I'd wanted a Miata even before they were available.

In fact, I had actually saved enough money to purchase one by the time they were introduced in July of 1989. But the dealers were being total jerks adding on huge markups pushing an affordable $14,000 to, in some cases, almost $20,000!

And many new Miata owners really took advantage of the situation. Click the newspaper clipping to the right and look at some classified ads from the LA Times back in August 1989. One person was asking $40,000! (I sure hope he didn't get it!)

Around the same time, I had the occasion to rent a 5.0 Mustang, which I enjoyed greatly. The Mazda dealers pissed me off so much, that I wound up purchasing a great 1987 Mustang convertible (which I owned for 18 years: see Mussy).

In 1996, I once again started a search for a used Miata, but ran across a gorgeous, low-mileage '93 MR2. I've still got it. (MR2 page)

In January 2004, somehow my wonderful wife agreed to let me have another toy and, once again, I started a search for a used Miata. After driving several, I stumbled into a dealer and asked if they had any killer deals on a leftover 2003. The guy pointed to a new Shinsen and said: "I can give you $7000 off the list price." Within a few hours, it was in my driveway. This was, without a doubt, the best car deal I ever got! The really funny thing is that I wound up paying less for my 2003 than I would have for a 1990 back when they were introduced in 1989! Weird how things come around, eh?

The on-line Miata community is, to say the least, robust! I've learned SO much about the car and have chatted with Miata owners all over the world. miata.net has been an incredible resource as have the nice folks from of the Southern California Miata Club, SOCALM. There is also a group/on-line club at Yahoo devoted to the Shinsen model of the Miata.

The Miata has to be the best-looking and most "fun" car I've ever had.

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Any similarity of cars and occupants is purely coincidental!

Variety is indeed the spice of life!

People do all kinds of things to their Miatas. I happen to like the clean, stock look. Some folks like to add a bit of individuality (like spoilers, roll bars, etc.). Still others convert their Miatas to race cars, modifying suspension, adding turbos and superchargers, etc.

But there is one group of Miata owners that really stand out - I call these cars Morphed Miatas. Some of these are pretty neat. Some are a little weird. Of course, "neat" and "weird" are in the eye of the beholder, so I'll let you decide which is which. They are presented here in no particular order. Note that to the best of my knowledge, these are all real - no Photoshop stuff!

If you've got any leads on Miatas which fit this category, or if you have a significantly modified Miata, send me a photo or web link and I'll add it. (And thanks to all who have contributed.) Feel free to e-mail me at DAVISinLA@aol.com. Enjoy.

Paul

 
A few sharp-looking coupes

Dan's modded Miata

A yellow MR2 kind of thing
 

Check out the TG, a Miata-powered MG-TF replica
built in New Zealand. www.sportscars.net.nz