NA6CE · NA8C
Mazda Eunos Roadster NA import check
NA6CE is the factory model code for the Mazda Eunos Roadster NA, built for the Japanese market from 1989 to 1993. Other versions carry NA8C. Every genuine car has a chassis (frame) number that starts with its code, such as NA6CE-. That number is the one thing that links its Japanese history to its UK records.
NA6CE at a glance
- Model code
- NA6CE
- Make
- Mazda
- Model
- Eunos Roadster (NA)
- Body
- 2-door convertible
- Built
- 1989 to 1993
- Engine
- B6-ZE (1597 cc naturally aspirated petrol)
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Japanese trims
- Standard, Special Package, V-Special, S-Special, J-Limited
- Chassis number format
- NA6CE-nnnnnn
From our own model library, compiled from public sources and not yet checked against a second source. UK records sometimes drop the hyphen or the leading zeros of the serial; our check allows for that.
Reading the NA6CE chassis code
- NA6CE is the 1.6 and NA8C the 1.8. The second-generation Roadster is NB.
| Code | What it is | Engine | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| NA6CE | Eunos Roadster (NA) | B6-ZE | 1989–1993 |
| NA8C | 1.8 BP-ZE, from 1993 | BP-ZE | 1993–1997 |
Have a chassis number? The chassis decoder reads it for you.
Is it a genuine NA6CE?
The Eunos Roadster is the Japanese-market first-generation MX-5. A Japanese import has an NA6CE- or NA8C- frame number; a UK MX-5 has a 17-character VIN.
Known problems to check on an NA6CE
- Rust in the sills, rear arches and front chassis legs, often from blocked hood drain holes
- Early 1.6 engines can wear the crankshaft-pulley keyway (the "short nose" crank)
- Pop-up headlight motors
- Worn soft top and cloudy rear window
These are common issues for the model, not facts about any particular car. Ask the seller about each one.
Before you buy
- Check the sills by pressing on them from below, and look for drain holes behind the seats
- Check the crankshaft pulley for wobble on early cars
The NA6CE on a Japanese auction sheet
- The sheet names the car ユーノスロードスター (Eunos Roadster) or ロードスター.
Most imports were bought at a Japanese auction, and the inspector’s sheet records the grade, mileage and every mark on the body. Ask the seller for it, then run it through our auction sheet translator to read it in English and check the chassis number and mileage against the UK record.
Recalls in Japan for the NA6CE family
Japan publishes every recall with the chassis numbers it covers. Run a recall check with the car’s chassis number to see whether any apply to it.
MOT record in the UK
Mazda Eunos Roadster
- 33% of 1,632 first MOT tests failed in 2024 and 2025, 10% lower than the UK average for cars of the same age.
- Most common advisory: Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive (24% of tests).
- Most common failure: Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (3.8% of tests).
From DVSA’s anonymised MOT data, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Kilometres, miles and the first UK MOT
An NA6CE sold new in Japan has a speedometer in kilometres. When it is imported, the speedometer is either converted to miles or left in km, and the first UK MOT should record whichever the dial shows. Mistakes here are common, and they’re where mileage problems hide.
We put the Japanese auction mileage and every UK MOT reading on one timeline and check the crossing: whether the readings agree after converting, whether the km figure was written down as miles, and whether the first UK reading is lower than the car had already done in Japan. See an illustrative example.
Questions
What is the chassis code for the Mazda Eunos Roadster NA?
NA6CE, with NA8C for other engines or drive layouts. A Japanese-market Mazda Eunos Roadster NA has a frame number that starts with its code, then a hyphen and a serial number. You’ll find it on the V5C and on a plate in the engine bay.
Which years was the NA6CE built?
From 1989 to 1993, with the B6-ZE (1597 cc naturally aspirated petrol) engine and RWD layout.
What should I check when buying an NA6CE?
Rust in the sills, rear arches and front chassis legs, often from blocked hood drain holes. Early 1.6 engines can wear the crankshaft-pulley keyway (the "short nose" crank). Pop-up headlight motors. Worn soft top and cloudy rear window. Check the sills by pressing on them from below, and look for drain holes behind the seats. Check the crankshaft pulley for wobble on early cars. Also check that the Japanese auction mileage lines up with the first UK MOT, because km and miles are easily mixed up.