The 1991 Mazda Miata Special Edition brought unique aesthetic touches like British Racing Green paint color to the popular and accessible roadster. The first of many special edition Miatas, only about 4,000 of these were made.

Introduced in 1989 and still going strong today, the Mazda Miata is a fun and lightweight roadster that is widely reviewed as an absolute blast to drive. There have been many Miata special editions, but the 1991 edition was the very first.

Want to learn more about the 1991 Miata Special Edition? Hop in and ride along with

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Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance cost

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What is the 1991 Mazda Miata Special Edition?

Only around 4,000 of the 1991 Mazda Miata Special Editions were made. The unique features that it brought to the Miata were entirely aesthetic. No engine or performance upgrades here, but there were a few luxury touches like a wooden Nardi shift knob and brake lever, and leather interior.

Mazda Miata overview

But before we focus on the 1991 Special Edition, let’s back up and take a look at the Mazda Miata as a whole.

There weren’t many cars like it when it was first introduced in 1989 and this peppy roadster was an instant hit. Over three decades and several generations, the Miata offers grin-inducing sports car fun at an accessible price.

The current version of the Miata offers many more bells and whistles than its earlier cousins but still delivers on pure driving joy. This rear-wheel drive roadster fits two in snug style with some room in the trunk for your weekend getaway bags.

Balance, precision, and responsiveness are all hallmarks of the Miata, and you can feel it through the intuitive and spirited handling. All three 2022 trims have a four-cylinder 181-horsepower engine. For those who want to feel really connected to their vehicle, the top Touring trim comes with the increasingly rare option of a manual transmission.

In addition to style, you’ll also be enjoying Mazda’s industry-leading reputation for safety and value. The Miata ranks an above-average 4 out of 5 on

RepairPal

and is 8th out of 21 in its class for reliability.

Key specs of the 2022 Miata:

$28,665 starting MSRP

DOHC 16 valve inline-four engine

181 hp @ 7000 RPM

151 lb-ft of torque @ 4000 RPM

0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds

9/10 rating from Car and Driver, Editors’ Choice

What’s special about the 1991 Special Edition?

The most distinguishing feature of the 1991 Special Edition Miata was the fact that it came in an exclusive

British Racing Green

—many car historians simply refer to this model as the “BRG Miata.” It also came with a tan leather interior and exclusive wooden Nardi shift knobs and brake levers. Stainless steel sill plates completed the look and a numbered plaque on the dashboard let everyone know that they were in the presence of a truly limited special edition, thank you very much.

The other options that came standard with (but not exclusive to) the Special Edition included:

Front air conditioning

Cruise control and power-assisted steering

Alloy wheels

Power windows

Cassette deck and CD player

Leather-wrapped steering wheel

The 1991 Special Edition was offered at an MSRP of around $19,599, versus the base trim’s starting point of $15,869.

MORE:

Vehicle trim level, options, and packages explained

1991 Mazda Miata Special Edition vs. base trim

There were only two trim levels offered on the Miata in 1991—the base trim, and the Special Edition. Both were identical under the hood, with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine providing 116 horsepower. The thing that really made the Special Edition unique was the fact that it was an iconic color, had some real wood and steel finishes, and was only made in a limited run.

All the other features listed above that came standard with the Special Edition could also be had on the base trim by purchasing additional option packages.

So, why would anyone want the Special Edition? Well…because it’s special. If you’re an autosports history buff, you might like the fact that it’s painted a classic British Racing Green; if you have a collector’s mindset, you might like the fact that there are only so many in circulation and each one comes with a specially numbered badge on the dashboard.

At the end of the day, if it’s just the extra features that you want, then going with the base trim plus optional packages should suit you fine. But if you want a rare edition in a historic color, then the 1991 Special Edition should scratch that itch nicely.

MORE: Everything you need to know about Mazda’s electric cars

How to find the best Mazda Miata Special Edition insurance

There may be a staggering number of Special Edition Miatas through the years, but there’s just one way to make sure your

Mazda insurance cost

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