The 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata claims the praise of being one of the most reliable, ultra-lightweight, and purely engaging two-seater roadsters of all time. Today, this classic car is one of the vehicles sought by many as a project car, with the aim of bringing it back to life as one of the most celebrated cars among automotive enthusiasts worldwide.
In this instance, Touch of Class Customs began a restoration project on a Miata, transforming it into a crisp, modern-looking purple car.
The 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata Exterior Transformation
Before restoration, the car had a white roadster appearance. Touch of Class Customs stripped the car down to give it a new colour, a new look, and a transformed interior. Starting from the front, the custom shop retained the classic pop-up headlights but enhanced them with modern-looking round LED lights inside a black angular housing, bordered by a green illuminated ring.
Below the pop-up headlights, on the turn signal, Touch of Class Customs added a slim horizontal LED light strip. On the lower front section, the custom shop also installed a large purple aerodynamic-style splitter with angular extensions at the corners. Touch of Class Customs finished the entire car, from front to rear, in purple and replaced the original badge with a Touch of Class Customs badge.
Side Profile and Wheels
When viewed from the side, this classic first-generation Mazda MX-5 takes on a completely different character. Touch of Class Customs fitted custom side skirts that bridge the gap between the aggressive front bumper and the rear aero profile. The custom shop also fitted bright white, multi-spoke, deep-dish wheels that give the car a sportier stance.
Touch of Class Customs 254 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata Rear Design
At the rear, Touch of Class Customs added a subtle rear lip spoiler, while the sleek trunk profile gives the back of this classic Miata MX-5 a sharper, more defined aerodynamic look. The custom shop also installed an aggressive lower rear bumper setup incorporating vertical diffuser fins. However, the classic capsule-shaped taillights remain unchanged.
Interior Customization
Touch of Class Customs completely reworked the interior, meticulously customizing its components to create an immersive, high-contrast environment. The two-seater roadster features a bucket-seat setup, with diamond-pattern stitching on the seat’s back and the bottom matching the ones on the door panels.
Behind the seats, on the car’s rear deck, Touch of Class Customs installed a custom aftermarket subwoofer enclosure and speaker system. The custom shop also incorporated rich pink interior colours throughout the cabin, as seen on the car’s bucket seats, door panels, and dashboard.
Engine and Performance (Factory Specs)
The 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata featured a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated inline-four engine (BP-ZE) that generated 133 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. The engine was connected to either a five-speed short-throw manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission, which transferred power to the rear wheels.
