The Mazda MX-5 is hardly a car that needs introduction. The seemingly-humble, Japanese roadster sought to reimagine the British lightweight roadster and make it more reliable. The model has been succeeding at that since its inception in 1989 with the NA generation. Four generations later, it’s still going strong while staying true to the classic formula of simplicity and lightweight. The Miata is not just a fun, affordable sports car, but also a great baseline for a wide variety of builds.
Aftermarket support is immense and there are countless kits, specially developed to enhance the little Mazda in a variety of ways. While we can talk about engine swaps all day long, and there are plenty of those, we turn our attention to some of the best total conversion kits for the Mazda Miata, which turn it into a completely different car, at least on the outside. When it comes to the Mazda MX-5, anything goes, but these are some of the best and most convincing Miata conversions you will ever see.
10 MX250/MX250C Ferrari 250 GTO Conversion
Ferrari 250 GTO is one of the most sought-after classic sports cars ever made. With just 36 examples built between 1962 and 1964, it’s no surprise one of them fetched $70 million at an auction a few years back. If you want those gorgeous Italian looks without the million-dollar price tag, UK coachbuilder, Tribute Automotive, offered a conversion kit that turns the Japanese roadster into a convincing, 250 GTO look-alike.
Under the fiberglass body, things remain stock, so don’t expect Ferrari-like pace. The kit can no longer be found on the company website, but Tribute Automotive offers similar treatment for the BMW Z3. When new, the MX250 conversion cost £1595 for the soft top and £1970 for the hardtop variant. In fact, one is currently listed for sale on Facebook Market
9 Hurtan Grand Albaycin
Many would agree that the Mazda Miata ND is perfect as it is. The compact size and lightweight nature of the car make it the ultimate, affordable driver’s car, but Spanish coachbuilder Hurtan decided it could do with a bit of a vintage vibe. In 2021, the company introduced Hurtan Albaycin. Underneath, it was your stock Mazda MX-5, but on the outside it got a full makeover.
The retro-inspired body is well-executed and boasts design cues from the 1930s to 1960 period. The two-tone color theme of the exterior continues inside, where you find a completely-refurbished Miata interior, featuring high-quality leather and wood. The biggest problem is the price, which starts from $72,900 for the 1.5-liter Miata and $79,500 for the 2.0-liter model.
8 Healey Enigma
One of the more comprehensive conversions on this list comes from UK-based outfit, Healey Designs. This time, the kit is based on the third-generation NC Miata, widely regarded as “the worst Miata”. While the NC is a divisive subject among MX-5 enthusiasts, this kit goes beyond the fully-bespoke, retro-futuristic body that harkens back to the Austin Healey.
In addition to a new, glass-reinforced plastic body, the company offers an engine swap, featuring a 4.0-liter Lexus V-8. The tried-and-tested, 3UZ FE engine is one of Toyota’s best engines and a good basis to build upon. It can be paired with the Miata’s manual and automatic transmission. The kit car retains the stock NC Miata interior as well as the stock suspension. You can have it with a manual soft-top or an electric convertible hardtop.
7 Mitsuoka Rockstar
Even Japanese companies have taken it up upon themselves to reimagine the Mazda Miata. Mitsuoka has long been known as a company that makes modern homages to various classic models. The Rockstar takes an ND Miata and turns it into a C2 Corvette Stingray look-alike. The company has a history of making amusing vehicles and not taking itself too seriously, which is part of its models’ charm.
The Rockstar takes a slightly different approach, by successfully integrating many of the classic Corvette’s design cues in the small Japanese roadster. The new fiberglass body panels replace almost all the original pieces, except for the doors, side-mirrors, and windshield. The C2-inspired Mitsuoka Rockstar was produced in 50 copies, all of which right-hand drive.
6 S2 Racing Shelby Cobra
Japanese outfit, S2 Racing, focuses more on functionality than all-out looks. The company is known for offering various body kits for all Miata generations that are aimed at optimizing on-track performance. With that said, the outfit also offers a front-end conversion that makes your Mazda MX-5 look like a Shelby Cobra. The conversion is available for the NA and NB generations and comes with other complimentary pieces like taillight lids, flush rear bumper and a flat trunk lid.
