Classic sports cars never die. They're simply remanufactured and get to live again. It's happened to the MGB, Jaguar E-Type, Triumph TR6 and Lotus Elan, and now - almost incredibly - it's happening to the Mazda MX-5 in Japan.
That's right, Mazda's now put into place an official programme to buy up, restore, re-engineer and re-issue first generation MX-5s from that pivotal 1989-98 era. Why? You might reasonably ask. There are thousands about, after all, and surely it's too early to do the whole nostalgia/classic car/restoration bit. Well, yes and no. In Japan, where the MX-5 is sold as the Roadster and this rebuild programme is called 'Refresh', the project is as much about reviving the spirit of that first-generation MX-5 as it is about Mazda exploring new market areas, networking the various parts of its empire and using the Internet for new e-promotion and marketing.
Ikuhiro Yoshinaga, a senior voice inside Mazda E&T (Mazda Engineering & Technology Co., Ltd) and the creator of the Refresh programme, said: "In 1990, the market peaked here at nearly 8m units, but now it's down to under 6m units. We've lost market share year by year. In the past, the Japanese car industry has always been pursuing what comes next, but with the slowing economy and shrinking market in mind, things have to change and, in fact, in one part of the market, people are starting to become quite nostalgic for cars from the past."
You won't necessarily find out about this Refresh idea down at your local Mazda dealer in Japan, but you will at
http://www.mspr.co.jp. There, you'll see how Mazda E&T - the special ops division that's come up with the idea and is doing all the work - is offering two different MX-5 models to suit wants and budgets: Version 1 and more tweaky Version 2. You'll also see the new MX-5 coupe that E&T will be launching later this year in Japan... As well as E&T's marvellous rotary-powered Cosmo 21 concept.
With each Refresh-ed car, engine and carpets come out and the car is repainted (you get a choice of colours). The folding top is changed and the plastic rear screen exchanged for glass. The body gets second-generation gusset plate welding to add stiffness. The suspension has been modified, front and rear, and features Bilstein dampers and springs. Brake discs are also beefed up.
Under the bonnet, a MazdaSpeed strut tower bar bolts in place. The head cover of the 1.6-litre twin cam is buffed up and gains an aluminium oil filler cap. Inside, the trim colour is black only, and there's a cool MazdaSpeed 240km/h (149mph) speedo and serial number plate. All interior parts that need replacing are replaced.
You get all that with the Version 1, whose price starts at around £7222 in Japan.
You can, however, tag on a wide range of goodies from the MazdaSpeed catalogue including an air filter, exhaust manifold and sports sound exhaust (£879), adjustable dampers and lowered springs (£333) and a limited slip differential (£490). Plus, Mazda E&T will overhaul the engine for you, to standard spec, for £1010 if you ask them.
The hot ticket, though, is unquestionably Version 2. The biggest single difference is the works-built engine with MazdaSpeed high-lift cams and high-compression pistons, lifting compression to 10.5:1. A MazdaSpeed clutch and flywheel also feature - to handle the extra power and improve throttle response.
While the Version 1 sticks to the original output numbers of 120bhp and 101lb ft of torque (pulling power), Mazda E&T says the Version 2 treatment ups those outputs some 10 percent, pointing to 132bhp and 111 lb/ft. But this is just for openers: this custom-built engine also revs much more powerfully and sweetly than the standard version and comes kitted out with a MazdaSpeed exhaust, which sounds deliciously rorty.
If you went out and built a Version 1 Roadster in Japan from scratch, it would likely cost around £12,500. Yet Mazda E&T can sell it for almost 50 percent less. How? Simply by skilful networking between E&T and two other affiliates: Mazda Chuhan (handling pre-owned cars) and Mazda Ace (engine rebuilding). The Refresh team can also buy genuine parts from Mazda for a friendly price and be right on top of quality throughout.
To ensure consistently high quality, Mazda E&T won't offer anything but complete cars, just like famed BMW tuner, Alpina. You can't buy just the works-tuned engine, mix 'n match specifications or bring your own car to have work done. That may be disappointing and may limit the marketability of this whole Refresh idea, but Mazda E&T wants to keep the whole thing solid and approved. You do get a six-month, 10,000-km (6000 mile) warranty. Another incentive is that factory-based technicians and testers - people with a lot of know-how and enthusiasm for the original MX-5 - carry out the work.
So, does it all work? Driving Mazda E&T's demo car reminds you just how sweet that first-generation MX-5 was - kind of like meeting up with an old girlfriend. All the original allure was were, but now with facelift and nip 'n tuck to look good and feel cool in 2003. The Version 2 base price is just short of £9000, but the test car also had over two grand's worth of extra kit including stainless mesh brake hoses and height adjustable dampers and springs, parts that are not yet officially available.
First impressions are just how well the NA styling has stood up. It's the interior that now feels its age. The cabin also now feels pretty narrow, this not helped so much by the huge, hunky MazdaSpeed sports seats that take up quite a lot of space.
The works-built engine, however, is a dream, revving eagerly, smoothly, providing vivid, hard-edged performance right across the rev band. This 1.6 is urgent, loud and has real soul. It's also totally tractable and unflappable in traffic. If the 1.6 is this good, what must a works 1.8 be like?
The Mazda's quick, short-throw gearshift is as delightful as ever. This Version 2 chassis is stiff and has a big helping of roadholding. Where the Roadster traditionally has been about delicacy and feedback, you soon get the idea that this is car built to corner flat and fast, with strong lateral grip from the 195/50 R15 Bridgestone Potenzas keeping it glued to the road.
Like this, the Version 2 is undoubtedly a lot of fun and feels really good and full-on in high-speed corners. It would make a brilliant track day car. But day to day, the rocky low-speed ride could get wearisome. Uprated brakes are also firm but still stand up well to fade.
'Mazda Refresh' is low-key so far, offered only in Japan, only over the web and only with Mk 1 MX-5s. But in the wings is a follow-on, and equally fascinating, Refresh programme for second- and third-generation RX-7s.
It's not everyday a multi-national company like Mazda goes over its back catalogue and re-issues cars from the past. Japan's car industry, after all, is a restless, fast-moving beast, ultra competitive by nature, always moving onto the next project, the next big thing. There's never been much time, or inclination, to look back - until now. Still, who knows, like this, maybe the Mazda MX-5 will live forever.
