The Tuckin 99 N2 Eunos Roadster FM2 Turbo
This car came into the UK in 2004 as a totally standard Normally Aspirated MK1 MX5. I am the second owner of the car since it came into the UK. I bought the car around the middle of 2007. The Tuckin 99 N2 flares and the Watanabe Custom Alloys had been imported earlier in the year brand new by a chap in Scotland (Michael) who had some very good contacts in Japan for finding JDM items and getting them imported. Michael ended up selling the parts before I could raise the cash. They were sold to a chap outside of London (Bryan) who fitted them to the silver car we see here he had bought as a fresh import in 2004. Shortly after they were fitted the car came up for sale and now with funds available I bought the wheels and flares already on a car! I guess a more costly way to get them but sadly I hadnt had the money before and Bryan had done a good job fitting the parts and the silver car had been well maintained and was a good base for what I wanted to do.
The First Changes: the Interior
OPretty much as soon as I bought the car I started installing various parts from Japan that I had got imported over the 6 months prior. This includes parts like the nakamae centre console, KG works instrument cluster, Nielex electric window swiches, Zoom Engineering Centre console, etc. Inspiration for this came from work in saw in the United States from people like Randy (Phatmiata) and from the various websites.
External Changes to the Car
PShortly after buying the car I also made some external changes. I purchased some runabout M2 mirrors, a Garage Vary Fibre Glass vented front bonnet, Zoom Engineering Elan style rear light and a Axis Power Racing Ducktail rear spoiler.
More Power
Shortly after buying the car I knew it needed more power. It came with a Greddy Turbo kit installed in 2005 shortly after being imported. It was running about 5psi and 150bhp. I took the car to Phil at Performance 5 and arranged for a FM2 turbo kit to be installed in 2008 with a Link Standalone ECU which has set the car up at 230bhp. Hopefully it now has the power to match the looks!
Upgrades to Help with the Power
To help with the increase power I also got the brakes upgraded to 1.8 brakes with goodrich braided hoses, a torsen 1.8 LSD and a genuine M2-1001 roll bar. The brake upgrade made a big difference as 230bhp from the FM2 kit was not very good with crap brakes. The torsen 1.8 LSD was done as most people who have upgraded power on the mx5 go for the stronger 1.8 differential. The M2-1001 was a nice find and was imported from Japan. The M2-1001 roll bar is very difficult to get hold of as only came in M2 1001 model, which was sold specifically in Japan and only 300 were produced. M2 was Mazda's relatively shortlived department for concept cars that were built in very limited numbers. The M2-1001 is highly sought after so the roll bar was a nice score.
Got the Watanabes Refurbished
Got the custom Watanabes refurbished. They were not in bad condition but the centres had not been powder coated so had this done so the finish now is alot better. They are like brand new again and to anyone thinking of getting the wheels on their car refurbished I would seriously recommend it. I used a company locally to me called Wheel Works UK.
RS Limited Carbon Recaro Seats
I have changed the seats in the car to some more sports based seats, which I think suit the car more. They are the seats from a RS Limited retrimmed in black leather. They have a carbon fibre body and came as standard in the JDM limited edition, MK1 model, the RS Limited, of which only 500 were produced. These seats are often mentioned as the best seats for a MX5 and are very difficult to get hold of when.
The Holy Grail of JDM Parts: Bodyshop Hayashi Headlights!
In Mid 2012 a member on MX5Nutz alerted me to a set of lights for sale in North London on a bog standard MK1 Eunos Roadster S Special but fitted with some Bodyshop Hayashi Headlights. The owner of the car had bought the car with the lights fitted and didnt know what they were to begin with. I had never seen another set of Bodyshop Hayashi lights and a deal was struck and the lights purchased. I have always liked the pop up lights of the MK1 MX5 and like the bodyshop Hayashi lights as in operation the lights raise but when switched of assume a 'sleek' finish. Pretty Cool!