Mazda Eunos 1.8 V-Special 1994
A few years ago, Anthony (from AK Automotive) and I set up a joint venture to import cars from Japan, mostly Mazda Eunos but a few other interesting models as well (RX7s, big old Mercs, Imprezas and Evo 5s etc). Anyway, early in 2016, Anthony rang me to tell me about one of the latest arrivals – a 1994 Eunos V-Special 1.8. We were bringing over a lot of cars by then and were really busy and couldn’t always remember exactly what we had agreed to buy in Japan, only to be reminded when the car actually turned up…
So Anthony was a bit puzzled by this one; he reckoned there was something odd about it and he thought I should get down there pronto to see what he meant. What I saw was one of the nicest, straightest and most rust-free cars we had yet imported. The bodywork was near perfect and the car had never been welded or repaired in any way. The sill/rear wheel arch area was 100% perfect with all of the original spot welds and seams visible. The running gear was incredibly clean and unusually, it had just been fitted with a new engine by KSS in Japan. Inside, it was beautifully clean and the dashboard and all trim was again, in superb condition – very much better than is unusual for a car that has come from a hot country.
The car looked like a superb example of a low mileage, rust free Eunos that had clearly been very well looked after while in Japan. It drove perfectly, in fact much better than usual. There was just one problem: the car had covered no less than 290,000 km – around 181,250 miles.
As it turned out, this wasn’t a problem at all. After I headed home to think over a plan for its sale, a local MX5 enthusiast who had bought cars from us in the past, happened to pop into the garage, saw our Eunos, realized how good it was and promptly bought it.
Five years later and the original buyer was moving on to other automotive interests and wanted to sell the Eunos. For me, it was a fairly easy purchase as I know that Paul (the owner) had looked after it properly and had always kept it garaged overnight. In fact it has never seen the British rain or been driven on wet UK roads. Its now covered 296000km and is still in lovely condition throughout. The tan leather seats were re-trimmed and its recently had a brand new set of original Mazda five spoke 15” alloys fitted complete with a matching set of Uniroyal Rainsport tyres.
With an asking price of £5000, you may think that I’m asking strong money for a car with high miles but this is in the kind of condition that most owners of lower mileage cars can only dream about. Its not perfect but its better than 95% of most other Mazdas out there. We now know that the previous Japanese owner was fanatical about the car. The new KSS engine alone must have cost a small fortune. Underneath, its fitted with Bilstein suspension and each shock absorber bears various stickers to show that these have been service/rebuilt at regular intervals – by Bilstein, no less.
The sills are still perfect and are rust free. The original spot welds and seams are still perfect too, something that’s very hard to find these days. Most of the floors, inner wheel arches has been treated with Dynax to protect against rust and the running gear is in lovely condition.
Specification includes leather seats, Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel with matching Nardi wood gear knob in nice condition, electric windows, air conditioning, stainless steel door speaker surrounds, alloy heater vent rings and matching alloy heater control surrounds and a Kenwood stereo with Ipod connection. It still has its original brown V-Special carpet mats though the driver’s mat shows some signs of wear.
Underneath, its all good, Subframes and suspension arms are all in good solid condition. Unusually for a Mk1, it has ABS brakes and the calipers are in excellent condition (I’m guessing they have been replaced) and its fitted with stainless steel braided brake hoses by Maruha. The exhaust system is in excellent condition too. The under-bonnet area is exceptionally clean. Yet again I should emphasize that this is way cleaner than most cars with fewer miles. Same goes for the boot too – very clean and tidy and with correct jack, wheel brace and space saver spare tyre. Its fitted with a black vinyl soft top with glass rear window and again, this is in good condition with no damage.
On the outer bodywork, there is no rust of course and while there is the odd stone-chip and minor mark, there are no significant scratches and no dents. It polishes up beautifully and looks just terrific. Its been fitted with a subtle boot spoiler along with a front lip spoiler. It has chrome Marini door mirrors which suit the car well. Unusually it has a top tinted windscreen, quite rare on any Eunos. The black vinyl soft top is in good condition too.
To say it drives well would be an understatement. After 15 years dealing in Mazdas, this is one of the very best I have driven. There are no rattles, no squeaks and no odd vibrations and for a Eunos, that’s quite unusual as most shake, rattle and roll like Elvis on a particularly frisky day. Its part of the charm really but its very nice to find a really smooth car like this. Performance is good too and it pulls strongly through all gears and the clutch and gearbox are just right. The engine feels very strong and there is no tappet noise, no leaks and it holds its temperature perfectly. Handling is a touch sharper than a standard car thanks to the Bilstein suspension and the benefit of a correct wheel alignment set up. I cannot recommend this one highly enough in this respect – its just brilliant to drive.
As is often the case with Japanese imports, there’s little in the way of service history. However, its very clear that this car hasn’t just been well looked after by its Japanese owner, its been truly cherished. Over the last 4000 miles (which is what has been covered over the last five years) its been serviced twice and is about to serviced again by me which will include new spark plugs, air and oil filter and new oil. I will also include 12 months MOT. I have the original Grade Sheet (it was a Grade 3.5 when we imported it) and the original Japanese owners handbook (handily in Japanese).
