SPL311 generation Fairlady was the final version of the little ragtop as the sports car in the Nissan/Datsun lineup and in 1970 it was replaced by the 240Z.  The Datsun Roadster might not have been as rugged as the tractor powered MGB or as sexy as Alfa's Spider, but it offered a compromise between looks, durability, reliability, price and sportiness that was hard to beat.  And today's example has a boost of under-hood reliability that makes it particularly cool.  Find this 1969 Datsun Roadster offered for $4,300 in Chico, CA via craigslist. Tip from Terry.

V8agra: 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The original Mazda MX-5 Miata is still a good way to drive something that is small, light, and nimble -- it is arguably the best driving British roadster that you can drive when new, and such is true even to this day.  The Miata got a reputation for being a hairdresser's car, but a ride in this next one should put some hair on your chest (if needed).  Find this 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata V8 offered for $13,500 in Jacksonville, FL via craigslist. Tip from Jeff G.

Renaissance Car: 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5

The Mazda MX-5 Miata was a perfectly good car before the guys at Mazdaspeed slapped a small turbocharger on the engine, but the Mazdaspeed MX-5 is the renaissance man's car, a well balanced combination of usefulness, style, and fun.  It isn't a cave man (Mustang) or a Machiavelli (Ferrari), but it is the Leonardo Da Vinci of cars, a well rounded example of a car that makes the journey more interesting than the destination.   Find this 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5 offered for $4,000 via cars.com.  Tip from Roy.  

Miataget: 1971 MG Midget with Mazda 1.6L

The MG Midget was a badge engineered version of the Austin Healey Sprite and shared mechanical components, sheet metal -- basically everything but the badges on the fenders.  With the low compression US spec 1275 cc inline-4 under hood, the little car seems like it has negative horsepower, but imagine getting that zoom-zoom feeling of modern power with the pre-Sabrina bumpers of the early 70s Midget.  Find this 1971 MG Midget with Mazda 1.6L here on eBay bidding for $78.00 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go, located in Birmingham, AL.