MX5/Miata Thread

MX5/Miata Thread


  • Total voters
    191
Looks like removable, but not as easily interchangeable like the hard-top. Clips to the windscreen and trunk latch
 
Dave would have to answer it, but IIRC Mike designed it off the factory hard top, and all the factory attachment points are used. Not sure how the trunk is secured.

I ordered an Megasquirt 2 yesterday for my 90. This can only end well.
 
Just bought chrome vent rings for the Miata. I'm officially an old person.

Welp, better go buy some boat shoes and "Jimmy Buffett Live In Anguilla."

(hint: I hate Jimmy Buffett. But I like boat shoes.)
 
Anyone else gonna be at miatas at the gap? Im driving from south florida, car is all taped up to keep the small-dog sized mosquitos off of my paint and i leave for my long ass drive in *watch* 5 hours. (still havent slept)


If even one or two FG people show up this weekend i'd love to get some sort of mini-meet going.
I made a couple passes today, saw many miatas.
 
Removable. It's a modified autokonexion piece.

Really? How extensively modified? I've always thought the autokonexion looked rather ugly and half assed.
 
I love the green and yellow paint scheme. <3 Gorgeous, and it looks like whee!
 
Jeremy Rong, Igor Hammond, and Lev May have returned from the New England special!

Tonight! An Albanian tries to fit in a Miata's trunk:
283088_10100268972588662_9131082_50338976_7229292_n.jpg


An Asian tries out the S2000:
224444_10100268976720382_9131082_50339125_3604458_n.jpg

224410_10100268976969882_9131082_50339139_1449751_n.jpg


A Russian befriends a goat:
198728_10100268977563692_9131082_50339165_4176369_n.jpg


And we visit a winery that isn't in California:
267278_10100268974599632_9131082_50339056_7150567_n.jpg


224556_10100268974180472_9131082_50339041_6069473_n.jpg


205912_10100268975003822_9131082_50339071_3469029_n.jpg


205897_10100268976331162_9131082_50339112_7389601_n.jpg


283495_10100268977893032_9131082_50339177_3945920_n.jpg


184086_10100268978621572_9131082_50339200_3551885_n.jpg


254610_10100268980298212_9131082_50339245_5263468_n.jpg


267380_10100268980627552_9131082_50339253_3784573_n.jpg


229723_10100268980897012_9131082_50339260_7951578_n.jpg


245 front, 265 rear:
283182_10100268979908992_9131082_50339236_544447_n.jpg


I'll let Jeremy Rong leave some feedback regarding the roads :D





Have some more small cute cars:

184126_10100268964844182_9131082_50338741_3440349_n.jpg


284505_10100268969689472_9131082_50338860_1646513_n.jpg


198665_10100268971081682_9131082_50338899_4581679_n.jpg


Who wants to guess who's behind the wheel of my Miata?
285543_10100268971396052_9131082_50338908_1851205_n.jpg


224508_10100268971805232_9131082_50338930_4093159_n.jpg
 
I believe that black one with the park bench on the back is a medium-sized vehicle of questionable cuteness. I'll have to confiscate that one, sir.

- Vice President of Whee and Cheese Graters, the Medium-Sized Vehicles of Questionable Cuteness Club of 'Mercuh (San Marcos Diocese)
 
I believe that black one with the park bench on the back is a medium-sized vehicle of questionable cuteness. I'll have to confiscate that one, sir.
A girl drives that one so it's at least somewhat cute, right?
 
The Lancer looks like a baby evil thing. Big eyes but a pointy tail.

So yeah, pretty damn cute.
 
How does the fastback attach at the rear? Is it intended as a permanent replacement or to be removable?

Looking great so far. Can't wait to see the finished product!

The fastback started out as an Autokonnexion hardtop. It attaches to the body of the car using all the OEM hardtop attachment points (windshield header, sides, frankenstein bolts) as well as two bolts which go through the trunk rails. The trunk is removeable and uses the OEM latch to hold it closed. I kept these mounting points.

I hope to get the top functionally completed fairly soon (within a few months).

Really? How extensively modified? I've always thought the autokonexion looked rather ugly and half assed.

One of the problems the Autokonnexion top has is that it's equipped with screw mounted Lexan windows. Although this is a lightweight solution, it isn't weatherproof, is unattractive, and in the case of the rear window, was incorrectly designed to use a flat mounted window. The Lexan, laid flat without any curvature to it, is unfortunately prone to sagging. Autokonnexion addressed this with a buttress support piece, but that's an awkward solution. I wanted my fastback to have a more natural, curving flow to it, so I made some extensive modifications to the fastback to take custom made one-off automotive safety glass that's been made for the application. The glass was ridiculously expensive and took nearly a year between ordering and delivery. There are some awkward lines that the original top had that were eliminated (they had lines that were inspired by S2000 fastback tops, but didn't work for the Miata). The top also had to have the window mounting channels recessed and strengthened for the glass. The result is that the rear window has a curvature to it that matches the rest of the lines of the car. The quarter windows (also tempered custom auto glass) have compound curves in them so that, they too, match the curves of the fastback.

I also have two trunklids for the fastback which are being modified to flow more cleanly with the car. Some cut lines will be filled in, the overall top curvature will be reworked to flow with the glass, and the rear trunklid lip is being reworked into a more subtle duckbill lip. One trunklid will be "clean" and meant for street use with the fastback. The other trunklid will be notched to allow mounting APR wing as part of setting up the car for "Track Mode" (Trapp lip, track wheels/rubber, fastback, rear wing, rocker extensions).

I'm still working on the top (I'm do my work solo in my free time), but I'm getting pretty close to the point where I can mount the glass to the top. There may be a delay, though, as I'm considering experimenting with latch mechanisms to allow for the rear quarter windows to be opened to allow airflow out of them...we'll see.
 
mmmmMMMMmmmm....compound curves

NOTE: The near longitundinal lines on the trunklid that are established by the side edges of the rear glass will be eliminated, making the trunklid more curvy looking and eliminating the "S2000 Spoon hardtop" lines altogether.
img_1082.jpg

img_1081.jpg
 
Last edited:
That is the greatest license plate I've ever seen on a Miata. Unfortunately it would be much better suited to a stock Miata.
 
Jesus Christ, I just noticed the "Garage Woolery" embossed on those tailight rings. I didn't even notice those when I saw it at your house.

Attention to detail, you're doin' it right.
 
I'd say the doing it right is a pretty good comment about the whole car! Excellent work and great to see huge body modifications that work beautifully, normally the car is ruined after so much work. :)
 
I don't really like the head lights so much but that fastback is so... swoopy. Me gusta.

Is that a Lotus badge on the back or does it say something else? Can't really tell.
 
Top