I always say you should buy a Eunos on condition NOT mileage. This proves the point perfectly and I’m sure that anyone who views this cannot fail to be impressed. This is an exceptional car in every way.
STATUS: NOW SOLD
So Anthony was a bit puzzled by this one; he reckoned there was something odd about it and he thought I should get down there pronto to see what he meant. What I saw was one of the nicest, straightest and most rust-free cars we had yet imported. The bodywork was near perfect and the car had never been welded or repaired in any way. The sill/rear wheel arch area was 100% perfect with all of the original spot welds and seams visible. The running gear was incredibly clean and unusually, it had just been fitted with a new engine by KSS in Japan. Inside, it was beautifully clean and the dashboard and all trim was again, in superb condition – very much better than is unusual for a car that has come from a hot country.
The car looked like a superb example of a low mileage, rust free Eunos that had clearly been very well looked after while in Japan. It drove perfectly, in fact much better than usual. There was just one problem: the car had covered no less than 290,000 km – around 181,250 miles.
As it turned out, this wasn’t a problem at all. After I headed home to think over a plan for its sale, a local MX5 enthusiast who had bought cars from us in the past, happened to pop into the garage, saw our Eunos, realized how good it was and promptly bought it.
Five years later and the original buyer was moving on to other automotive interests and wanted to sell the Eunos. For me, it was a fairly easy purchase as I know that Paul (the owner) had looked after it properly and had always kept it garaged overnight. In fact it has never seen the British rain or been driven on wet UK roads. Its now covered 296000km and is still in lovely condition throughout. The tan leather seats were re-trimmed and its recently had a brand new set of original Mazda five spoke 15” alloys fitted complete with a matching set of Uniroyal Rainsport tyres.
With an asking price of £5000, you may think that I’m asking strong money for a car with high miles but this is in the kind of condition that most owners of lower mileage cars can only dream about. Its not perfect but its better than 95% of most other Mazdas out there. We now know that the previous Japanese owner was fanatical about the car. The new KSS engine alone must have cost a small fortune. Underneath, its fitted with Bilstein suspension and each shock absorber bears various stickers to show that these have been service/rebuilt at regular intervals – by Bilstein, no less.
The sills are still perfect and are rust free. The original spot welds and seams are still perfect too, something that’s very hard to find these days. Most of the floors, inner wheel arches has been treated with Dynax to protect against rust and the running gear is in lovely condition.
Specification includes leather seats, Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel with matching Nardi wood gear knob in nice condition, electric windows, air conditioning, stainless steel door speaker surrounds, alloy heater vent rings and matching alloy heater control surrounds and a Kenwood stereo with Ipod connection. It still has its original brown V-Special carpet mats though the driver’s mat shows some signs of wear.
Underneath, its all good, Subframes and suspension arms are all in good solid condition. Unusually for a Mk1, it has ABS brakes and the calipers are in excellent condition (I’m guessing they have been replaced) and its fitted with stainless steel braided brake hoses by Maruha. The exhaust system is in excellent condition too. The under-bonnet area is exceptionally clean. Yet again I should emphasize that this is way cleaner than most cars with fewer miles. Same goes for the boot too – very clean and tidy and with correct jack, wheel brace and space saver spare tyre. Its fitted with a black vinyl soft top with glass rear window and again, this is in good condition with no damage.
On the outer bodywork, there is no rust of course and while there is the odd stone-chip and minor mark, there are no significant scratches and no dents. It polishes up beautifully and looks just terrific. Its been fitted with a subtle boot spoiler along with a front lip spoiler. It has chrome Marini door mirrors which suit the car well. Unusually it has a top tinted windscreen, quite rare on any Eunos. The black vinyl soft top is in good condition too.
To say it drives well would be an understatement. After 15 years dealing in Mazdas, this is one of the very best I have driven. There are no rattles, no squeaks and no odd vibrations and for a Eunos, that’s quite unusual as most shake, rattle and roll like Elvis on a particularly frisky day. Its part of the charm really but its very nice to find a really smooth car like this. Performance is good too and it pulls strongly through all gears and the clutch and gearbox are just right. The engine feels very strong and there is no tappet noise, no leaks and it holds its temperature perfectly. Handling is a touch sharper than a standard car thanks to the Bilstein suspension and the benefit of a correct wheel alignment set up. I cannot recommend this one highly enough in this respect – its just brilliant to drive.
As is often the case with Japanese imports, there’s little in the way of service history. However, its very clear that this car hasn’t just been well looked after by its Japanese owner, its been truly cherished. Over the last 4000 miles (which is what has been covered over the last five years) its been serviced twice and is about to serviced again by me which will include new spark plugs, air and oil filter and new oil. I will also include 12 months MOT. I have the original Grade Sheet (it was a Grade 3.5 when we imported it) and the original Japanese owners handbook (handily in Japanese).
I always say you should buy a Eunos on condition NOT mileage. This proves the point perfectly and I’m sure that anyone who views this cannot fail to be impressed. This is an exceptional car in every way.
STATUS: NOW SOLD