The redesigned rear gives the impression of a one-piece rear end although, the rear bumper is still a separate piece. The most amusing aspect is the Cobra badging on the side. Inside the otherwise stock interior, there is a gauge cluster with vintage graphics, reminiscent of the original Cobra.
5 Blackwell SPR1 Widow
It seems transforming the Mazda MX-5 Miata into British and American sports cars is a continuously-recurring theme. Blackwell Sports Cars conversion is a bit more unusual as it transforms the small Japanese roadster into a TVR Sagaris. Company founder, Wayne Blackwell, has 17 years of experience, working for Caterham, Morgan, and Lotus. Eventually, he founded his own company, focusing on fiberglass re-body kits for the NA Miata.
His TVR conversion is one of the most convincing Miata kits ever made (apart from the VW taillights), and even comes with a double-bubble roof. Apart from the aesthetical aspect, Blackwell also offers turbo kits and V-6 engine swaps. The Blackwell SPR1 kit starts from £3500, which in 2023 comes up to $4360. The UK-based company’s latest project revolves around a similar treatment for the W30 Toyota MR2.
4 Zero Miata
Given you are willing to spend enough money on it, the Mazda MX-5 Miata can be one of the most capable track weapons you can get for cheap. That’s where the Zero Miata comes in. One of the most popular Miata conversion kits turns the already lightweight roadster into an ultra-lightweight sports car, resembling the likes of Caterham, Lotus Seven, and company.
The comprehensive kit comes with a spaceframe chassis, glass-reinforced plastic body panels, and various mounting points and suspension components. The narrow-body resemble the aforementioned British, ultra-lightweight sports cars and matches them pound for pound, for a fraction of the price. The kit is aimed at NA and NB Miata generations and can be had readily-assembled or for you to assemble.
3 Italia 3 SWB
US-based Simpson Design’s work with the Miata is what you might call the equivalent of what Singer does for the air-cooled-era Porsche 911s. While such level of craftsmanship may seem exorbitant for a humble Japanese roadster like the Miata, Jim Simpson has found a way to make the most out of the compact platform, by reimagining iconic classic cars.
After meddling in high-end, classic car restoration, he started his own coachbuilding company, in 1978. One of his many Miata conversions involves a completely bespoke, fiberglass body that turns the NC MX-5 into a Ferrari 250 SWB. The interior retains the stock, driver-centric layout, but has received generous amounts of high-grade leather. Adding to the allure is the fact that everything is handmade.
2 Catfish Bauer Limited
Bauer Limited provided a great example of how a heavily-engineered NA and NB Miata can become the ultimate track weapon. The company focused on engineering a newly-developed, space frame chassis that bolts directly to the stock MX-5 sub frames. Numerous revisions have been done to improve rigidity and handling, and the engine bay has been enlarged in order to easily receive an LS V-8 engine.
The NA and NB underpinnings, for which this kit was designed, can easily make full use of the MX-5’s vast aftermarket support, meaning you will have no trouble finding parts for your Catfish. The exterior is completely custom, meaning you will see none of the Miata’s stock body panels or accessories. Inside the racecar interior you will find racing bucket seats with four-point roll hoops behind them for added safety. The Catfish Miata kit starts at $13,900.
1 DBR1 MEV
The Aston Martin DBR1 is widely-regarded as one of the brand’s most iconic models. The British sports car was introduced in 1956 and developed specifically for racing at Le Mans. Only five examples were built, and Carroll Shelby drove one of them, under “racing number 5”. Naturally, getting behind the wheel of one would cost you tens of millions.
But you can save yourself a fortune by going the replica route and MEV’s Mazda MX-5-based replica is quite a convincing one, at least in terms of looks. Even the interior is period-correct with a wooden steering wheel and a bare-bone, racing cockpit. As with most other conversions, the DBR1 kit is made to fit the NA and NB Miata generations. The company that made them stopped production in 2018, but you can still find one through Exomotive.