the answer is BMW miata...

Man, craigslist in Detroit is the best. The most obscure things appear. such as this mazda Z3. I mean BMW Miata... shocked.

I would rock that, needs 100% more LSx.

Someone very confused thought that other very confused people would like that. I'm just confused on how someone could be so confused. That is just that, confusing. Where's that confounded bridge?

Here's another one from Detroit, the ultra rare 4-door, station wagon 928.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/1530407783.html

1979 PORSCHE 928 5 SPEED CAR/CALIFORNIA CAR! NON RUNNING - $2000 (WARREN)

CAR WILL PROBABLY START UP BUT IT DOESNT ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND DONT KNOW WHY SO NO NEED TO ASK! BODY IS PRETTY DARN NICE OVERALL! ALL INTACT AND ITS A 5 SPEED CAR! INTERIOR NEEDS HELP NOT REAL CLEAN! 586-563-8589

Bob

I looked at one of these conversions at the Carlisle Import and Kit Car Show a couple of years ago. While it's not what I would do to repair a damaged Miata, it did make a decent car it terms of fit and finish. You'd have to get past the whole "poser" stigma associated with it, but for a Challenge base or a track rat, I could grin and bear it! Like the ad states, do it in hot rod black to make it as sinister as possible and be able to laugh at yourself ! Most of my neighbours wouldn't know what they were looking at anyway !

They did it 180* wrong, it should have been a BMW powered Miata, not a Miata powered BMW.

Yeah, those Z3 conversions are weird. Although the original Z3 had a worse power/weight ratio than the Miata when it was introduced

Can't figure out why that 928 wagon "won't accelerate properly". It's like it's missing a few cylinders

What's with the infatuation for non-M series Z3's?

This would be a personal candidate for a Miata body-kit:

The Italia is one of the best looking Miata rebodies out there. It needs more offset on the rear wheels to deal with those fatter rear fenders and a bit of attention to detail but overall it really works. I think part of the secret is that it's "inspired by", it's not a replica. Replicas always look a bit off, the Italia is simply a 60's-ish car that was never made at the time.

I've also seen a Cobra rebody that worked far better than it has any right to too. And of course, there's the awkward M1stang which is probably the only Miata to appear in Hot Rod. So far

You hiding something, Keith?

yea, he seems to know a bit TOO much about these rebodies...

I was reacting to "So far."

I would rock the Mazda Z3. Just for the sheer hilarity of it.

Just to make it even worse for everyone, i'd dump the turbo truck motor from the MX6 and put it in there.

Looks like a Miata, a Z3, sounds like a... TRACTOR?!?!?

Hey, it's what I do for a living! We've had at least one Italia come through here.

I wonder if a V8 Miata might make the pages of Hot Rod one of these days. Seems like the kind of thing some of their readers would be into.

not old enough, they're getting better about FI though,

Though I do like the whole flip forward clamshell.

Keith,

Hornet Sportabout's could come with V8's, so that one might not be "down 2 cylinders". It could have a 304 or a 360...

mistanfo wrote: I wonder if a V8 Miata might make the pages of Hot Rod one of these days. Seems like the kind of thing some of their readers would be into.

I'm kinda hoping. And I'll be at Laguna Seca with one in a few months, although it's just a weedy LS1. Who knows, they might be interested in an MG with an LS1. I'll have to start practicing my burnouts.

I thought the 928 wagon was an AMC Eagle. My bad.

win?

thats so weird!

Joey

kcbhiw wrote: win?

Is it wrong to love this?

If that MiatE30 is P71 powered the GRM-verse will implode!

Oh and Kieth, the Eagle Wagons could come with V8's as well AMC didn't like to leave any stone unturned in it's quest for variants. In fact, there's a 360 AWD one up here with woodgrain that soooo wrong it's right again.

oldsaw wrote: What's with the infatuation for non-M series Z3's? This would be a personal candidate for a Miata body-kit:

I would rock that. With a huge intecooler stuffed behind it, some gigantic rubbers, and preferably 400+whp. Not because it'd be any good at anything, it would just add to the WTF factor.

"Did i just get passed by a hopelessly overboosted FERRARI!?!?!?!"

oldsaw wrote: What's with the infatuation for non-M series Z3's?

Back in the late '90s when that kit was developed, a new Z3 was a 40k BMW status symbol, and M1 Miatas were reliable used cars that sold for a tiny fraction of that. Of course it looks pretty silly now that a really nice M1 costs about the same as an early Z3.