Everyone will think you're crazy… and there's nothing wrong with that.
A first-generation 1992 Mazda Miata is up for auction right now, and it's far from your ordinary little fun-loving roadster. Under its hood lies a 302ci Ford V8, and although a precise horsepower output was not provided in the Bring A Trailer listing, this crate engine has at least 340 hp on tap. That's not been the most outrageous thing about this car, though.
Power is routed to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual and 7.5-inch differential. Then, at each corner, there's a lift kit and gargantuan 27 x 8.5-inch Forceum mud-terrain 08 Plus tires that encase black-painted 14-inch steel wheels.
CarBuzz staffers are avid Miata fans, with several current and ex-owners among us, but none of us have driven a Miata this wild, as we've typically leaned into its nature as an affordable sports car more than an off-roader.
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Getting the V8 engine to fit in the bay required some fabrication work, evidenced by the custom-made hood with a carbon fiber-style cover and scoop. Naturally, the massive tires required fab work and cutting of the fenders, too, and adjustable coilovers have been added to help it deal with riding over just about anything. But while those wheels make light work of anything, the removal of the power steering means you don't get to skip arm day, ever.
The interior's modifications include a roll bar, T-handle Hurst shifter, aftermarket switchgear, a horn button, power windows, and a Pioneer CD stereo. To either shave weight or make things less complicated, the air conditioning system has also been yanked out.
Behind the racing steering wheel, there's a 140 mph speedometer, an 8k-rpm tachometer, and oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level gauges. Look to the steering wheel's left, and the builder added a digital voltmeter. The engine's true mileage is unknown, and no reason was provided but it currently shows 134,000 miles.
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Additional modifications include aftermarket LED headlights whose control modules have been placed in the trunk along with the battery. More exterior add-ons are the roof-mounted KC HID auxiliary lights, painted mirror caps, a rear wing, and a CB radio antenna. The soft-top has been removed, but the car features an OEM hard top, which is worth its weight in gold.
Nowhere in the listing does it state this Safari-style Miata isn't road legal but it was clearly built for going where no Miata has gone before.
At the time of this writing, the highest bid was only $3,250 – a fraction of the price of the new 473-hp Porsche 911 Dakar. We don't see it outgunning that ultra-limited 911 on- or off-road, but its next owner will still have a wicked good time doing all sorts of naughty off-roading.
There is some minor damage up front that's the result of an accident back in 2006, but that shouldn't deter anyone because dings and scratches are expected to happen with something like this.
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Keyword: V8-Stuffed Mazda Miata Off-Roader Is A 911 Dakar For Poor People