Check Out These Wild JDM Miata Conversions

by Gabrielle DeSantis

With an appealing mix of European roadster style and performance with Japanese reliability, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is the best-selling two-seat sports in the world. With the Miata’s popularity in the home market, it’s no surprise that JDM tuners have some of the craziest mods available. Here are some truly epic body styling conversions for Mazda’s iconic roadster.

Rocket Bunny widebody

2016 Mazda Miata with a Rocket Bunny widebody kit | Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Widebody kits from JDM designer Kei Miura make a bold statement, especially on a tiny car like the Miata. Per Speedhunters, Miura built the Rocket Bunny brand from a small unassuming shop in Kyoto, Japan. The bulging overfenders he popularized imbue a more imposing stance and allow fitment of much wider wheels to boot.

Currently, authentic Rocket Bunny kits are only available for the original NA and 2016+ ND Miatas. The real ones are still made in Japan and exclusively imported by JDM tuner Greddy. If you’re looking to make your Miata stand out from the crowd with a wider stance and aggressive wheel fitment, here’s one way to do it.

The JDM aftermarket loves front end conversions

moroCRAFT mm1 based on Mazda Miata
Mono Craft MM1 lightweight sports coupe during the Tokyo Auto Salon 2005 | Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP via Getty Images

In Japan, the Miata has become a popular canvas for transformative front end conversions. Per Roadster.blog, a JDM brand called Mono Craft created its MM1 model with distinct front end parts grafted onto an NB Miata. An offshoot of Japanese aftermarket retailer Autobacs, Mono Craft performed its conversions on new vehicles and sold them in completed form.

The styling is decidedly classic and European, with strong echoes of the Ferrari 275 front end. Sporting clear headlight covers, it’s also remnsicent of a Nissan S30 240Z in G-nose trim. Either way, the conversion lends a unique twist to the rather conventional ’90s styling of an NB Miata.

Pit Crew takes classic Miata styling to the next level

At this point, the original NA Miatas are almost classics in their own right. But the JDM Pit Crew conversion takes the styling back another couple of decades. Instead of the original pop up headlights, the company’s front end has chrome-ringed units from a classic Mini.

Pit Crew offers a range of upgrades for NA Miatas, and most of them have a classic theme. The rear end conversion uses vertically stacked mini tailights like a ’60s Datsun Roadster. Pit Crew even offers a double-center exhaust setup, similar to the Jaguar E-type. With appropriate aftermarket wheels to match, the NA Miata can look even more like a classic British sports car than it already does.

RELATED: Unique JDM Cars That Nobody Buys

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Rhode Island’s Kei Car Owners and DMV Are Headed to Legal Battle

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Between the 25-year wait and potentially unscrupulous companies like MotoRex, being an import fan in the US can be tough. However, after all the paperwork is in order, these classics should be safe once they get here, right? As it turns out, not necessarily. Recently, Maine started revoking legally imported Mitsubishi Delica registrations. And now, the Rhode Island DMV is trying to do something similar with kei cars. But their owners won’t let go without a fight.

The Rhode Island DMV is trying to de-register legally imported kei cars

1992 Daihatsu Hijet kei car van | Cars & Bids

Kei cars and trucks stand out amongst the JDM forbidden fruits now available to US enthusiasts mostly due to their diminutive dimensions. But size isn’t the only thing appealing about them. Many kei trucks, for example, have 4WD, making them genuine workhorses. And while some kei cars are regular commuters, there are also sports cars like the mid-engine, gullwing-doored Autozam AZ-1. There are even kei camper vans, some of which feature functional faucets and microwaves, Autoblog says.

In short, there’s a variety of kei cars that can be imported to the US. And, just like a Skyline GT-R or ‘90s Civic Type R, they’re governed by the 25-year import law.

Theoretically, as soon as a specific car becomes 25 years old, it can be imported and registered in the US without needing safety-, emissions-, and lighting-related modifications. However, that law only applies at the federal level, Jalopnik notes. Individual states can set additional requirements if they choose to. Or, indeed, modify their existing regulations. And it appears that the Rhode Island DMV is going with option #2.

Revival Motoring podcast host Chuck Whoczynski owns two kei cars: a Honda Acty truck and a Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Avanzato hatchback. Both cars were imported legally and have been on the road for over two years. However, the Rhode Island DMV recently contacted Whoczynski and instructed him to hand in his kei cars’ plates, The Drive reports. And he says that other kei car owners in the state have received similar instructions.

