Tuesday 19th July 2011

New Nose Makes MX-5 Into BMW Z3?

No, we aren't quite convinced, either...

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Do not adjust your contact lenses. What you see here is indeed a Mk1 Mazda MX-5 with a BMW Z3 nose.

Normally, If you're going to turn your budget sportster into a replica of something, the normal thing to do is to pretend it's something exotic. This is the dubious reason why MR2s and Pontiac Fieros get turned into Ferrari 355s, 360s and 430s, and why a chap in the Us has turned his 90s Mercury Cougar into a Bugatti.

For reasons we simply cannot fathom, however, this chap has turned his MX-5 (or Miata, in American-speak) into a rough approximation of a Z3. Except that the interior and, as far as we can tell, the rear half, remain determinedly Mazda.

It's all a bit odd, really. Especially when you consider that, over here in Blighty, a decent Mk1 MX-5 will set you back £1500-£2000, while the cheaper end of BMW Z3 ownership can be achieved for about the same price.

Maybe the chap just wanted the looks of a Z3 but (probably rightly) assumed that the little Mazda would be a more enjoyable steer.

So how much does our chap want for his Z3-X5? Well, last time we looked there was a bid up for $4200 (£2600), but it hadn't reached the reserve.

Perhaps he should be more creative with his advert: "1995 Miata with a BMW Z3 kit installed, painted Viper Red Metalic. includes hardtop . Runs great" is hardly the most detailed of descriptions...

[varsas]

That's a lot of work to make it more ugly, still that does seem to be the theme with modified cars so I suppose he's just following the trend.

[Graebob]

Daft

[Gizmo!]

Crackpot.

Although... MX5 with an S50?

[P9UNK]

the automotive equivalent of the Barron Knigths

[Big_Kahuna]

hora said:

The question is. Why?

This person really has alot of wasted time on their hands.

Some people spend their time constructively, others waste their time making 11k+ posts on an online forum....... each to their own no?

[Twincam16]

That kit's as old as the hills, and dates from a time when the Z3 was new and (in America) extortionately expensive.

[Liquid Knight]

I wrote the redline feature for this in 2001.

[300bhp/ton]

Bonkers, but I sort of like it. Although with Z3 prices what they are today it does seem a tad pointless.

[missing the VR6]

Liquid Knight said:

I wrote the redline feature for this in 2001.

Thought I'd read about this years and years ago, just couldn't remeber where.

[Draexin]

But..but.. why?

[fingersprice]

So they've taken a good car and made it look like a bad one. I don't get it

[Liquid Knight]

Draexin said:

But..but.. why?

At the time MX5's were disposable and Z3's were still a lot more than the £3,000 or so the kit was available for.

Now though there are loads of kits available for ropey MX5's, engine conversions available and because people have noticed how good the MX5 is the prices have gone back up.

[Liquid Knight]

hora said:

Shoehorn an engine and running gear (both RWD) from a Z3 into a MX5 . That I can understand.

M3 powered MX5?

How about a twin turbo Lexus 1UZFE instead?

http://youtu.be/gncfIvMRdSs

[Big_Kahuna]

hora said:

Or you could see it as getting involved or lurking/twitching the curtain at home whilst you go down to the garage and build a monster even your mother would be ashamed of?

Damn ......

[cookie1600]

What next? A kit to convert an MX5 into an MGF replica?

[blearyeyedboy]

Liquid Knight said:

M3 powered MX5?

How about a twin turbo Lexus 1UZFE instead?

http://youtu.be/gncfIvMRdSs

That sounds majestic.

[redgriff500]

This has been covered many times, I'm sure it's even been on here before.

IIRC the best post went:

"This kit captures the one moment in time when a Z3 was deemed to be more desirable than an MX5"

[Liquid Knight]

Ginneta replica with a Lotus bum?

http://www.mevltd.co.uk/mevx5_gallery.htm

[Stevie Mojo]

Big_Kahuna said:

Some people spend their time constructively, others waste their time making 11k+ posts on an online forum....... each to their own no?

Ha, fair point.

Hang on a minute! How many posts have I made?

[Gary C]

Why Why why why why why WHY ?