1997 Mazda Miata

The NA-generation Miata arrived in 1989 as a deliberate revival of the lightweight British roadster formula — front engine, rear-wheel drive, manual gearbox, pop-up headlights, and enough power to be entertaining without overwhelming the car's balance. Mazda's Power Plant Frame, which rigidly connected the engine to the differential, gave the NA a mechanical directness that set it apart from most front-wheel-drive sports cars of the era and established the Miata's reputation as a driver's car in the truest sense of the term.

For 1997, the final year of NA production, Mazda offered the STO — Special Touring Option — as a limited-edition send-off for the generation, producing just 1,500 units finished in Twilight Blue Mica with 15-inch Enkei alloy wheels, a tan leather interior, tan convertible top, and a fully equipped specification that included headrest speakers, Nardi leather shift knob, stainless steel scuff plates, and STO-branded floor mats.

This STO is finished in Twilight Blue Mica over a tan leather interior with a matching tan convertible top, and is powered by the 1.8-liter DOHC inline-four rated at 133 horsepower, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.