MX-5 Miata

Make
Mazda
Segment
Compact

If you've not come across Flyin' Miata before, it's a Colorado-based company that specializes in Miata performance. Most famously, Flying Miata has also become a specialist in performing factory quality LS V8 swaps into the tiny Japanese roadsters. It's hard to stress just how insane Flyin' Miata's turnkey V8 powered MX-5s are from a technical and performance angle in both engine and chassis. There's simply not much room under the hood of an MX-5 and the rest of the car doesn't come from the factory ready to handle the brutal excess of horsepower and torque.

This particular Flyin' Miata conversion up for sale on Bring A Trailer goes a step further than the usual standard GM crate engine, and instead uses a Lingenfelter built General Motors 6.2-liter LS3 V8 that rocks 525 horsepower. That's in a car with a short wheelbase and weighs around 2,600 pounds.

According to Flyin Miata, using the Lingenfelter engine is not something the company plans to do again due to the cost involved. Before taking into account the cost of the car, they say the conversion is a cool $65,000. That means this as close to a $100,000 MX-5 as you'll see. Flyin' Miata is also not currently taking orders on a turnkey build, so we're expecting to see some serious money laid down to win the auction. Particularly when we consider there are just 2,000 miles on the clock.

Beyond the animal of a built V8, complete with a Tremec T56 six-speed manual gearbox and a GM differential, it sits on specially-tuned Fox Racing coilovers with larger anti-roll bars, and black 17-inch Advanti Storm wheels mounted with Bridgestone Potenza tires. The chassis features extra bracing to stiffen it up and braking is taken care of by Wilwood six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers. Inside, Flyin' Miata kept conveniences such as the heated leather seats, automatic climate control, and a Bose audio system. For sleeper vehicle fans, they even left the Mazda Skyactive engine badge on the back.