Step 2: Service

We got the car home and now it’s ready for a proper full on inspection to see exactly what we need to do and a full service.

Our service involved

• New cam cover gasket
• New oil filter
• New fuel filter
• New oil
• New spark plugs
• New clutch slave cylinder
• New transmission oil
• New coolant
• Washed MazdaSpeed air filter

Everything was quite straight forward – the main issue we had was rusted nuts and bolts. A few snapped off, and the under engine tray had to be cut off as one of the bolts wasn’t budging.

We discovered one of the hand brake cables needed replacing and there was a small cut in one of the ignition leads. There is a potential oil leak, a few drips have appeared over the space of a week. We’re not sure where it’s coming from but the oil sump is covered in oil so it’s hard to see the route from the engine.

The steering clicks slightly when turning lock to lock, it might be the ball joints.

To do:

• Order new hand brake cables
• New undertray
• Ball joints
• New ignition leads

Step 1: Find a car

The aim was to get a mark 1, Mazda MX5 that mechanically was in good order and didn't cost to much too buy that we could fix up and take on the track.

We found this one on pistonheads - The advert said it had some bad bodywork and paint peeling off the back, but apart from that seemed fine. A phone call later and we'd arranged to go and view it.

The hand brake was broken, the brake pads had just been replaced, the stereo was faulty and the paint work was rather bad. The owner was very honest with all these faults and let us take it out for a drive on our own. Took it round the block - nice gear change, the engine revved smoothly and the steering felt fine. Made an offer and collected it the next day!