My new project

[john chesnut]

Thanks for the comments. I am excited. I was researching 50's sports cars when I came across the Sammio site. Until I found it I was going to sculpt my own body. I loved what the owner/designer was doing. He was doing a rebody for an old Triumph Herald. But, like me he was thinking Miata as well. He purchased one to work on the design for it. The design has evolved into what you see pictured. I had him make a body with the Head Fairing on the "correct" side. The body he made for me has an earlier hood design that is a little too low to clear the Miata engine and shock mounts. The blue car is a redesign to clear those parts. I will have to make the mods to the body that I am receiving. I think that it looks great.

The body cost isn't bad but it cost almost 3 grand to ship it here! I have worked out a deal with Gary to sell the body in the USA. The cool thing is that you can use everything from the Miata unmodified. The brakes, wheels-tires, steering, gauges, wiring, fuel system, radiator/cooling fans, engine, trans, diff, ect. Not having to source or fab any other parts will keep the price way down. And, the Miata has huge aftermarket support. The "roller" that is in the picture is 967lbs. A finished car will be around 1450lbs. How cool is that.

The body is fiberglass. When I get the finished design nailed down I will make molds so that I can duplicate it. I already have a frame jig base to build the frame on. The fact that the suspension cradles have both upper and lower A frame mounts built in makes it easy. The cradles mount the steering, diff, engine, ect. Keeping the wheelbase keeps the geometry as designed and means that any aftermarket part will fit.

The idea is simple, take 1 inexpensive Miata (there were almost 1 million sold in the USA from 1989-2004.) provide a "complete" kit for around $5-6 K. The builder would simply bolt the Miata parts in then get it painted. Completed for under 10K. I think that It would sell. But, that is down the road some.