Jalopnik: Mazda Miata

This Is What a Mazda Miata With Dual V8s Looks Like

Tom Joslin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST

If you came across a Mazda Miata en route to the crusher, what would you do with it? While any variety of answers immediately come to mind—track day beater, stripped street car, V8 swap—we bet you didn't think about stretching it and adding two Chevy 350ci V8s. More »

Mazda Miata dressed up like vintage Alfa answers a question no one asked

Tom Joslin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST

Jeremy Clarkson has famously contended that you cannot be a true "petrolhead" until you've owned an Alfa. For those of us in America, this presents an issue as old Alfas are increasingly few and far between. We've found one automotive answer to this problem that although strange should be expected—a Miata. More »

This Miata has gigantic balls

Peter Orosz — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST

The connection between sports cars and allegedly huge—or tiny—male genitals has never been as clear as with this black Miata, decked out with a titanic glans and a pair of galactic balls. If they're that big, shouldn't they be blue? More »

Ventiest Miata ever has vents on its vents

Patrick Frawley — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST

Christmas dreams for a Pep Boys regional accessory manager aren't about sugarplums or shiny bicycles: they're about taking an underadorned car and putting things right. Which means plastering a serious pile of cheap plastic crap onto something like a defenseless Miata. More »

Why did this crazy man smash up 15 cars at a Mazda dealership?

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST

The man was visibly drunk as he stumbled into the car lot more than three hours past midnight. He took a call on his cell phone, then became enraged. The dealership's security cameras caught every idiotic minute of what happened next. More »

Pedobear Miata owner seeks forgiveness

Patrick Frawley — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST

The owner of this pedobear-garnished Mazda Miata earned the online Miata community's deep scorn after driving it under an eighteen-wheeler's trailer. Now, after months of being shunned, he's looking to be let back into the fold. More »

Behold, the Deutsche Racing Green Miata

Peter Orosz — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EDT

Greetings, proud German owner of this first generation Mazda Miata. The sentiment is appreciated, but please note that the Miata is one of those rare Japanese cars based not on a German car but a British one. More »

London’s burning (and so is this Miata)

Peter Orosz — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EDT

Note to the anonymous London rioter who set fire to this first generation Mazda Miata in the Borough of Hackney: Don’t. Just don’t. More »

Buy a turbo kit for your Miata, get a goat

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:30:00 EDT

Well, YOU don't get the goat, but a needy family for whom a goat can mean years of nutrition and economic stability, will. (Yes, all that from something that eats milk cartons.) More »

EVO's Chris Harris calls Mazda MX-5 execrable

Justin Hyde — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:15:00 EST

"Truth be told, I think (Mazda) MX-5s are, well, sh*t," says EVO magazine's Chris Harris, helping European car fans stay warm by building a nice flame war. More »

For $6,000, The Spitiata is the Lee Majors of Sportscars

graverobber — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST

In the Six Million Dollar Man an astronaut, effed up in an accident, gets some new parts making him a better man. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Triumph has gained Miata parts, and man, does that make it better! More »

The Miata Is Perfect For Towing Planes

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:15:00 EDT

Need proof the Mazda Miata is the answer to every automotive need? Check out this little guy hauling a disassembled airplane kit. There is nothing a Miata can't do. (H/T to Jagvar!) [ThereIFixedIt] More »

That License Plate Is Just Too Heavy! Weight Weenies Hack Away At Miatabusa

Murilee Martin — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EDT

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Last time we checked on on Dave Coleman and his Hayabusa-powered Miata project, the Miatabusa Madmen had their new engine installed. Were they satisfied with the 161-pound weight savings? Not at all! More »

Three-Time LeMons Champions Step On Own Wieners, Black-Flagged Out Of Contention!

Murilee Martin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:10:00 EDT

Eyesore Racing, the only three-time LeMons champions in history, looked like the favorites to take the B.F.E. G.P. race... but then they racked up a couple of penalties in the first few hours. Chain-gang time! More »

Project Miatabusa: One Step Closer To 13,000 RPM Miata Madness

Murilee Martin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EDT

The reason that the Angry Hamsters don't have room for the supercharged Studebaker Lark at their shop is a really good one: there's a Hayabusa-powered Mazda Miata in the works! More »

Mazda Bringing Full-Sized Slot Car Track To Goodwood

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:45:00 EDT

Everyone says the Miata handles like a slot-car. Now the simile will become reality at the Goodwood Festival of Speed when Mazda brings a life-sized Scalextric set complete with Miata slot cars. How cool is that?! [WCF] More »

Next-Gen Mazda Miata May Go Rotary... Hybrid?

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EDT

Japan's Best Car says Mazda's mulling an optional hybridized rotary engine for its next-generation MX-5 Miata. Enthusiasts have begged for a rotary option for years, but a hybrid? Zoom-Snore? (H/T to Al!) [7Tune via AutoBlog] More »

The MiataJeep: When A CJ Meets A Miata

Sam Smith — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:30:00 EDT

Say, for the sake of argument, that you have a Jeep CJ. Say you also have a Miata. Say you huff aircraft-grade paint stripper after work. This is what you, Mr. Hypothetical CrazyFace, would create. Aren't you special? [Craigslist] More »

Western Endurance Racing Championship Round 2 Results

Rob Krider — Sat, 29 May 2010 12:00:00 EDT

The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) Western Endurance Racing Championship (WERC) Round 2 was held at Thunderhill Raceway Park. And, to keep things interesting, they ran the track in reverse. More »

11 Fuel-Friendly Sports Cars For The Next Gas Crisis

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 07 May 2010 12:30:00 EDT

Although the driving public now considers $3 gasoline to be normal, another "gas crisis" is inevitable. To help you avoid a knee-jerk beige-buying reaction, we've assembled this list of fun and fuel-frugal sports cars you can buy now. More »

All Glory To The Hypno Miata!

