A Driver’s Car: Brandon’s NA Miata
Everyone knows someone with a Miata. The inception of the Miata single handedly brought roadsters back to the every day car market. As the spiritual successor to the Lotus Elan it’s easy to see why it became a mainstay in the affordable driver’s car niche of global car culture. The sheer amount of them that have been produced have put one in the hands of every car e-boy and autocross Artyon Senna. It’s popularity and great numbers give rise to more than a handful of forgettable ones, but Brandon’s NA Miata is far from that.
Seen Above: Shaved OEM LED converted tail lights from Japan ( 1 of 1 ), Zeromotive Carbon Rear Canards, Garagestar side skirts, Carbon Miata Carbon hardtop spoiler, and Peter Farrell Super Cars cat-back exhaust ( 1 of 1 )
As did many others, Brandon realized that at its core a Miata is a capable and competent, well-handling car. Immediately after acquiring his Miata some 9 odd years ago, Brandon decided to build, atop the already solid foundation, a driver’s car that would last him years to come and would look good doing it. Five years ago, in late 2017, was when I first shot Brandon’s NA and even back then I’d say Brandon had already achieved his goal. As we all know, a project car is never really done is it? A year passed, the suspension was refreshed, a NB2 1.8 VVT engine was sourced and preparations were being made to swap it in, but Brandon was content to enjoy the car as it was.
Seen Above: Carbon Miata vented carbon AD9 hood, Jass Performance Low Pro LED converted headlights, Car Shop Glow front marker lights, and Garage Vary front lip and carbon Front Canards
Things never go exactly to plan and as fate would have it the original 1.6 would meet its end on its trip to pick up a Garrett GT2560R for the NB2. A snapped crankshaft meant engine out service and suddenly Brandon was faced with two choices, either fix the problem or begin the process of swapping in the NB2. The plan had always been to put a NB2 in the Miata and fate provided the perfect opportunity to do just that. Seeing no sense in rushing, Brandon took his time with the swap, sourcing a wide variety of quality parts to ensure that once it was in, it would be as perfect as could be.
There’s a ton of cool things about this car and seeing Brandon continue to improve on it each year has been awesome to witness. The dedication to details is what separates Brandon’s Miata from just being good to something truly noteworthy in my mind. It's not making insane power, albeit 250whp for a Miata is a little nuts, but what it does have is care. Every part fits nicely where it should and the paint is finished to perfection. When I think of a complete car I think of something like Brandon’s NA.
Short list of noteworthy parts: Skunk 2 Intake manifold and throttle body, GM LS coils, 6 Speed Transmission Conversion,
There’s nothing that’s been overlooked and almost every feature has been personalized in some way. The interior is fitted with Bride Zeta Max IIs, a deep dish Nardi wheel, refreshed carpet, roadster door sils, and it is in overall great condition. Anyone can throw parts on a car, make it go fast or look wild, but it takes a different kind of person to put things together the right way both inside and out. This level of detail is something that's usually reserved for the higher end, the restorations, or the restomods. It’s not a rushed car, it's well done.
With a car like a Miata, if you can think of it, then it’s probably been done. In the pursuit of his goal Brandon has made a car that, while it may not be the first ever to do it, it excels in what it does. It hooks, it goes, it handles and it looks fantastic doing it. Brandon’s eye for detail and his dedication to achieving his goal in the best way possible is endlessly apparent. What’s even more impressive is that even with Brandon going over the car with a fine tooth comb, nothing stands out from the rest of the ensemble. It all comes together and reflects that '“driver's car” goal he’s going for. It’s a performance minded aesthetic that says, "I’ll tackle anything you throw my way and I’m gonna look damn good doing it.”
Images below were taken during 2020. The first Gallery in November, the second in March.
