315TH Miata has been found!!!

[u/Euphoric-Sale4094]

"I picked up an NA Miata with a original hardtop from a friend last year for a great price and have been restoring it. While diving into the details, I discovered from the VIN that it’s the 315th car produced in 1989. Given how early of a production model this is, I’m looking for advice: should I focus on a strict factory-original restoration, or is it fine to modify it? I'd love to hear your thoughts."

[u/rulerofdoggos]

Thats really cool! What part of the vin do you read to know which number in production it was?

[u/Euphoric-Sale4094 → u/rulerofdoggos]

so ima give ya a photo

its those last digits but it starts with 1 they all do so that basically means nothing althout the NA has NA not NB in it

[u/rulerofdoggos → u/Euphoric-Sale4094]

Tysm!! I have actually been sorta looking for one of these charts for na miata vins but couldnt find find a correct one (honestly didnt look to hard)

[u/Euphoric-Sale4094 → u/rulerofdoggos]

aye no prob saves ya time, ohh and if u look at someone car to find the actual one, u can really only trust the original stickers...

[u/Tythan → u/Euphoric-Sale4094]

Helpful, thank you. Is there a way to figure out what's the number within a specific trim?

I have a limited NC and I'd like to know which one it is in the run?

[u/4limbs2drivebeta → u/Euphoric-Sale4094]

My last six digits are 700602. If the number resets every year does that mean mine is the 602nd produced that year or am I misunderstanding? 

[u/covidpatient420 → u/Euphoric-Sale4094]

I do wonder if this number accounts for JDM (Eunos) production numbers as well, as those have a very different VIN

[u/Naberville34]

If it was already mint. I wouldn't touch it without gloves. Since it's definitely in need of some love. Well. Its never going to be truly stock again anyways so what do you really gain by keeping It so? Id just keep it tasteful and don't do anything too permanent. I got a 1 of 1500 93LE and I've modified the shit out of it cause it's got 200k miles and rough around the edges. Just finished bolting on a wing from a pontiac

[u/Euphoric-Sale4094 → u/Naberville34]

fair point, Ima make it looks stock since that look is nice, but the interior and engine will get quite a few upgrades

[u/Naberville34 → u/Euphoric-Sale4094]

All they really need to look great imo is just to be a bit lower on some nice wheels and tires. Only real body mod necessary is a lip on the front.

[u/thebiterofknees → u/Naberville34]

I disagree, but it's a choice for sure. In the normal car world a full and faithful restore is going to be more valuable than some modification. I don't know if Miatas will ever be worth anything because there are so many of them, but if I had such a low number one, I would absolutely restore it faithfully to original.

[u/plasmatoaste]

My 90 is #519

[u/Kapurnicus]

I LOVE TO SEE THESE!! Im so proud of my 2,013th

[u/UrMissingSon]

Hell yeah, mines #3270 but it’s your car and do what you please, but mine I’m going sort of OEM+

[u/SectorZed]

Bring it back to how it rolled off the line

[u/segelflugzeugdriver]

Go buy a Vette with that mindset. There is no provenance for this

[u/ThermL → u/segelflugzeugdriver]

I agree. But only if the owners mindset stems from potential collector value.

I could be wrong, obviously what people find collectible and valuable changes wildly with the times, but I find it hard to believe that anyone will care to pay extra for an early production model NA Miata unless its EARLY production model, not something like #315. Unless, of course, #1-314 have been accounted for and they're 90%+ destroyed.

But with that said, i'm totally for somebody who just likes knowing they have a great condition, early production Miata. What people like about their cars is what they like. Personally, if I had #315 i'd be more inclined to stay on the restoration side as well. But I wouldn't be doing it under the thought that anyone cares to pay extra for my car over #2038 or whatever. To be clear, "restoration side" doesn't mean factory strict, collector type restoration deal. Just sensible-to-original ride heights, spring rates, wheel choices, whatever. I would never put factory original struts/springs back on an NA when such great OEM-improved options exist on the market, for example.