Andy Collins’ stanced Mazda MX5
We’ve got much love for a tidy little MX-5 here at Fast Car. There’s been three of them on the team over the last few years and It seems we’re not alone either as you guys are sharing our crush for these sporty little soft tops.
The love for them is literally blowing up at the moment. We’re seeing everything from battle scarred drift toys, through to Hellaflush show cars cropping up all over the place. The low price, rear-wheel drive and soft top action make them the ideal base car for any modder. Only a few months ago we featured Tom Shaw’s yellow number on the cover of our Jap Issue. This time it’s the turn of Andy Collins and his super fresh, baby blue Eunos Roadster.
Fast rewind back about a year and Andy had just finished his J-Euro Saxo. No sooner had we shot the car than Andy was out searching for a new project. Shortly after putting the Saxo up for sale someone made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. A straight swap – his Saxo for a bright red Mazda MX-5.
Although it was a little rough around the edges Andy saw potential in the sporty two seater. The car already came fitted with a set of coilovers and ROTA Zero rims, but Andy wanted to put his own stamp on the car.
When it came to sorting out new shoes for the Mazda Andy was offered another great swap. His mate was selling a set of 3-peice RH Topline split rims. Andy buttered him up with a bit of cash and his old ROTAs in exchange for the RH Toplines.
The new rims were in desperate need of a refurb so they were split down and sent away to be cleaned up. The dishes have been polished to a mirror finish and the centres done in candy purple. To finish them off, the tatty old silver bolts were replaced with gold items. The barrels on the rear wheels have also been flipped round to create a massive dish. Wrapped in Bridgestone rubber, the 7.5×15-inch front and 8×15-inch rear wheels look perfect tucked under the rolled arches.
The Raceland coilovers that came on the car weren’t quite up to the job anymore. Andy replaced the old shocks with a set of Tein items and removed the helpers to dump the car even further. With the car sat just as he wanted Andy turned his attention to that tired old bodywork.
All the badges were removed and smoothed along with the front plate recess and side repeaters. When it came to picking a new coat for the car Andy opted to go for a bold custom Tiffany Blue. To set it off the engine bay was sprayed satin black and a Garage Vary front lip was fitted to add even further depth to the front end.
With plans to sell up and move onto another project, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Andy back in a few months’ time for his hat-trick feature.
TECH SPEC EUNOS ROADSTER
STYLING
Custom Tiffany blue paint; satin black engine bay; rolled arches; de-badged; smoothed number plate recess and side repeaters; bullet wing mirrors; Garage Vary front lip; US smoked sidelights; US orange side lights.
TUNING
Top Speed full stainless exhaust system with 4-inch backbox; decat pipe; Boso pipes bolt on for show use; Pipercross cold air feed filter.
CHASSIS
7.5×15-inch and 8×15-inch 3-piece RH Topline split rims, rebuilt with mirror polished dishes, gold bolts and Candy purple centres; Bridgestone Potenza 165/50×15 front tyres; Nankang NS2 185/45×15 rear tyres; Raceland coilovers with Tein shocks and helpers removed.
INTERIOR
Eunos Roadster Import Interior; Momo Team 280 steering wheel; Snap-Off boss; Nardi gear knob; Broadway 300mm mirror.
AUDIO
Sony headunit; Alpine Amp; CDT components.
