Mazda Eunos 1.8 R-Ltd -Amazing car!
Now this is an unusual car – and an unusual situation. First the car: its a 1995 Mazda Eunos 1.8 R-Ltd. Around 1000 R-Ltds were produced but only for the Japanese domestic market. Of these, most (994 to be precise) were made in Satellite Blue and just 104 were produced in Chaste White making this one very rare indeed.
The specification is particularly good and includes 15” BBS alloy wheels, Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel, electric windows and mirrors, power steering and air conditioning. Mechanically, it was a small step up from the standard Eunos 1.8 featuring a slightly more powerful version of the 1.8 engine complete with lightened flywheel, improved ECU, Torsen lsd with shorter ratios (for better acceleration), extra underbody bracing and Bilstein suspension all round.
This particular car was imported from Japan by us back in summer of 2018 making it one of the very last Mazda Eunos to be imported from Japan (before the prices over there made it too expensive). We were after a car with a very good, rust-free bodyshell and this one well and truly ticked that box. Even so, we carried out a huge amount of work to further improve the car. This included a full respray, brand new red mohair soft top and a comprehensive service including new water pump and cam belt. We also fitted new brake discs and replaced the tired Bilstein suspension with new standard spec shock absorbers and springs. The was MOT tested and sold to an MX5 enthusiast. However, he wanted to continue to use his existing MX5 for a little longer before moving on to this one so it was placed into a classic car storage facility for a little while.
Fast forward to the beginning of 2025 and the car was still sitting in storage, unused for over six years. I was probably the last person to drive that car onto the transporter for its journey into storage and I was the first person to drive it when it came out of storage earlier this year.
The owner has decided its best to sell it so I have been re-commissioning the car, checking it over and ensuring its ready to be used and enjoyed properly. This has included fitting set of reconditioned 15” BBS wheel along with brand new Uniroyal Rainsport tyres, fitting a new battery, giving it a full service etc. The brakes have been stripped, cleaned greased etc all round. Its covered an indicated 148800 km (around 93000 miles) but I always urge MX5 buyers to buy on condition over anything else and certainly not based on the numbers on the odometer. Its last MOT expired in 2019 so obviously it will have a new MOT certificate upon its sale.
The main reason we imported cars like this from Japan was for the condition of the bodyshell and this one is exceptionally good with absolutely zero rust. The paintwork is excellent with no stone chips, no scratches and no dents. Sills, wheel arches, wings are all in excellent order and it has never been welded underneath. Moving on to running gear, again its all in excellent order and most of it still has its original black paint showing. Any nuts and bolts on the underside look exceptionally clean. On so many cars of this age, if a suspension component needed removing, you would have to resort to cutting it off with an angle grinder or at least settling in for big fight with it. On this car, everything looks as though it all would come apart with simple hand tools.
The interior is in good order too though the original wood gear knob and handbrake handle usually found on an R-Ltd are no longer present. It has its original double-din Pioneer stereo BUT while this lights up there is no sound. I propose to fit a new modern stereo complete with Bluetooth etc but the original stereo will be passed on with the car.
I intend to add quite few miles to this before its sale: I want to make sure it drives the way a good Eunos should. Based on the few miles I have driven in it so far, it feels good with strong performance, good clutch gearbox and brakes and typically good Eunos handling.
Its an exceptional car in exceptional condition and it looks just fantastic, especially with that red soft top and those BBS alloys. Its not cheap though at £12000 but it represents a rare opportunity to own something quite special.
The specification is particularly good and includes 15” BBS alloy wheels, Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel, electric windows and mirrors, power steering and air conditioning. Mechanically, it was a small step up from the standard Eunos 1.8 featuring a slightly more powerful version of the 1.8 engine complete with lightened flywheel, improved ECU, Torsen lsd with shorter ratios (for better acceleration), extra underbody bracing and Bilstein suspension all round.
This particular car was imported from Japan by us back in summer of 2018 making it one of the very last Mazda Eunos to be imported from Japan (before the prices over there made it too expensive). We were after a car with a very good, rust-free bodyshell and this one well and truly ticked that box. Even so, we carried out a huge amount of work to further improve the car. This included a full respray, brand new red mohair soft top and a comprehensive service including new water pump and cam belt. We also fitted new brake discs and replaced the tired Bilstein suspension with new standard spec shock absorbers and springs. The was MOT tested and sold to an MX5 enthusiast. However, he wanted to continue to use his existing MX5 for a little longer before moving on to this one so it was placed into a classic car storage facility for a little while.
Fast forward to the beginning of 2025 and the car was still sitting in storage, unused for over six years. I was probably the last person to drive that car onto the transporter for its journey into storage and I was the first person to drive it when it came out of storage earlier this year.
The owner has decided its best to sell it so I have been re-commissioning the car, checking it over and ensuring its ready to be used and enjoyed properly. This has included fitting set of reconditioned 15” BBS wheel along with brand new Uniroyal Rainsport tyres, fitting a new battery, giving it a full service etc. The brakes have been stripped, cleaned greased etc all round. Its covered an indicated 148800 km (around 93000 miles) but I always urge MX5 buyers to buy on condition over anything else and certainly not based on the numbers on the odometer. Its last MOT expired in 2019 so obviously it will have a new MOT certificate upon its sale.
The main reason we imported cars like this from Japan was for the condition of the bodyshell and this one is exceptionally good with absolutely zero rust. The paintwork is excellent with no stone chips, no scratches and no dents. Sills, wheel arches, wings are all in excellent order and it has never been welded underneath. Moving on to running gear, again its all in excellent order and most of it still has its original black paint showing. Any nuts and bolts on the underside look exceptionally clean. On so many cars of this age, if a suspension component needed removing, you would have to resort to cutting it off with an angle grinder or at least settling in for big fight with it. On this car, everything looks as though it all would come apart with simple hand tools.
The interior is in good order too though the original wood gear knob and handbrake handle usually found on an R-Ltd are no longer present. It has its original double-din Pioneer stereo BUT while this lights up there is no sound. I propose to fit a new modern stereo complete with Bluetooth etc but the original stereo will be passed on with the car.
I intend to add quite few miles to this before its sale: I want to make sure it drives the way a good Eunos should. Based on the few miles I have driven in it so far, it feels good with strong performance, good clutch gearbox and brakes and typically good Eunos handling.
Its an exceptional car in exceptional condition and it looks just fantastic, especially with that red soft top and those BBS alloys. Its not cheap though at £12000 but it represents a rare opportunity to own something quite special.
