At GRM, we always say that Miata is the answer to every question. A few months ago, both my kids (you know them... Tom and Katie) were building low buck, off-road vehicles for the upcoming Gambler Rally here in Florida. In an effort to do something with my kids, I decided to join in the fun.
So, in trying to figure out the best way to build a quick, fun, cool, low-buck off-road vehicle, I decided to pick up this Mazdaspeed Miata from my buddy Wes at Treasure Coast Miata for $3000.
As always, I couldn’t leave well enough alone, and my buddy and co-driver Steve Sanguinetti and I added a winch, off-road spare tire and for some reason zebra stripes. Maybe it dates back to Dactari, the TV show, but I always wanted to have something with zebra stripes.
So all in, we are at about $4000 and have a Paco Motorsports 3" lift kid, authentic Mazdaspeed Miata (minus the turbo drivetrain, which Wes, a Miata scrapper, sold separately. The car does have a VVT/six speed drivetrain though.
One of the silliest things we have ever built, but I like it (a lot). it drives as if Miatas were built by Jeep. And yes, it will go pretty much anywhere.
You are giving me some very bad ideas. That is one cool looking Miata
Looking forward to seeing it in pictures in deep enough water to make the snorkel a necessity. 
We took it out to a kind of motorcycle bowl a few weeks ago. It is pretty much unstoppable. You know the old comedy line, you might be a redneck if... you jacked up your Miata and put zebra stripes on it.
Props to Rusty at Side Effects for hooking a brother up with sheets of zebra stripes for me to install myself.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
Oh yeah!
Now that is awesome! Love the stripes!
Is this for rock crawling type of work, or rally cross type of work? I have to admit to "not getting it" -- though it does look like it would be a supremely useful tool for this thing we get around here called "winter". I wonder if you could attach an ATV plow?
Picture of side view please.
In reply to ZOO (Forum Supporter) :
This is for Gambler Rally type of work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambler_500
Needs moar "Rat Patrol".... :)
I feel like if you're using that snorkel to even a third of it's depth capability, you're gonna have other problems :D
In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :
In reply to Tim Suddard :
That thing makes me happy.
In reply to captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :
I feel like knowing such a thing exists is going to send me down a very strange path to hell.
In reply to poopshovel again :
I feel like a Miata half-track has the potential to displace the Toyota Hilux among insurgents around the world.
In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :
Amiafa?
