P729
P729 (S3), to be precise, does not stand out in many peoples minds, but mention MX-5 & most people know the name. P729 was the code number given to the production ready car that is now known as the Eunos in the Japanese market, Miata in North America or MX-5 everywhere else.
A competition
Bob Hall, an American who worked in the Product Planning & Research Department (P&PR) at Mazda North America (MANA), was asked in 1979 by Chief Developer, Mr Keichi Yamamoto, of Toyo Kogyo, (this later become the Mazda Motor Corporation in 1984), what kind of cars Mazda should build. He replied a light-weight sports car cheaper than, the then, current RX-7 & he did a quick drawing of his vision on a blackboard.
To cut a long story short Keichi liked it & he asked Mazda's two design studios to compete against each other in designing this car. MANA was given the task of designing the Front Engine, Rear Drive (FR) car and the Tokyo Design Studio was given the Front Engine, Front Wheel drive (FF) & Mid-engine, Rear Drive (MR) cars. By the second round of the 'competition' only the FF & FR were left as the MR was seen as unfeasible for production -this left a coupe (FF) & a duo [hard top or soft top] (FR). Bob Hall along with Shigenori Fukudi, Head of P&PR at MANA put forward a very strong case to the Mazda board & eventually won for the duo (FR)
So the life of the MX5 began...
| From 1989 to 1993 the MX-5 was known as 'NA' or as newer models came out the First Generation. Originally based around the 116bhp 1597cc engine, then later on the 1839cc 130bhp engine was added to the range. |
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After the initial models success there had to be an updated version
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For 1999 the Second Generation 'NB' model was introduced, still using the 1.6 & 1.8 litre engines. |
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2001 saw a mild facelift, mainly around the lighting and bumpers. |
The Third Generation welcomed a coupe
| In 2006 the 'NC' or Third Generation was released. The 1.6 engine was dropped it used either the 1.8 or 2.0 litre engine. | 
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| Later in the year a 'Coupe' version, with an electrically retractable hard top became available. | 
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Rather than go into lots of detail about the full specification of the cars, models, special editions & how it changed throughout it's life span, I'll leave that to the books...... buy 'Mazda Miata, Renaissance Sportscar' written by Brian Long & published by 'Veloce Publishing Plc'. It tells you the full history of the Mk1 & the beginning of the Mk2 & covers all Special Editions in all the markets the car was sold in.
Happy reading !!!