1996 Mazda MX-5 (Mk1) Supercharged

Highlights

• Striking modified MX-5

• 1.8-litre supercharged engine

• Much of the work carried out by legendary Skuzzle Motorsport

• Adjustable coilovers

• Bespoke metalflake paint

• Available for viewing on the PistonHeads Auctions stand at the Annual Service event at Bicester

Overview

Fancy something truly unique? If so, then how about one of the all-time classics, but with a rather distinctive and deeply original vibe? 

At first glance, this one might look like a Mk 1 MX-5 with some pretty wheels and a bodykit, but in reality, it’s much, much more than that. This is a car that, for its previous owner, was an absolute labour of love – backed up by invoices totalling almost £17,000. It now has a Jackson Racing M45 supercharger with a power output of around 220bhp all-in, adjustable coilover suspension, a completely retrimmed interior with distinctive, retro-style Mirco houndstooth fabric seats and a stunning metalflake paint finish – and that’s just the most obvious among this car’s many modifications. 

Look a bit deeper and the attention to detail is second-to-none. Whoever built this car did so with care and love, and the end result is a JDM classic that will fit it at any classic or modified car show, as well as provide the usual MX-5 thrills on the open road, but topped off with a howling supercharger shriek and almost double the power-to-weight ratio of a standard MX-5. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

This one started life in Japan as a standard Eunos Roadster – quite the contrast to how it is now – a real showpiece, as well as a fabulous restomod. 

The vendor loves it and has had the car for around a year, but like so many of us in the PHsphere, they have a huge bucket list of cars to work through and have just added a tick to the Aston Martin Vantage checkbox, which means the Mazda has to go to create space in the garage. If you’re the lucky high bidder, you’ll love it…

History and documentation

• First registered in the UK on 6 April 2009 – declared manufactured in 1996

• Originally sold in Japan and comes with a Japanese handbook among the paperwork file

• UK V5C in the current owner’s name

• MOT until 26 March, 2026

• Two sets of keys

• Huge file of paperwork from 2018 onwards, documenting the car’s build, parts purchased and all of the bespoke modifications – the invoices add up to over £17,000 and this doesn’t include all of the labour or, indeed, all of the new parts

• Copy of the MX-5 owners’ club calendar, in which the car features

Interior

• Stunning Mirco GT houndstooth bucket seats – original Mazda comfort seats are provided with the car

• Full soundproofing to floor, behind the seats and doors and boot

• Bluetooth Alpine stereo with speaker upgrade and subwoofer

• Quilted interior and door card insulation

• Note that the driver's side door lock has fallen off but comes with the car to be refitted.

• Fully quilted boot 

• Quilted hardtop liner (not yet fitted)

• Zoom centre console 

• Zoom gauge binnacle

• Zoom gear surround and arm rest

• KG Works gauge holders

• KG Works interior door handles

• KG Works rear view mirror

• KG Works speedo face

• Revlimiter custom speedo gauges

• Revlimiter retro hazard switch

• Momo Prototipo steering wheel

• IL Motorsport air vents

• Jass Performance under radio cubby 

• Zoom Engineering button boot release

• Remote central locking

• NRG Quick Release steering boss kit

• TR Lane Roll Bar

• VDO gauges for the water and oil temperatures, boost, voltage and clock

• Exquisitely finished throughout, to a show car level of detail

Exterior

• Deep burgundy metallic paint with red metalflake finish – looks absolutely stunning in sunlight

• The paint finish is fabulous with only a couple of tiny blemishes – a ‘spider’ crack on the bonnet above the latch and some hairline scratches beneath the passenger door

• IL Motorsports turn signal intake, with side lights

• Track Dog racing splitter

• Jass Performance Lo pro headlights

• REV9 small arches

• Feed side skirts

• RS-Aizawa vented bonnet

• OEM rear spoiler

• OEM rear bumper valance 

• Work Equips 03 15x8 ET10 alloys in superb condition

• Nearly new tyres all-round

• Hardtop with Project-G spoiler 

• Zoom Engineering fuel cap

• Zoom Engineering rear lights

• Zoom Engineering side indicators

• Vented quarter windows

• Incredible-looking car, presented in superb order 

·        

Mechanical

• 1.8-litre engine completely rebuilt by Skuzzle Motorsports

• Jackson Racing M45 Supercharger rebuilt by JB PerformanceUS

•  220bhp

• Five-speed manual

• Track Dog racing intercooler full setup with hard pipes

• Mega Squirt 3 ECU

• 640RC injectors

• R8 coil pack conversion kit

• Oil cooler

• Fujitsubo 4-1 manifold

• Full stainless-steel exhaust system from manifold

• Dual-feed fuel rail

• 150mm TDR crank overlay pulley 

• Lightened pulleys

• Mishimoto Performance radiator with twin fan and shroud 

• Skuzzle Motorsports upgraded cams

• Adjustable cam gears

• Lightweight flywheel

• Uprated clutch 

• Cobalt coolant reroute

• Mazda 323 cam cover

• Maruha carbon-fibre timing belt cover

• ProRam cone filter

• Adjustable coilover suspension

Summary

Some show cars are just that – machines built to do nothing other than draw a crowd. And while this one will certainly do that, there’s far more to it than just a crowd-pleaser. 

This is a brilliantly executed and well-finished machine that’s as much about the driving experience as it is the aesthetic, completed with love, care and attention to an exceptional standard. 

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Cambridge, Cambs.

Please note that the car will be on display at the PistonHeads Annual Service on 9 August 2025 at Bicester Motion.