I normally don't post E-Bay auctions in this section, but this may actually be of use to somebody. It never ceases to amaze me what some people call "mint", but some of those parts do look fairly new.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2421640162

 

Thanks for posting it. I've been thinking about that auction all day and part of yesterday. If only I had lots of money to play with.

 

$3500 would be too much unless you could examine the parts and they really were mint.
I just bought a complete 20B JC Cosmo car (1 owner, 55000km) in running, undamaged condition for that much.
Gary

 

mint2 (mint), n.
1. a place where coins, paper currency, special medals, etc., are produced under government authority.
2. a place where something is produced or manufactured
3. a vast amount, esp. of money: He made a mint in oil wells.
—adj.
4. Philately. (of a stamp) being in its original, unused condition.
5. unused or appearing to be newly made and never used: a book in mint condition.
—v.t.
6. to make (coins, money, etc.) by stamping metal.
7. to turn (metal) into coins: to mint gold into sovereigns.
8. to make or fabricate; invent: to mint words.
[bef. 900; ME mynt, OE mynet coin < L monta coin, mint, after the temple of Juno Monta, where Roman money was coined]

Well, they are definitely not definition #4 or #5 unless Mazda now produces engine parts that are pre-glazed, pre-carboned, and pre-filled with water deposits. However, definition #8 perfectly describes my gripe about the misuse of the word, so maybe those parts are "mint" in that respect.

Yes, $3,500 is entirely too much, as you can buy a working engine for that much (as you know, lol). Besides, there is no description about what kind of porting is done, which template (if any) was used, who did the porting, whether or not the parts are still within specs, etc.