Miata Mailing List: February 1996, Message #171
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   From: "John D. Emerson" 
Subject: Miata colors, Collectors' cars, etc.
   Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 16:51:21 -0500

   In a recent message, kerim@aol.com reported that he thinks the 
Sunburst Yellow color is "hideous".  Hey, tell us how you REALLY feel 
about it Kerim.  Don't hold back!  Express your true feelings -- don't 
repress them!  There must be some great synonyms for "hideous" in some of 
these state-of-the-art software packages we are using.    [:-)   [:-)
    Kidding aside, Sunburst Yellow does seem to evoke emotions on both 
ends of the spectrum.  I'm betting that it is the clear favorite  of the 
age 6-to-16 set, although my evidence is anecdotal. Sunburst yellow is a 
real attention getter, and it does make people smile.  (Now, just WHY 
they are smiling -- well, who knows?)  I've never particularly liked 
yellow as a color for a car, but when I first saw the yellow Miata parked 
under a maple tree on a gorgeous sunny day with Lake Champlain in the 
background -- well, I lost control and any common sense and good 
judgement along with it.  One thing I DO like is its rareness; there is 
one other Sunburst Yellow within Vermont's borders.  I've not been to the 
big national events, but in gatherings of Miatas I've participated in 
there has never been more than one other Yellow.
     As others have said, the question of collectability and eventual 
appreciation is a real tough one to get a handle on.  It is very 
subjective, and a rare car (like a Sunburst Yellow or a 93 Black/Red or a 
pristine BRG) is worth what someone who want one will pay for it.  Age, 
mileage, and condition are also complicating factors.
    If year, mileage, and level of equipment from the factory are all 
weighed in, I guess I'd rank them as follows in "collectability":
1.  91 BRG
2.  92 Sunburst Yellow (certainly gaining over past 12 months)
3.  93 Black/Red (best equipped and rarest interior)
4.  92 Black Miata with C package (first Miata with tan top and unique 
wheels)
5.  94 M Edition  (GREAT metallic color, but not unique to Miata)
   Have I started a flame war yet?
John Emerson,  92 Sunburst Yellow
Middlebury, Vermont