First look at new Rocketeer NC MX-5

Busy times head for Rocketeer, as both Mk3 3.0-litre and 850kg Keiryo near completion

By Matt Bird / Wednesday, 10 December 2025 / Loading comments

Keen readers might recall that earlier in the year Rocketeer confirmed it was working on two very exciting new projects. One was the Keiryo, Japanese for lightweight, a project that aimed to deliver an 850kg, 375hp MX-5. The other was a little tamer, though no less interesting, pairing the 3.0-litre V6 that had made its builds so thrilling already with the later NC body. With dwindling numbers of affordable, solid NA and NBs around, it looked like ideal timing for those keen on the idea of a restomod roadster without spending a fortune.

Now Rocketeer has announced that the first examples of both the Keiryo and NC are in build, and due to be delivered early in the new year. There will only ever be a maximum of 10 Lightweights built, and another one is already spoken for with a few more luxuries added in and the intensity dialled down a tad. The later Mk3 build, thanks to Rocketeer’s revisions, is now 300hp and 265lb ft strong, a useful uplift from the c. 270hp of early conversions.

Apparently, and entirely unsurprisingly, there are ‘several’ NCs now in the queue at Rocketeer, with the 2005-on car expected to account for the majority of upcoming builds. As a newer, better finished, more available and more affordable donor car, that’s easy to understand. Just imagine what could be conjured up with £20,000 or so spent on an MX-5 like this one.

And if your imagination needs a little help, then the newly launched Rocketeer shop is on hand. There you can choose how spicy you’d like the V6, from £6,495, 280hp Rogan Josh all the way to a 360hp, 9,000rpm, £11,250 Vindaloo, plus pay build deposits to get in the queue, or just get a few bits for your own conversion. It’s all great to see; the Rocketeer ranks, which currently number 30 project cars and more than 170 engine swap kits, are sure to be bolstered soon.