Australia will receive 30 Mazda MX-5 30th anniversary editions; the celebratory model was revealed overnight at the Chicago Motor Show.

The original Mazda MX-5 was unveiled to the world at the Chicago Motor Show on February 9, 1989, and so it was fitting Mazda chose the same event 30 years later to reveal its 30th anniversary edition.

Read our review of the recently updated Mazda MX-5.

More than one million MX-5s have been sold since 1989 making it the best-selling roadster of all time. In a statement, Mazda said it produced the 30th anniversary edition for the car’s fans around the world, because “Mazda feels that the MX-5 is no longer its own creation. It belongs to the fans around the world who have supported the development of the model. To express its gratitude, and its high hopes for the future of the MX-5, the company developed Racing Orange, an exclusive body colour that evokes the breaking dawn of an exciting new day”.

There will only be 3000 30th anniversary edition MX-5s built (in both soft-top and folding hardtop) with 30 slated for sale in Australia; Mazda Australia has decided to bring in the soft-top version only. Sale will be via a first in first served arrangement with existing owners contacted via email.

Automatic-equipped Mazda MX-5s were recently recalled over transmission contol module issues.

Mazda MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition exclusive features:

• Racing Orange body colour
• RAYS forged alloys wheels (RAYS ZE40 RS30)
• “30th Anniversary” build plate ornament (with serial number)
• Colour scheme with orange accents 
  (brake calipers, vent surround, seat piping and stitch, steering wheel stitching, door trim stitching, dashboard decoration panel stitching, and shift / parking lever stitching)
• Alcantara material (door trim, dashboard decoration panel and seat centre)
• RECARO seats
• Bilstein dampers
• Brembo front brake calipers (orange painted)
• NISSIN rear brake calipers (orange painted)

And here’s a walk down memory lane…