Mazda MX-5 Miata Paint Colors

After making a list of all available paint colors for the RX-7, I decided to do the same for the MX-5 (including the Miata and Roadster), afterall there are nice MX-5 model kits of all generations available.
The lists on this page are mostly intended for scale modelers to help choose an accurate color for their model.
Due to the many Special Editions made, I only listed those with paint or interior colors that were not available on regular editions in that year.

Sources

The info on the MX-5 NA comes from Mazda manuals and sales brochures, for the later generations I checked Daz's Import Archive and Roadster.Blog, with info from Paintlib.com and PaintRef.com Automotive Paint Cross Reference to cross-check the colors and to fill in any blanks.
Pictures on this page were taken from the global Mazda.com Newsroom website, where many more pictures and info on all MX-5 generations can be found.

Dealer Brochures

Downloadable dealer brochures for most MX-5, Miata and Roadster versions can be found at the AutoCatalogArchive.com website (provided you can prove that you are human).
For Special Editions I added direct links to available brochures.

Exterior Colors

Color samples in these lists are an approximation and for reference only. As computer screens have no way to depict metallic colors, I've added 'metallic' or 'mica' to the names where appropriate.

All metallics and mica paints have a clear top coat, as do a number of solid colors such as Brilliant Black PZ.

Interior Colors

Sofar I have made no attempt to map what interior colors come with each paint color.
Some general info:
The early NA came with an all-black ('Charcoal', so multiple shades of dark gray actually) interior with cloth seats only, in 1991 an optional tan interior with leather seats became available for all body colors on NA and NB. On top of that some special editions of both NA and NB came with a red interior with leather seats.
Standard interior options for the NC were black cloth (all body colors) and tan or black leather (depending on body color).

Trim Colors

Please note that on an actual MX-5 items such as window trim, windshield wiper arms, etc. are finished in satin black, most model kits indicate to paint these items flat black.

Paints for plastic models

For a polystyrene or resin model kit it is usually best to apply a suitable primer base coat (e.g. Tamiya gray or white primer) and then apply a thin top coat of automotive paint, I've added all Motip/Dupli-Color Auto-Color matches I could find, as I get very good results using this paint on model cars.
I've provided some model paint alternatives just in case model paint is preferred, I plan to add more whenever I find good matches. Please note that these are close matches, rather than exact matches.
Zero Paints offers a range of automotive scale model paints that are accurately matched to more recent Mazda paint codes (from 1990 to current).

The lists are ordered by type and by model year:

• MX-5 NA 1989 - 1997
  
• MX-5 NB 1998 - 2005
  
• MX-5 NC 2005 - 2015
  
• MX-5 ND 2016
  
• MX-5 ND 2017
  
• MX-5 ND 2018 -
  

NA 1989 - 1997

The picture shows a pair of limited editions of the 1992 Eunos Roadster: the Japanese equivalents of the 'Sunburst Yellow Edition' and the 'Black & Tan Edition'.

NB 1998 - 2005

The picture shows a 2000 MX-5 NB in Evolution Orange.

NC 2005 - 2015

The picture shows a Japanese 2011 NC Roadster (Japanese equivalent of the 2011 Sport Black Limited Edition) in Spirited Green.
Spirited Green is a modern take on 70ies Mach Green G4.

ND 2016

The picture shows a Japanese 2016 ND Roadster Launch Edition in Soul Red.

For 2016 interior options, some body colors and wheel color were all tied to versions:
Sport version: black cloth; Soul Red, Jet Black, Arctic White or Ceramic; 16in silver wheels.
Club version: black cloth with red stitching; Soul Red, Jet Black, Meteor Gray, Arctic White or Ceramic; 17in Dark Gunmetal wheels.
Grand Touring: tan leather with Jet Black or Meteor Gray; black leather with all colors except Meteor Gray; 17in Dark Silver wheels.

ND 2017

The picture shows a Japanese 2017 ND Roadster RF Launch Edition in Machine Gray with Jet Black roof.

For 2017 interior options, some body colors and wheel color were all tied to versions:
Sport version (not on RF): black cloth; Soul Red, Jet Black, Arctic White or Ceramic; 16in silver wheels.
Club version: black cloth with red stitching; Soul Red, Jet Black, Meteor Gray, Arctic White or Ceramic; 17in Dark Gunmetal wheels.
Grand Touring: tan leather with Jet Black or Meteor Gray; black leather with all colors except Meteor Gray; 17in Dark Silver wheels.

ND 2018 -

Notes

• Two codes for Classic Red: SU (no clear coat) and later A3E (with clear coat)
  
• Two codes for Silver Stone: 3L and 11V (same era, both with clear coat, same Motip matches); 3L most common