Just A Reminder That You Don't Need To Wait For A Swoopy Miata
Two and a half years ago, I asked an important question, to wit: “If a guy in a shed can make the Miata pretty, why can’t Mazda do it?” Well, I think Mazda’s finally done it. The new Miata is, at the very least, striking.
Simpson Design hasn’t stood still in the past thirty months, however: my favorite restyling company in the world has now come up with a variety of restyles for the NB second-generation Miata, and although they aren’t cheap, they are lovely.
Simpson currently offers four kits for the NB Miata, all of them takes on the original round-recessed-headlight “Italia” restyle of the NA Miata. The convertible is the cheapest, costing under $20,000 on an NB that you provide.
The interior restyle is slightly more convincing than it was on the first-gen cars:
There’s a subtle and delightful reverse-curved-window coupe available:
Most of these cars cost $29,900 with an NB that you provide. Here’s a low mileage car that probably sold for seven grand or thereabouts so you’re looking at $40,000 by the time you do everything and get the car all the way up to snuff. You could buy a car with major cosmetic issues or some crash damage for less.
So why pay forty grand for a Miata that looks vaguely like an old Ferrari? Well, you won’t see yourself coming and going in it, it’s a great conversation piece no matter where you go, and it retains most of the Miata virtues. Think of it as a modern Fiat Spider or something. Not the weird slashy-looking Chris Bangle Fiat Spider, but the old Pinifariana 124.
Or you could spend forty grand and buy a two-year-old Vette droptop and smoke the Italia’s four-cylinder ass from here to Atlantic City.
Your choice.
More by Jack Baruth
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It strikes me that this is a car for those who don't want to see the exact same car coming down the road towards them. I like my Miata, but there are four Miatas within 2 blocks of my house, and I see a car identical to mine in color and year on a regular basis around town. The Simpson kit solves that problem. Whether the cost is worth it to you is a personal decision. The remarks about buying another type of car (Corvette, 911) miss the point - you'll still see another one that looks like yours on the road. The hardtop Simpson looks to me a lot like a Triumph GT-6, which is one of my favorite cars, but without the pain of driving a Triumph regularly (been there, done that as a daily driver). If I had the cash sitting around, I certainly consider it.
Or you could drop an LS into an Italia and smoke that two-year-old Vette droptop's 3400lb ass from here to Atlantic City.