gm's unhealthy obsession with mx5s - the blue one hits 70,000 miles - pretty pics and new wheels

[gm]

driving past Seaton Delaval hall, they had left the gates open again - couldn't resist nipping in for a couple of snaps

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/seaton-delaval-hall

 

 

[gm]

I'm sure they don't mind  

[gm]

On 08/10/2025 at 19:53, gm said:

many years back, I owned this one (bloody hell, must have been a long time ago, it's got a tax disc !)

and always thought it really suited those wheels

so was on the look out for a set to go on bluey

these turned up on marketplace, described as tatty and in need of a refurb and new tyres

£50 later...

yep, those tyres are borked, but lets give them a quick clean up and see what we have got 

not too bad at all

I'll probably get them done anyway, this whole having a nice car worth looking after is a bit alien to me  

current wheels that I'm just not keen on

new* wheels

but while I get the new ones sorted and try to sell the old ones, it needs something to run around on. 

nicked them off the Exo  

I'm not sure - maybe it's the silver hardtop that makes them look odd but it's only temporary anyway

 

 

 

those enkei 5 spokes were smart but not quite smart enough, so I bundled them and a set of new tyres in the back of the 'onda and dropped them off at https://stellablast.co.uk/alloy-wheel-refurbishment/

 

a few days later.....

how good do they look now ? 

I'll order a set of silver wheel nuts, the black ones look a bit odd, but otherwise, I'm very pleased  

[MrBig]

That looks so much better. What a great looking car it is, especially in that colour. It's so rare to see a clean unmolested MX5 that it's easy to forget their charm.

(I am aware of the irony in making that statement, but mine is probably £10k away from being clean, so I stand by what I said).

 

[Mr Laurence]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17NyTHutQc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
 

This is your old one isn’t it?? Looks like it’s gained a giant spoiler since it was last for sale

[gm]

i’m sorry to say that you are correct - and that i have seen that spoiler in person and the photos don’t do it justice - it’s flipping huge !

i was speaking to the owner last week who was busy telling me how much he loved the car and was glad it didn’t sell the last time it was up for sale ! 

[gm]

he’s taken the massive wing off and dropped the price 

those red door cards do look pretty smart

but i don’t think i’ll be buying it back 

[paulplom]

You selt it at exactly the right time.

[gm]

7 hours ago, paulplom said:

You selt it at exactly the right time.

he’s now sold the hardtop and dropped the price again - although it’s a scruff, it is still a very capable track toy and i bet if someone offered him a grand, he’d bite your hand off !

https://www.facebook.com/share/17euTTzNca/?mibextid=wwXIfr

[gm]

On 24/10/2025 at 18:12, gm said:

I took Exo out for a hoon this afternoon and the screen was more than a bit wobbly, just being clamped into the phone holder. the plug popped out of the 12v socket a couple of times too so a permanent install was needed

the supplied bracket got chopped up and bolted to the underside of the wiring tray, the cable being fed through a grommit and hardwired into the loom

yes, CarPlay in a kit car is perhaps excessive but I like it  

speakers next ? 

turns out there’s an input for a reversing camera on there too

which sounds a little daft but thinking about it, if you’ve got a helmet and a 4 point harness on, it might just be bloody handy  

great success ! 

oh no ! i’ve run over Buster BloodVessel !