The 1992 Sunburst was not a special edition for Mazda, instead it was somewhat of an oddball car. Sold only with the "A" option package with choice of automatic or manual, the car never sold well at the dealerships. In fact, for many dealers, it was the first time they had to discount a Miata to move them off the lots. Yellow wasn't popular at the time and consumers thought it was too "obvious".

The car rested in obscurity for a number of years but began to become one of the more sought after ones as the original generation neared its end in 1998. Since then, clean and well cared for examples have been increasing in value. Several sales of extremely low mileage cars with hardtop have been recorded recently in excess of $10,000!

I acquired this example with 87,000 miles from the original owner, sight unseen, in California. I've never purchased a car without an inspection but the price was right and competition for the car was intense. When it arrived I could not believe the condition - it looked like it had just come off the showroom. The seller had added a new top, brakes, tires and clutch to get it ready to sell. It was garage kept, not a ding or spot of rust on it. It looks like a much lower mileage example and draws more attention than any other example I own. The seller even had it detailed before shipping!

This one is all stock and will be kept that way. I've added the updated chassis bracing that became standard in 1993. Every other service, including timing belt and water pump, had already been done by the seller.

It's probably the last car in my collection I would sell because it is more stripped, and thus lighter, than any of the other examples. Manual windows, mirrors, no cruise control but the true heart of a sports car.

Window sticker replica courtesy of Jerry (lugnut).

I've never been a fan of the stock daisy style rims but need them to keep it original. Doesn't mean it can't wear some new shoes for just driving around. These are Chaparral wheels (a Panasport knockoff that are frankly, better made) with Kumho Ecsta SPT summer performance tire.

The 15" Chaparral is a fairly heavy wheel at 15.7lbs and the difference is noticeable over the stock Daisy and 185/60/14 tire. The SPT Kumho's are 195/50/15. I wouldn't recommend the package for performance although I'm very impressed with my first set of Kumho tires. I haven't broken these loose yet but can tell it's going to take a lot more effort than the Bridgestone 950's that were on the Daisy wheels. The car does feel heavier with this package on there but I don't drive this car hard so am more interested in the looks than anything else and I like the looks at lot.

Update as of 09/29/2007

I was fortunate to find a 24,000 mile example of a Sunburst with hardtop in Indianapolis and drove it back to replace the existing one. It was a one owner, always garaged and regularly serviced car. The couple selling it were getting up in years and couldn't drive a manual transmission car anymore and so decided to sell their "baby".

As always, it's 100% stock and original with the exception of the battery and tires. I did all the normal maintenance routines including replacing the inner shift boots (proving once again it makes no difference how many miles are on them, they just don't last).

This car was number 63 in the production run of 1519 and was the FIRST car produced with a factory hardtop as an option.

This is a fully documented car with the bill of sale, window sticker, all service and registration records.