This Miata’s Smiling Because It’s Hiding Something Big

  • Someone is selling a V8-powered Mazda MX-5 Miata at auction, and it looks attractive.
  • Beyond the engine, it possesses several desirable options and evidently has low mileage.
  • At the same time, it has a few notable issues that will require sorting for the next owner.

If there’s ever been a consistent gripe about the Mazda MX-5, it’s that the roadster needs more power. Mazda has largely ignored that and just worked hard to keep the car light and nimble. But the car community? It had other plans, like shoving V8s under the Miata’s hood. One such example is now up for auction, and it doesn’t just have more power, it’s got a full-blown small block under the hood.

This isn’t just any MX-5 either. It’s a low-mileage example from 2012. It’s a Special Edition trim too, so it gets Velocity Red paint, heated seats, leather upholstery, a Bose sound system, and a power-retractable hardtop.

Read: VTEC Kicks In Twice Yo With This Twin-Engine Honda Prelude

Now, let’s get down to what makes this car special: the V8 under the hood. It’s not some giant twin-turbo 7.0-liter monster, but rather an almost practical 5.3-liter naturally aspirated small block GM V8. While it’s unclear exactly where this LS engine came from, the seller says that it made 379 horsepower at the rear wheels last time it was on a dyno. Notably, they didn’t provide documentation of that.

That said, the V8 isn’t just hacked into the engine bay. The builder used several parts from V8 Roadsters, a company dedicated to engine-swapping V8s into MX-5s. That means that not only does it fit, but it fits with some room to spare. It sends power to the rear wheels only via a six-speed manual transmission from Tremec. A limited-slip differential from a Chevrolet Camaro SS sits at the back axle for better power distribution.

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Photos Cars&Bids

The car isn’t without flaws, though. Aside from its rebuilt title, it has a lot of chips, scratches, and other issues. The trunk is misaligned, the seats show a great deal of wear, the air conditioning needs to be recharged, and it has some electrical gremlins, too. The speedometer and gas gauge are inaccurate, and the horn and power locks are inoperable. That said, the parts of it solely focused on driving still sound tempting.

Those interested should check out the auction over on Cars & Bids. As of this writing, it’s already at $10,111. If that seems a bit steep already for another person’s project, just take a look at the drive video posted below. This little roadster sounds like an absolute blast.

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Photos Cars&Bids


The Auto World

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