Street Sighting ~ Mazda MX-5

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As I claimed in my previous MX-5 street sighting, are any of these left just run-of-the-mill models? Because again & again I come across some sort of special-this, special-that version. Even my own MX-5 which sat neglected in a front yard for over a decade is a special version. I'm so spoiled with special strange editions of the MX-5 that I've become complacent. In honesty, I almost didn't stop to take photos of this one, and I was in no rush to get home. But I'm glad I did. Because one day these cars really will be rare (they already are). Right now it's the price that deters buyers, not access to cars. Eventually that will change.

I had to Google this one. Sure I could've bothered my neighbour and learnt from an expert, or asked in a Facebook group and received an even bigger lecture, but Google was easy enough. So what is this burgundy NB with chrome wheels, tan roof/interior, and a wooden Nardi (shift knob & wheel)?

It's a heritage edition MX-5, to celebrate the success of the car. Based off what I read, Australia received a hundred of these exclusively in Y2K. It even has a Wheels Magazine decal on the back which is starting to look pretty tired. I wish I could find out what Wheels had to say about the car, but post acquisition (2020) it's not the easiest source to dig up. 

 

The stock NB wheels in chrome aren't really my cup of tea, but then again, nothing about this car really is. Buyers also got a special wallet and jacket but you'd have to be pretty brave to wear it. Don't think I'm too cynical, it's still light, rear-wheel-drive and only came with a manual 6-speed  so it has every right to be a fun car. Art-Vin just isn't a colour I'm attracted to. Let's just play out the hypothetical anyway. Say I had a few too many drinks and wandered into a dealership in 2000 (not really possible on account of not yet being born, but play on) and the sales person managed to convince me it's the new look. I think I'd just lean into it and match it with an equally strange sound like Cübik by 808 State as I fang out of the place. Or can the look be fixed? What wheels should it sit on?


   

Adelaide based. No real consistency just yarns, plain and simple.

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