Believe it or not, this isn't the first time we've seen a Mazda MX-5 Miata transformed into an off-roader. Last year, someone created a lifted Miata with the powertrain from a 2002 Subaru WRX. The latest example of a Miata with off-road aspirations isn't quite as extreme, but it's possibly even stranger. Listed for sale on the government surplus auction website Gov Planet, this car started life as a much humbler 1992 Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible. If you've ever slipped into a pair of your parents' shoes as a child, you'll get an idea of just how bizarre this dinky Miata looks with its huge 235/75 R15 off-road tires.
To accommodate the chunky rubber, the Miata's fenders had to be cut, a job that doesn't appear to have been executed with a great deal of care. Another unusual feature is modified pop-up headlights with illuminated rings. They resemble a pair of eyes and make this Miata look almost embarrassed by the manner in which it has been mauled. Along with the black soft-top roof, there is a rear black fin on the trunk lid and an unusual diffuser arrangement lower down.
The body is in a generally sorry state with numerous chips and dents, so maybe this Miata was actually used as a pseudo-off-roader after all. Although this MX-5 does run, it's got several issues that any prospective owner would have to deal with. These include torn CV boots, a charcoal canister that is MIA, an air conditioner that has seen better days, and a leak in the vicinity of the oil pan. Inside, the seats are not in an absolutely awful state but a deep clean would be a good place to start.
A comically tall blue shift lever sits ahead of two cupholders mounted in the center console. Some of the door panel trim has started to tear around the edges. To be fair, the starting bid is only $1,500, but we're not sure what kind of customer this Miata will appeal to. And, as reliable as these cars are, the 1.6-liter engine has covered nearly 280,000 miles, indicating that this Mazda has lived a long life. More than anything, we'd love to know this mysterious Miata's back story.