1991 Mazda MX-5 1.6L Petrol · H967 CHR

A thirty-five-year-old Mazda MX-5 with 136,036 miles on the clock presents a broadly reassuring roadworthiness picture, having passed its most recent MOT on 4 September 2025 with no advisories or defects recorded. The trend across the available testing history is stable rather than deteriorating, with a clean pass at the same 2023 test date and another pass in September 2024. There are two failures on record, but both are unusual in that they are listed with no defects, which typically indicates a refusal or aborted test rather than mechanical or structural component failure. Taken together, the absence of recorded advisories, corroded components, or worn items across multiple consecutive tests suggests the car has been maintained within roadworthy condition, and the lack of any flagged suspension, braking, or exhaust issues is a positive indicator for a vehicle of this age where corrosion and wear are the usual concerns. With 136,036 miles accumulated over approximately thirty-five years, this MX-5 averages around 3,887 miles per year, which is genuinely low for a car of its vintage and well below the typical annual mileage for a roadster. Such a low usage figure points either to long periods of garaged storage, occasional weekend use, or a combination of both, rather than regular daily driving. Mechanically, low annual mileage of this kind has a mixed implication for an early-nineties MX-5: the engine, gearbox and differential are likely to have suffered less from thermal cycling and wear, but prolonged standing periods can promote moisture ingress into brake hydraulic systems, surface corrosion on brake discs, drying and cracking of suspension bushes, perished rubber coolant hoses, and oxidation within the fuel system. The lack of any recorded brake or suspension advisories across recent tests is encouraging, but these are precisely the areas where low-mileage stored classics tend to deteriorate away from the test station, so close physical inspection is essential. For a prospective buyer, the clean advisory record should not replace a hands-on mechanical assessment. On a test drive, pay close attention to any knocking or clonking from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, as the double-wishbone front and live-axle rear beam are known to suffer from worn compliance bushes, top mount deterioration, and tired shock absorbers on cars of this age. Listen for any clonking or vibration from the rear under load, which could indicate worn rear bushings, and check for uneven tyre wear patterns as evidence of misalignment or worn components. The steering should feel precise and free of excessive play; any vagueness, knocking, or reluctance to self-centre on a Mazda of this era often points to worn steering rack mountings or tie-rod ends rather than the rack itself. Given the low recorded mileage, the brake system warrants particular physical scrutiny beyond what an MOT pass confirms. Inspect the brake discs on both axles for any deep lip, scoring, or surface rust that could indicate they have sat idle for extended periods, and check the condition of the flexible brake hoses, which are a known age-related failure point on older MX-5s. Examine the underside for any oil seepage from the engine and gearbox, paying particular attention to the differential area, as the original-spec seals on these cars harden with age. On starting from cold, listen for any timing chain rattle and watch for blue exhaust smoke, both of which would suggest internal engine wear inconsistent with the recorded mileage. Finally, verify that the MOT history gap between 2023 and 2024 shows no missing tests, confirm the mileage sequence is consistent, and ensure the V5C and service records corroborate the low annual usage before purchase.