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Mar 20, 2023

This Wild Off

Off-road builds can be a bit hit or miss, but when done to a Mazda Miata, taking

Off-road builds can be a bit hit or miss, but when done to a Mazda Miata, taking the stock car way out of its comfort zone can be a good time

Miata is always the answer. That is what we have come to find out over the last 30-plus years since the iconic Japanese roadster debuted. Want something cheap, fun, comfortable enough, good-looking, or efficient? The Mazda Miata tends to have a strong combination of all those aspects. However, "off-road" capability is not something it is known for. That hasn't stopped people from trying, though. Thanks to the NA's (1st-generation) ability to be modified in a relatively cheap and easy way, someone from Texas took one and swapped in a V-8, massive and chunky off-road tires, and completely changed everything the Miata is good at.

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One of the most significant modifications was the engine. The stock car was a 1992 Miata, meaning it came with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder that could max out at about 116 horsepower. That was swapped in favor of a 302 cubic-inch (5.0-liter) V-8. Though horsepower and torque figures are not quoted in the listing, Ford specifies its 302 cubic inch crate engine as capable of 340 horsepower and 330 pounds-feet of torque. However, the engine we see pictures of has Ford Racing valve covers, which could mean anything. It also has been fitted with aluminum cylinder heads, an aftermarket camshaft, an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold, and a Holley Demon carburetor.

Related: This Guy Is Building An AWD Off-Road Mazda Miata And It Is Awesome

Regardless of how much power the engine can make, all of it goes to the rear wheels through a five-speed T5 manual gearbox and a Ford 7.5-inch rear differential. Of course, it takes more than just power to climb over big rocks, and tree stumps and drive through rivers of mud. So, the suspension is made up of a Paco Motorsports lift kit accompanied by Tokico adjustable coil overs, and the grip is provided by 27×8.5-inch Forceum off-road tires wrapped around 14-inch Bassett steel wheels. However, the power steering is gone, and the rear sway bar was removed.

The visual aspect of this rig is possibly where the builder spent most of their time. The paint is the original coat of Classic Red with a color-matched hardtop, and the front end was sprayed in black bed liner with a massive black bull bar. Other visual changes include aftermarket LED headlights (though they are still pop-ups), KC roof-mounted lights, new mirror caps, and a comically large radio antenna. The interior seems in rather good shape, although it is standard 1990s Miata, meaning swaths of cheap-feeling black plastic and rubber with gray cloth seats. A Hard Dog roll bar has been fitted for peace of mind in case you're suddenly upside down. A Pioneer stereo, generic steel steering wheel, and aftermarket switch gear have also been installed, but the air conditioning is gone. Despite the new engine, the stock tachometer remains, showing a max RPM of 8,000.

All in all, this is an awesome build, especially when you consider how clean and well-thought-out all the modifications are, plus the fact that it only cost someone $14K. Most builds that were modified in someone's backyard to go anywhere are more of a hack job that makes the builder look like they have never held a Sawzall or welder before. Regardless of how capable the finished product is, which we cannot say for certain, it will absolutely turn heads. However, with these mods it is not really a Miata anymore. It has completely lost the amazing driving characteristics that made it great in the first place. But there is something undeniably cool about modifying and then forcing cars to do activities they were never meant to do, especially if they end up being good at it.

Josh has always had a love affair with cars. This mostly started as a kid playing video games like Need for Speed Underground and going to the occasional car show with his father and grandfather in Columbus, Ohio. Once he got to college he realized he loved writing and decided to change his major from Business Management to Emerging Media focusing in Journalism. Josh graduated from Capital University in 2022 and has been with TopSpeed for over a years now, first as an intern, now as a freelance journalist. He currently daily drives a 1997 Mazda Miata and loves covering all possible areas of the automotive landscape, although he has a specialty in aftermarket or custom builds, as well as manufacture's plans on how to tackle an ever changing world.