It’s time to delve into the Speedhunters archive for one more 10-year throwback put up, and this week we’re heading again into the Southern California canyons for a take a look at a really cool ’99 Mazda Miata.
Jeremy D’Ambrosio chosen a wide range of components to construct his ideally suited NB Miata, and the outcome was spectacular. Let’s revisit Mike and Larry’s 2014 characteristic…
2014 Characteristic
To me, vehicles could be probably the most emotional objects on the planet, and in case you are studying this I’d say there’s a great likelihood you’d agree. For us, automobiles are way more than simply units to get from level A to level B, and the emotional responses they create out in us will be overwhelming.
What sort of responses do they set off? Properly, that is dependent upon what sort of automobile it’s. Some autos can blow our minds whereas merely standing nonetheless. A Lamborghini Miura for instance, is an vehicle so lovely that it needn’t transfer to make us fall in love.
Different automobiles win our favor by means of unbelievable feats of engineering – whether or not it’s a contemporary race automobile designed in a high-tech laboratory, or one thing created by the fingers of a talented yard fabricator.
A basic automobile may attraction to our curiosity in historical past, after which there are these automobiles which can be so quick that they instill real worry in us. The purpose is, automobiles aren’t simply machines to us – they’re objects that produce highly effective emotional reactions.
And of all these emotional reactions, none is extra highly effective, or extra primary, than the one that claims, ‘I need to drive this!’ The automobile in query won’t be probably the most lovely you’ve ever seen, nor the quickest, however it makes you need do nothing greater than hop behind the wheel and drive it. It’s a sense that’s exhausting to place into phrases, however you definitely comprehend it when it occurs.
This brings me to a automobile we just lately had the prospect to spend a while with within the mountains above Los Angeles. It’s a 1999 Mazda Miata constructed by Jeremy D’Ambrosio, and I’m not exaggerating one bit after I say that this one of many coolest and most well-rounded Miatas on the planet.
Jeremy picked up the NB-chassis Miata 4 years in the past when he relocated from Pennsylvania to Southern California for college. USC? UCLA? No, Jeremy got here to SoCal to attend the Artwork Heart of Design in Pasadena – a academic facility that’s turned out a few of the world’s finest automotive designers.
It’s affordable to say that lots of the college students that go by means of the halls of the Artwork Heart are enormous automobile fans and Jeremy is not any exception. He selected a Miata not just for its famend dealing with, however as a result of the straightforward and engaging aesthetics of the automobile allowed him to go in any path he wished. A real designer certainly.
An Train In Design
In truth, an enormous a part of Jeremy’s purpose was not simply to have a automobile that he might take to native observe days or SoCal’s nice mountain roads, he wished to make use of it as a check topic for varied styling concepts that handed by means of his thoughts.
A giant a part of his inspiration got here from classic Japanese race and road automobiles – particularly the distinct look of large fenders and fats tires. Mix that with the Miata’s authentic purpose of being the fashionable British roadster, and also you’ve obtained a fairly good thought of Jeremy’s theme with the construct.
When it comes to styling, probably the most excellent characteristic is the roof line. The automobile is working an Autokonexion fastback exhausting high that offers the automobile a totally completely different look from the usual Miata. There’s definitely some Datsun 240Z and perhaps even slightly Corvette in there…
With its distinctive, sweeping roof many individuals mistake the automobile for being one thing aside from a Miata – and it’s solely the true Roadster nerds that may rapidly establish the automobile’s origins.
Except for the altered bodylines, the as soon as female NB Miata form is made extra aggressive by means of a set of Autokonexion fender flares, Venture-G G-Fuser facet skirts and Venture-G vented quarter home windows. For those who wanted a refresher on Venture-G and what they do, be sure you try Taryn’s story from final yr.
Different particulars that add to the retro racer look embrace a set of Storage Fluctuate nostalgic taillights, a Storage Fluctuate entrance lip and a set of carbon staggered mirrors from Japanese Roadster speciality store Zoom Engineering.