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 04 May 2010 10:30:00 EDT

We meant to post this photo yesterday, but were stuck staring at it for 17 hours straight. Thank God for blackouts. [Art Car Central via Ralf Becker] More »

The Top 147 Lemons of the Sears Pointless 24 Hours of LeMons

Murilee Martin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST

Race Numero Quatro of the 2010 LeMons season left a trail of connecting rods, oil, and bumpers all over Infineon Raceway's once-pristine surface, and we saw our first-ever LeMons Citroën. Want to see the other 146 entries? More »

And the Winner Is...

Murilee Martin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST

They won at Reno-Fernley last summer. They won in Phoenix in January. Today, Eyesore Racing took their third overall win and became the New York Yankees of LeMons racing. More »

Southern Discomfort Day One In the Books, Saab Leads

Murilee Martin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:45:00 EST

We've spent a long, cold day in South Carolina, and the level of racing drama has been high. The lead changed again and again, the first- and second-position cars were knocked out by mechanical woes, and a Saab now leads. More »

Tired Of E30s and Miatas at LeMons? Combine Them With an E30ata!

Murilee Martin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST

Everyone knows that BMW E30s and Mazda Miatas tend to get plenty of unwelcome attention from the LeMons Supreme Court... so here's a way for a resourceful team to capitalize on the loathing! More »

The Ghettocharged Eyesore Racing Miata Claims Another Trophy!

Rob Krider — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST

Eyesore Racing won the 24 Hours of LeMons last weekend at Phoenix and now they just won the ChumpCar World Series at the Streets of Willow Springs. More »

Improved Timelapse BumperCam Proves Reliable, Still Getting Good Race Photos

Murilee Martin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST

The first BumperCam, an ancient Kodak bolted to the rear bumper of a LeMons Volvo, took good photos but its large size made it vulnerable to crash damage. Not so with BumperCam II, survivor of three punishing races! More »

The Top 22 Lemons of the 24 Hours Of LeMons Phoenix

Murilee Martin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST

The fewest cars ever in a LeMons race (thanks to the insanely short two-week period between announcement and entry deadline), and the first-ever two-time overall winner. Most importantly, the first-ever LeMons Corvette! Welcome to the Auction Weekend Gavel-Tap LeMons! More »

Day Two Of Racing Begins: Nissan Zs Sweating Miata Leader, Olds In 6th Place

Murilee Martin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:15:00 EST

It's a chilly morning here at Firebird International Raceway, and the surviving 18 or so cars have returned to the track to duke it out for the prospect of LeMons glory. More »

End Of Day One: Ghettocharged Miata Holds Lead

Murilee Martin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:30:00 EST

No surprise here: the first session of racing in Arizona ended with Eyesore Racing on top of the standings. More »

Two Hours In, F-ed Up E30 Chasing Eyesore Racing's Ghettocharged Miata

Murilee Martin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:10:00 EST

Everyone figured that Eyesore Racing's Ghettocharged Miata Miata would be the car to beat at the Auction Weekend Gavel-Tap, and that's how it's sorting out. More »

LeMons Torture Test Results: Mazda Miata

Murilee Martin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST

Miatas hold the record for most People's Curses (three), and we've probably handed out sufficient BS Penalty laps to Miatas to knock some of them down into the bottom third of our groupings… but still, the main reason you're seeing so many middle-third Miatas is that cheap Miatas break! More »

Big Little News: 2011 Mazda MX-5 Will Be Smaller Than Current Gen

Ray Wert — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST

Good news! The 2011 Mazda MX-5 will get the Sky-G engine and be lighter [Edmunds] More »

Miata Driver Takes Hunter Green Seriously, Hauls Deer Carcass

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST

People often knock Miatas by saying you can't carry enough of your gear to make it your primary vehicle. Not so. Looks like someone's been reading Jalopnik. (H/T to B3ND3R) [TinyPic] More »

Miata RX Makes Rotary Fetishists Dreams Come True

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

If you've ever seen a Mazda rotary engine or driven an RX, you've wanted the same powerplant plopped into the nose of a Miata. Mike Burlas Design has done just that and thrown in a turbo. More »

A Treasury Of Spec Miata Wrecks

Murilee Martin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:30:00 EDT

Spec Miata has become insanely popular, and we see many, many SM veterans racing in the 24 Hours Of LeMons. To hear them tell it, they've come to show us what real racing is about… More »

Ten Cars To Drive Across The U.S.A.

John Krewson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EDT

When we drove from Manhattan to Detroit's Woodward Dream Cruise, it got us thinking about the Holy Grail of American road trips: all the way across the country. It has to be done, but behind the wheel of what? More »

First Day Of Buttonwillow Histrionics Done, Hondas Dominating!

Murilee Martin — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 04:00:00 EDT

What a day of racing! No car held the lead for more than a couple of hours, and at one point the top eight cars were clustered within a two-lap span. More »

Tokyo-Defending 1990 Miata for $10,000!

graverobber — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EDT

Everybody knows Miatas are quick around the corners, but don't typically offer monster acceleration. Nice Price or Crack Pipe has one that's hiding a secret, and it's not radioactive breath. More »