V8 Monster Miata

Make:	Mazda
Model:	MX-5 Miata
Type:	Roadster
Trim:	2-door
Year:	1992
Mileage:	42,744
VIN:	JM1NA3517N0323006
Color:	Red
Transmission:	Ford T-5
Drive type:	T-5 transmission, T-Bird IRS Positraction rear
Interior color:	Black Leather
Vehicle Title:	Clear
Item location:	Port Townsend, Washington, United States

Extras

Leather Seats, Convertible

Listed by

Private seller

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Description of 1992 Mazda MX-5 Miata

You are bidding for a 1992 Monster Miata. assembled in Escondido. CA by Monster Motorworks before they reportedly went bankrupt. having produced an estimated 90-275 of these startling cars for $40-48. 00. depending on level of sportiness. One Identifies what I refer to as an “original” by the large green monster stitched to the headrests. plus the Ford badge on the trunk lid. I acquired this low-mileage cutie several years ago. having lusted after the car ever since reading an enthusiastic review in an early ‘90s car magazine. Motor Vehicle Dept. research uncovered the fact that it was shipped from LA to Japan. where it was refused entry (evidently because of the non-standard power train). then shipped to Seattle. The rest of its history is lost to me. but I think it’s safe to assume (given its fine condition and low mileage) that it mostly languished for two decades in one or more garages. I’m a long-time “car guy” and can report that the Monster goes like stink and hugs the road like a fresh coat of paint. But I’m not a nuts-and-bolts guy. so right after acquiring this baby. I turned it over to our trusted maintenance guys (AutoWorks) for a complete physical. First off. I learned it was running on 6 cylinders from clogged fuel injectors. (And I thought it was quick when we bought it!) Here’s a direct quote from them when I got it back: “Be careful or it’ll scare the bejeezus out of you!” Well. no. I’m in my early 70s and am content with an occasional blast up an entrance ramp. or a high-G sweep through a roundabout. Otherwise I’m content cruising with my honey with that marvelous V-8 burble following close behind. This car sparks interest (they all want a peek under the hood) like no Corvette ever could. (Think of this cutie as Lightning McQueen in the animated feature. Cars. ) Once. for the fun of it. Desiree and I did a comparison test between this and a friend’s state-of-the-art Tesla S. then posted a video of the experience on YouTube. You can watch it on https://www. youtube. com/watch?v=19U4onUgk_w In it you’ll see the lead-filled bar on the backside to minimize wheelspin. plus the red front brake lockout button for doing burnouts. or warming up the tires for an acceleration run. (I’ve never used it. but sometimes tell the curious it’s a passenger seat ejection button ;-) Mechanical improvements: Swapped the cruddy Ford starter/solenoid (it stranded us twice) for a high-temp. high-torque racing starter; rebuilt the IRS positraction differential (just in case); replaced/upgraded almost the entire ignition system (including modules and wiring harness); capped a couple of age-related oil leaks; and re-worked the clutch slave/master cylinder relationship. The brakes appear to be RX-7 type with little pad wear. And I was told by the dealership (it was a trade-in!) that the clutch had just been replaced. I could not tell you if the engine had been massaged for increased power. but have been content with the old-fashioned Mustang grunt (feels like it’s just been broken in) coupled with silky-smooth running (1400 rpm stumble-free at 40 mph in 5th gear). Decommissioned the CFC air conditioning. intending to upgrade it to modern specs. but never got around to this because driving in the Pacific Northwest. with top down. never required it. Has a nice radio - I’d guess - but I love the V-8 growl so much that I parked the security plate in the trunk. Condition: The leather interior is in excellent shape. as is the canvas top. Comes with a matching red hard top (about $1500 on the OEM market). The overall exterior. I’d say. is good to excellent considering the car’s age. with scattered tiny paint chips here and there that you’d only notice on close examination. So if we enjoy our Monster so much. then why sell it? Bottom line is that we hardly ever take it out of the garage (we've only added @2K miles in the past 4 years). I often pat its top or flank through the car cover before slipping into its dowdy. eminently practical stablemate for a shopping trip in drizzly weather. So I am starting the bid at $10. 00. with what I think is a pretty low reserve - thousands less than what we’ve spent on our baby. We’re just hoping she goes to a good home. We require a $2. 00 Paypal deposit within 48 hours of bid closing. then the remaining full payment through Paypal. by cashier’s check or electronic bank transfer within 7 days. please. Good luck bidding. and thanks for your interest!On Dec-09-14 at 09:36:12 PST. seller added the following information:You are bidding for a 1992 Monster Miata. assembled in Escondido. CA by Monster Motorworks before they reportedly went bankrupt. having produced an estimated 90-275 of these startling cars for $40-48. 