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Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/3/22 10:01 a.m.

My favoritist Miata in the world is, alas, up for sale. We need to make room in the fleet for a new car, so it's time for Indy to move on. This was not an easy decision and we've been dragging our feet on it for a while, but we finally pulled the trigger.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2016-mazda-mx-5-miata-36/

I am happy to help enable for GRM folks as much as I can.

 

This video is probably the best one for capturing the sound of the car, many of the others were done before we had the active exhaust in place.

 

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter)
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/3/22 10:44 a.m.

could you share a breakdown of how many v8 conversions FM built by generation?

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/3/22 11:00 a.m.

It would take me a while to break out all the generations. 39 total, 5 of which were NDs. The majority, based on what I remember, are NBs.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/3/22 11:29 a.m.

Angry, you made me count.

11 NA
17 NB
4 NC
5 ND
1 Exocet

 

Correction, 2 Exocets. So the total is 40, not sure why the XXXocet isn't on my list here.

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter)
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/3/22 12:53 p.m.

thanks for the info, Keith!

i'm sure i'm not alone when i say i still want one.  :-(

i thought i'd have all kinds of disposable income by now.  :-(

yupididit
yupididit UltimaDork
11/3/22 1:03 p.m.

OOOooo Man!

bmw88rider
bmw88rider GRM+ Memberand UberDork
11/3/22 10:31 p.m.

Already too rich for my blood right now. God I sold a 1 of 4. Stupid stupid stupid. Grrr. 

thatsnowinnebago
thatsnowinnebago GRM+ Memberand UberDork
11/4/22 12:10 a.m.

"It won’t do anything to surprise you, but if you ask it to do something stupid it will do what you ask and you will have to deal with the consequences." Probably my favorite description of a car without stability/traction control. 

dculberson
dculberson MegaDork
11/4/22 8:45 a.m.

The last one went for $83k. I wonder if this one will top it. 

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/4/22 10:03 a.m.

The last one had a Lingenfelter motor and only 2k miles on it. This one has more provenance, you can find out exactly what Sam Smith thought about driving this particular car - and the market is hotter. 

I honestly don't know. It would be nice :)

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/4/22 10:17 a.m.

In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :

Don't feel bad, I'm not bidding on it either :)

ExcessKuma
ExcessKuma New Reader
11/4/22 10:27 a.m.
Keith Tanner said:

Angry, you made me count.

11 NA
17 NB
4 NC
5 ND
1 Exocet

 

Correction, 2 Exocets. So the total is 40, not sure why the XXXocet isn't on my list here.

Hence why NB is best Miata generation:p

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/4/22 10:37 a.m.

If I posted the dates we started each of those builds, it would start to make more sense. We were building them for 7 years before the ND was introduced :)

But the NB packaging worked very nicely and looked really good underhood. We converted a large number of Mazdaspeeds which pissed off the Mazdaspeed fans, but it was the best looking NB with the nicest interior - so why wouldn't you use it as a base for your custom car? Besides, Mazdaspeeds might be rare but FM-built V8 NBs are more rare.

Robbie (Forum Supporter)
Robbie (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
11/4/22 12:32 p.m.

Considering these are basically the Shelby Cobras of today, this is probably not a bad investment.

CAinCA
CAinCA GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
11/4/22 3:48 p.m.
Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/10/22 11:31 a.m.

Under 2 hours to go. Currently at $60,500 with a good number of active bidders. Get the popcorn.

yupididit
yupididit UltimaDork
11/10/22 1:09 p.m.

$71k with 1:45 left. 

Y'all are done doing these conversions right? 

fusion66
fusion66 Reader
11/10/22 1:17 p.m.

$90k...and still active - holy E36 M3

Wow...just wow...congrats $99k+

golfduke
golfduke Dork
11/10/22 1:27 p.m.

Damnnnnn Kieth about to get PAID! 

 

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa UltimaDork
11/10/22 1:27 p.m.
fusion66 said:

$90k...and still active - holy E36 M3

love watching that timer jump by two minutes when a new bid is put in.

akylekoz
akylekoz UltraDork
11/10/22 1:28 p.m.

A six figure Miata!!!  Sweeet

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/10/22 2:03 p.m.

Sorry, got a little distracted there. I'm gonna brag a bit - every Miata (but one) that has sold on BaT for $40k or more was an FM build. And I don't think one has failed to hit $40k. We've also put a couple of outliers in the chart.

I'm happy to see the market appreciates my favorite Miata. We're not exactly make a profit on this, I'm pretty sure we've spent well north of six figures on this car over the years. Heck, the tire bill alone is probably pretty close to five figures because every journalist loves the burnout shot. This will unlock some R&D funds for the next one.

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter)
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/10/22 2:14 p.m.
Keith Tanner said:

This will unlock some R&D funds for the next one.

The Next V8?

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/10/22 2:37 p.m.

The next FM R&D car :)

dculberson
dculberson MegaDork
11/10/22 3:35 p.m.

Awesome result, congratulations Keith.

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