Mazda MX-5 NA / Miata: an extra gauge on the ashtray spot, no drilling

Car

Mazda MX-5 / Miata / Eunos Roadster NA, 1989–1997, 1.6 and 1.8, LHD and RHD

Does not fit

MX-5 NB

Gauge

1 × 52 mm (52.79 mm bore) or 1 × 60 mm (60.4 mm bore, cup Ø 65 mm outside)

Tilt

30, 45 or 60° toward the driver

Mounting

plate approx. 96 × 185 mm with two clip legs, like the original cup holder

Fit

plate size and leg position taken from two cup holder conversions; clip legs are our own design, not tested in a car

Where the pod sits

Behind the MX-5 NA’s gear lever the ashtray sits in a well in the centre console. In its place goes a cover plate of about 96 × 185 mm that holds in the well with two clip legs, like the original cup holders made for this spot. Nothing is drilled. On the plate stands a pod with one gauge, tilted 30, 45 or 60° toward the driver. An M3 set screw secures the gauge.

Which variant fits

• Gauge size: 52 mm (52.79 mm bore) or 60 mm. The 60 mm variants have a 60.4 mm bore for gauges with a 60 mm body, such as the Defi 60. The cup is then 65 mm wide outside.
• Tilt: 30, 45 (default) or 60°.
• Car: MX-5 / Miata / Eunos Roadster NA, 1.6 and 1.8, LHD and RHD. Not for the NB.

Cables and senders

The cable runs from the top through the hollow stand and the plate down into the well. Always use a fused power supply. Which sender you need and where it goes depends on the gauge; the gauge maker’s instructions are what counts. Route the cable so it does not rub against the gear lever or its gaiter when shifting.

Safety and controls

The pod sits in the centre console clear of the airbag zones: the driver airbag is in the steering wheel, the passenger airbag (standard from model year 1994) in the dashboard. The pod must still not obstruct the gear lever, handbrake or cup holder – check in every gear, especially with the wider 60 mm cup.

What is tested and what isn’t

Our pod has not yet been tested in a car. We took the plate size and the position of the clip legs from two freely published cup holder conversions for the NA (Printables 466618 and 383988, CC BY-NC). The clip legs are our own design; the hook of the reference was not copied. Whether the legs clamp firmly enough is therefore still open. The tolerance test ring shows whether your printer hits the bore.

Common mistakes

• NB instead of NA: the pod only fits the NA.
• Hold not checked: pull on the plate before the first drive; if there is play, add felt tape to the legs.
• Wrong bore for 60 mm: a gauge with a 60 mm body needs the 60 mm variant with the 60.4 mm bore. What “60 mm” means on a gauge and how to measure it is explained in Gauge front ring sizes.
• Pinched cable: the cable has to run freely through the stand and plate before the legs clip in.

Printing

The file is designed for ASA; ABS or PETG also work, PLA does not (PETG or ASA in a car). It prints with the front face on the bed; plate and legs stand vertical and no supports are needed. The default variant weighs 107 g and takes just under 8 hours.

Fitting the gauge pod on the MX-5 NA ashtray spot

1. Print the tolerance test ring (52 or 60 mm) in the final material and test-fit the gauge.
2. Print the pod in ASA, ABS or PETG (front face on the bed, no supports).
3. Remove the ashtray and keep it.
4. Feed the cable from the top through the stand and plate down into the well, fit the gauge, tighten the M3 set screw hand-tight.
5. Fit the plate with the gauge facing the driver until the legs clamp; check the hold and test the gear lever and handbrake in every gear.

FAQ

Updated: 2 November 2026