Jeremy says he’s fully okay with having an overstated automobile, and different exterior touches – just like the polished aluminum hood and outsized rivets – assist give the Miata a tough, in-your-face look.
As for wheels, the automobile is working a set of R-Sort RS Watanabes measuring 14×8-inch within the entrance and 14×8.5-inch within the rear with sticky Toyo Proxes R888 rubber throughout. In my thoughts there’s simply no beating the look of 14s and meaty tires on a Miata.
Right now’s Miata scene is stuffed with folks that construct their Roadsters merely to look cool and cruise at a leisurely tempo. However Jeremy is not a type of guys. This turns into instantly obvious while you open the hood and discover that the Mazda’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine is fitted with a Rotrex C30-74 centrifugal supercharger.
Different engine work features a Mazdaspeed consumption cam, a Racing Beat header and mid pipe, together with Mazdaspeed engine mounts. As for electronics there’s a full Megasquirt DIYPNP engine administration system together with an AEM UEGO wide-band controller. When the whole lot is dialed in, the arrange sends a formidable 235 horsepower and 183lb/ft of torque to the rear wheels – greater than sufficient to permit the featherweight NB to maintain up with extra highly effective fashionable equipment.
Except for the efficiency upgrades made to the motor, Jeremy has additionally approached the Miata’s engine bay with a similiar eye for aesthetics. Visible upgrades embrace a Storage Star cowl cowl and Venture-G Precision Collection plug cowl, oil cap and dipstick deal with. On this shot you can too spot the Cobalt three-point brace.
Type Plus Operate
Having the fitting footwork is a large a part of having a correct Miata expertise, and Jeremy’s automobile doesn’t disappoint on this space. It’s working a set of XIDA Clubsport coilovers from AST, together with Flyin’ Miata sway bars and 949Racing adjustable finish hyperlinks.
Braking potential is enhanced by a set Hawk HP Plus pads with DBA X-Gold rotors and StopTech braided brake strains.
As with numerous the world’s nice Miata builds, the inside on this automobile is simply as spectacular as the outside. Beginning on the protection facet, there’s a Blackbird FabWorx GT3 roll bar and Bethania Storage door bars.
The seats are manufacturing facility buckets from a Lotus Elise mounted on RyokuRob brackets – collectively a very fashionable retrofit modifcation for Miata homeowners world wide.
The steering wheel is a custom-trimmed 375mm Nardi mounted with a Storage Star hub extender, which matches completely with the old fashioned theme.
Additional retro fashion is added by a {custom} self-upholstered middle console with RyokuRob trim rings. RyokuRob additionally supplied the stainless-steel shifter which lends a uncooked and purposeful look.
Different little particulars within the cockpit embrace cool gadgets like a set of rev limiter gauge faces and a uncommon Mazdaspeed lap timer.
General, the design cockpit simply begs you to strap in and discover a cool highway. That is one thing that goes again to that ‘I must drive this’ feeling I spoke of earlier.
Being a design pupil, Jeremy is at all times searching for methods to alter and enhance upon the automobile’s setup. In the intervening time he’s engaged on wider, extra aggressive bodywork and likewise contemplating stripping down the inside even additional.
Whereas this Mazda is little question spectacular each on paper and while you see it in individual, the automobile itself is only one a part of Jeremy’s Miata expertise. Much more beneficial are the reminiscences and the chums he’s made throughout his journey with this automobile. It’s a listing that features the whole lot from late-night canyon classes, to lengthy highway journeys and many hanging out in parking heaps.
Jeremy’s Miata is a automobile that’s quick, purposeful, cool and distinctive. Greater than something although, it’s driver-oriented nature simply makes you need to hop in and discover an open stretch of pavement to wind it out on. The way in which I see it, there’s actually no better reward you may throw on an vehicle than that.
Mike Garrett
Instagram: japanifornia
Images by Larry Chen
Instagram: larry_chen_foto