00. depending on level of sportiness. One Identifies what I refer to as an “original” by the large green monster stitched to the headrests. plus the Ford badge on the trunk lid. I acquired this low-mileage cutie several years ago. having lusted after the car ever since reading an enthusiastic review in an early ‘90s car magazine. Motor Vehicle Dept. research uncovered the fact that it was shipped from LA to Japan. where it was refused entry (evidently because of the non-standard power train). then shipped to Seattle. The rest of its history is lost to me. but I think it’s safe to assume (given its fine condition and low mileage) that it mostly languished for two decades in one or more garages. I’m a long-time “car guy” and can report that the Monster goes like stink and hugs the road like a fresh coat of paint. But I’m not a nuts-and-bolts guy. so right after acquiring this baby. I turned it over to our trusted maintenance guys (AutoWorks) for a complete physical. First off. I learned it was running on 6 cylinders from clogged fuel injectors. (And I thought it was quick when we bought it!) Here’s a direct quote from them when I got it back: “Be careful or it’ll scare the bejeezus out of you!”Well. no. I’m in my early 70s and am content with an occasional blast up an entrance ramp. or a high-G sweep through a roundabout. Otherwise I’m content cruising with my honey with that marvelous V-8 burble following close behind. This car sparks interest (they all want a peek under the hood) like no Corvette ever could. (Think of this cutie as Lightning McQueen in the animated feature. nbsp;Cars. )Once. for the fun of it. Desiree and I did a comparison test between this and a friend’s state-of-the-art Tesla S. then posted a video of the experience on YouTube. You can watch it on https://www. youtube. com/watch?v=19U4onUgk_w In it you’ll see the lead-filled bar on the backside to minimize wheelspin. plus the red front brake lockout button for doing burnouts. or warming up the tires for an acceleration run. (I’ve never used it. but sometimes tell the curious it’s a passenger seat ejection button ;-)Mechanical improvements: Swapped the cruddy Ford starter/solenoid (it stranded us twice) for a high-temp. high-torque racing starter; rebuilt the IRS positraction differential (just in case); replaced/upgraded almost the entire ignition system (including modules and wiring harness); capped a couple of age-related oil leaks; and re-worked the clutch slave/master cylinder relationship. The brakes appear to be RX-7 type with little pad wear. And I was told by the dealership (it was a trade-in!) that the clutch had just been replaced. I could not tell you if the engine had been massaged for increased power. but have been content with the old-fashioned Mustang grunt (feels like it’s just been broken in) coupled with silky-smooth running (1400 rpm stumble-free at 40 mph in 5th gear). Decommissioned the CFC air conditioning. intending to upgrade it to modern specs. but never got around to this because driving in the Pacific Northwest. with top down. never required it. Has a nice radio - I’d guess - but I love the V-8 growl so much that I parked the security plate in the trunk. Condition: The leather interior is in excellent shape. as is the canvas top. Comes with a matching red hard top (about $1500 on the OEM market). The overall exterior. I’d say. is good to excellent considering the car’s age. with scattered tiny paint chips here and there that you’d only notice on close examination. So if we enjoy our Monster so much. then why sell it? Bottom line is that we hardly ever take it out of the garage (we've only added @2K miles in the past 4 years). I often pat its top or flank through the car cover before slipping into its dowdy. eminently practical stablemate for a shopping trip in drizzly weather. So I am starting the bid at $10. 00. with what I think is a pretty low reserve - thousands less than what we’ve spent on our baby. We’re just hoping she goes to a good home. We require a $2. 00 Paypal deposit within 48 hours of bid closing. then the remaining full payment through Paypal. by cashier’s check or electronic bank transfer within 7 days. please. Good luck bidding. and thanks for your interest!I want to add here that we stopped into Martin Wilson's shop in Escondido. CA. a couple years ago (minus the Miata) - birthplace of our baby - and enjoyed chatting and ogling his Monsters-in-the-making. Although Martin was an employee of the first. failed iteration of this company and must have had hands-on experience with our baby. he could not recall it among all the others. He did regale us with some funny/lurid stories of the happy-go-lucky folks in charge of Monster Motorworks. and I couldn't help wondering what might have become of the Monster Miata if they had been guided by a passionate. competitive individual in the manner of Carroll Shelby. I think Martin deserves a lot of credit for keeping the flame alive. and inspiring others to continue improving the car.