It wasn’t supposed to be like this. The original Mazda MX-5, the NA, is the best of the four generations. Everyone knows that. Better as a 1.6-litre than a 1.8, because the balance is perfect and it outweighs the increase in power.
The Mk2, the NB, is the ugly duckling (bear with me, owners). A bit heavier but a bit faster, and not better; and no pop-up lights. The Mk3, the NC, is a mollycoddled and sanitised sports car for the masses. The Mk4, the ND for those who have yet to connect the dots, is a return to the model’s roots: same Mk1 dimensions, same purity, same essence, Kodo and other fairly meaningless, intangible but still true statements.
And yet here we are, having a ‘Eureka!’ moment in Mazda’s heritage-fleet NB. The rain that had made any photo-taking pointless has abated, and the 1.8 NA from 10 minutes ago has been blown into the weeds.
It really wasn’t supposed to be like this.
The British Racing Green Mk1, whose keys are first in my hand to see how different it really was to a 1.6, just doesn’t seem right. Memories of nipping around the lanes of Kent in my old run-out 1.6 Monza (with cat, heaven forbid), where every deserted roundabout was met with relish, seem a long time ago. For an MX-5 the 1.8 simply lacked the expected refinement.
Clockwise from top: Mazda’s Innocent Blue Mica special edition NB; all generations, including 30th Anniversary Mk4/ND; 25th Anniversary Mk3/NC
