There are few car manufacturers that inspire such devotion and passion as Mazda. We meet some of the owners, collectors, employees and fans from around the world to find out what makes Mazda so special.
MEET FRED JONES
American fan Fred Jones loves dressing sharply – and is proud of the style statement his pair of MX-5s makes on the road.
“Fashion has always been my go-to since the mid-70s. I’ve always been interested in style, and I’ve always driven unusual cars,” he says. Fred owns both an NB and NC MX-5, and frequently turns heads when driving around his neighbourhood. “I call the second series model Robin, from Batman and Robin,” he smiles.
His NC, meanwhile, is known as the Panther. “It has the look of a panther that’s hunting in the jungle; the speed, the stealth… People know when they see the car that it’s mine. They say: ‘There goes Fred!’ It’s become my signature.”
But fashion isn’t just a hobby for Fred – he runs Jones 2000 & Beyond, an organisation that holds workshops for young people and ex-offenders on attire, etiquette and social skills. “All this is still tied in with fashion – what to wear, when to wear it, and how to present yourself,” he says.
And the MX-5, Fred says, fits perfectly with the work he does. “It’s timeless and traditional, but changes with the times in a way that maintains its core values. When you look at the MX-5 through its stages, it represents transitions in my own life. The fourth series has improved on the original, and all that is significant in how my life has moved forward. I just can’t see myself driving anything other than an MX-5.”
“I just can’t see myself driving anything other than an MX-5.”
Fred Jones, MX-5 FAN
MEET ODIEL MENNINK
Odiel Mennink, journalist from the Netherlands and a judge for Women’s World Car of the Year.
“Mazda has a special meaning for me. I got my racing licence in a Mazda MX-5 in 2014, and I drive a jet-black fourth-generation MX-5. I call it my Batmobile.
I love how it feels to drive a roadster – it’s so light and agile. The MX-5 is also rear-wheel drive, which is important for a serious car buff. It’s an affordable sports car and unique in its class. For me, Mazda means quality, design, functionality and progressiveness. You know what you get with Mazda. And Mazda takes you into account as a driver. You feel like the car is made for you.
My brother restores cars and looks after my MX-5 for me. He’s very happy when he looks inside the car, because it’s clearly made by engineers for engineers.
I’ve been a judge for the Women’s World Car of the Year award for four years now. This year, the Mazda3 was the winner. I think the car is really well balanced. It combines simple lines with a bold appearance, and the powertrains and safety features are good, too. And it’s just a joy to drive. You get a lot of car for the price. Not many car brands last as long as 100 years, and Mazda just keeps getting better and better.”
“Mazda just keeps getting better and better.”
ODIEL MENNINK, AUTOMOTIVE JOURNALIST
“I’d love our son to grow up with this car and to share this history with him.”
Luis and sarah chaidez, rx-7 fans
MEET THE FREY FAMILY
Markus Frey (above left), his father Walter (centre) and brother Joachim (right) own Frey’s Mazda Classic Car Museum in Augsburg, Germany – the only officially sanctioned Mazda museum outside Japan.
“My father started his Mazda dealership over 40 years ago, and now has three in Augsburg. He liked Mazda as it was different from the other automobile companies.
Our museum collection includes a 1950 Type-GB, which we got about eight years ago. It is more compact and stronger than the earlier Mazda three-wheelers and is the oldest vehicle in the museum. We start our sightseeing tours with it.
The Type-GB was so special that my brother, my father and I completely restored it together. We also did a colour test with the Mazda-Go three-wheeler in the Mazda museum in Hiroshima because we wanted ours to be the same blue.
My brother and I grew up with Mazda, and have followed in our father’s footsteps. Our dream was to make a museum and, after collecting cars for over 30 years, we now have them all in one place. People come from all over the world to see our collection. We have nearly every Mazda ever built, apart from some prototypes that are impossible to get.”
“My brother and I grew up with Mazda, and have followed in our father’s footsteps.”
MARKUS FREY, CO-OWNER OF FREY’S MAZDA CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM
Words Helene Dancer