Stripping out the interior of a car to make it lighter isn't necessarily a new concept, but Mazda wanted to see just how far they could push that envelope with its NC-chassis MX-5.
Built in 2010 to celebrate 20 years of the MX-5, the MX-5 Superlight Version does without a windshield, a roof and just about every potential creature comfort. All …
250 lbs is impressive on a Miata, that's 10% weight savings on an already lightweight car to begin with, and finished product looks.. finished. Not sure I could live with love bugs in my teeth though.
Andrew Polasek said:250 lbs is impressive on a Miata, that's 10% weight savings on an already lightweight car to begin with, and finished product looks.. finished. Not sure I could live with love bugs in my teeth though.
Add 5lbs back in with a lexan fly screen. A six or eight inch tall screen, properly adjusted, would stave off the majority of critters in your teeth.
I love the look of that Miata, though... (slow whistles appreciatively)
IIRC first gen 1.6L Miatas were nowhere close to 2300 lbs. A BP4W swap into an NA chassis give you the same power/weight ratio or better, and you get a windshield. That speedster is still pretty cool though.
Colin Wood said:Should more MX-5s come from the factory without a windshield?
I would say no. The constant buffeting and need to wear goggles would kill a lot of the fun, for me at least.
11/10. I've long fantasized about a street car with no windshield.
Miatae, and many (most?) other roadsters, tend to look GREAT without a windshield. However, I like the idea more than I think I would like the reality of it...And while I liked this treatment on the NC, I liked it better on the ND.
In reply to Driven5 :
Ooohhh yes. Looks really good on the ND!
The styling looks incongruous to me; mainly because the seats and roll hoops/fairings are noticeably higher the the cowl, for me a low screen would go a long way toward making them look better.
I could take or leave the speedster look, but I do love that brown interior.
I'm a fan. Then again, I did do this in my COVID-19 lockdown boredom:
Driven5 said:Miatae, and many (most?) other roadsters, tend to look GREAT without a windshield. However, I like the idea more than I think I would like the reality of it...And while I liked this treatment on the NC, I liked it better on the ND.
That color!!
Still better than this Porsche 944 based conversion that a company in Holland produces:
In reply to cafcwest :
That looks rad. Which wheels are you running?
In reply to David S. Wallens :
New early Mini Cooper 15x5.5 steel wheels - a very cheap (though certainly heavier than OEM 14" hollow spokes) choice for a bit of a vintage look.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-mini-parts/steel-wheel-silver-priced-each/36116768497/
BFG Radial TA 155/80/15 tires. The idea was to give it as little grip as possible and let the car dance for that vintage motoring feel. They are no 200TW auto-x special but they actually have quite a bit more grip than I was expecting.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Radial+T%2FA&partnum=58SR5RADTARWL2V2
There are u-tube videos of cars getting their windshields stove in by flying debris. Watch one before you break out the sawzall.
Cool-looking though.
cafcwest said:In reply to David S. Wallens :
New early Mini Cooper 15x5.5 steel wheels - a very cheap (though certainly heavier than OEM 14" hollow spokes) choice for a bit of a vintage look.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-mini-parts/steel-wheel-silver-priced-each/36116768497/BFG Radial TA 155/80/15 tires. The idea was to give it as little grip as possible and let the car dance for that vintage motoring feel. They are no 200TW auto-x special but they actually have quite a bit more grip than I was expecting.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Radial+T%2FA&partnum=58SR5RADTARWL2V2
The setup looks neat--retro and cool.
ShinnyGroove (Forum Supporter) said:IIRC first gen 1.6L Miatas were nowhere close to 2300 lbs. A BP4W swap into an NA chassis give you the same power/weight ratio or better, and you get a windshield. That speedster is still pretty cool though.
Someone hasn't driven the NC.
In reply to cafcwest :
Cool, reminds me of an old Jaguar from the 50s!
I too have always wanted to do this. Weirdly, I was thinking about it today on my way home.
My favorite version of this idea is the Bergspyder. That ND is a cloooose second
edit: where can I find info on the chopped 986? I would like to read about rhat
In reply to spandak :
It was posted on a Facebook group called 'Boxster Outlaws' or something like that. I don't honestly know more about it than that.
I like this rendering quite a bit.
Also, all the cars pictured up to this point.
In reply to cafcwest :
LOVE LOVE LOVE your work and this build.
Thanks for the kind words everyone. I decided to do a cross post of the 'build' thread on the GRM forum here:
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/project-miat/175590/page1/
Anything where goggles and driving gloves are appropriate is cool.
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