A tribute to classic japanese roadster charm, the MAZDA MK1 MX5 (Miata) is a testament to the timeless appeal and public craze around JDM cars.
OWNER'S SPOTLIGHT
“Every time I drive it I gain a greater appreciation for JDM culture, and it’s hard imagining ever having a reason to sell the car.
What inspired you to choose the miata as your car?
”I'm a big fan of the retro JDM look, so the pop ups certainly pulled me to the Miata, but also, I'm still learning a lot about cars and working on them, so having a Miata is the perfect platform to learn through. But mainly the pop ups were a bonus!
Why 'Marv'?
”The miata, it's a Harvard special edition, so the obvious name would've been Harv, but that's my brother's name so that'd be weird... Marv came to me while I was listening to some Marvin Gaye.
What are some of the work / custom mods you've made to Marv?
”So the best thing I've done to Marv so far is by far the side stripes. Other than that, I've just fit a massively overkill radiator and a few weeks ago I bit off a bit more than I could chew and with the very generous help of LSUMC managed to put sports coils on the car. Suspension and tyres were the first things I wanted to look at, and they've made a massive difference.
Are you a JDM fan? Has the miata influenced your passion for cars and JDM culture?
”I'm a massive fan of JDM culture. Still sore about missing japfest this year. I think it stems from the racing games I used to play as a kid. Even though Miatas have almost become cliché in the community, owning a Miata has always been a goal of mine, and honestly it's a bit surreal owning one now.
Every time I drive it I gain more of an appreciation for JDM culture, and it's hard imagining ever having a reason to sell the car. Can't wait to take him to some proper meets
What are your future plans or projects for Marv?
”The big one is the turbocharger, but I want to do it properly and pay some proper respect to the car, so first there'll be a brake kit and probably a roll bar. I don't want to make Marv a rocket ship, I just think it'll be a cool project.
Joseph HancockOwner