In short, the Ocean State’s DMV appears to be pulling a Maine. However, for all the bark, these instructions might not have any legal bite.

Those Rhode Island kei car owners seem to have the law on their side, though

The Drive says that the Rhode Island DMV’s kei car registration argument hinges on two references.

The first is a specific chapter of Rhode Island’s motor vehicle laws regarding low-speed vehicles on public roads. It’s these kinds of laws that govern ATV registration. The second is a recommendation released by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, a non-governmental association that represents various American and Canadian officials involved in motor vehicle laws. This recommendation “advocates banning ‘mini-trucks’ from highways” if they can’t meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, The Drive explains.

In addition, one of Whoczynski’s listeners whose friend allegedly works at the DMV obtained images of an internal memo. This memo instructs officials to not process registration requests for kei cars and trucks because they don’t meet FMVSS.

But while these justifications seem legit, legally, they’re not exactly air-tight, The Drive says. For one, that legal chapter, Chapter 31-19.4, is about low-speed vehicles—neither of Whoczynski’s kei cars are registered as such. Secondly, the NHTSA sets the FMVSS, not a state’s DMV—and 25-year-old cars are exempt from meeting those standards. That’s exactly why enthusiasts wait 25 years to import vehicles from overseas.

Also, regarding the AAMVA’s recommendation, The Drive notes that Rhode Island has no laws forbidding ‘mini-trucks’ from operating on public roads. Oh, and guess who’s on the AAMVA’s board of directors? The Rhode Island DMV’s administrator, Walter Craddock.

Furthermore, Rhode Island’s Chapter 31-2-19 appears “to allow aggrieved car owners like Whoczynski to appeal DMV decisions via a process that forces the DMV into a district court,” The Drive reports. That would force the state to legally justify itself. And the evidence suggests that it might not be able to.

As of this writing, only Rhode Island is going after its kei car owners. So, theoretically, cars in other states are safe from this headache. At least for now.

Still, taken with what’s happening in Maine, what happens over the next few months and years could have significant ramifications for the US import scene. If other states decide to take similar actions, it could make the 25-year import law irrelevant. And not for the enthusiast-friendly reason.

It’s safe to say that many will be watching what unfolds in Rhode Island very closely.

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RELATED: Having Trouble Getting Your Car Tagged? Call Up the Vermont DMV

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101 Year-Old Man Tries the Ford Mustang Mach-E

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is a revolutionary SUV. Ford took its legendary Mustang nameplate and electrified it. The automaker ensured that the Mustang would have a place in the electric future by creating the Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV. The appeal of the Mustang Mach-E is that it features new cutting-edge technology while still capturing the spirit of Ford. Ford fans have some strong opinions on the Mach-E. A 101-year old man that once drove the Ford Model T tried the Mach-E to see if it was up to snuff.

A lifelong fan of Ford

2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E with Ice White Package | Ford

Harold Baggott has fond memories of learning to drive in a Ford Model T. The British gentleman is a lifelong Ford fan and has purchased several Ford models throughout his lifetime. He has encouraged family members to purchase Ford models as well. As a way of thanking Baggott for his brand loyalty, Ford offered him the opportunity to take a step into the company’s future. Harold started with the Model T and now he has driven the Ford Mustang Mach-E over a half-century later.

According to InsideEVs, Harold was amazed at how quiet the ride was during his Ford Mustang Mach-E experience. He was excited to witness firsthand what future generations of his family would be driving. Harold has embraced the electric future and is intrigued by the industry’s latest major transition.

Harold Baggott has experienced every major Ford development for decades both as a fan and a driver. Despite experiencing the golden age of internal combustion engines Harold is eager for Ford’s newest vehicles. If a 101-year old man can adapt to the changing industry, I’d say the electric future is in good shape.

How much will the Ford Mustang Mach-E cost ?

A red Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Ford Mustang Mach-E | Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images

The Ford Mustang Mach-E Select trim starts at $42,895. It can be $35,395 after federal electric vehicle tax credits. The Select trim gets 230 miles of estimated battery range. It can go from 0-60 miles per hour in 5.2 seconds.

The next trim, the California Route 1 starts at $50,400 or $42,900 after tax credits. The California Route 1 trim gets 305 miles of estimated battery range. It can go from 0-60 miles per hour in 6.1 seconds.

The third Ford Mustang Mach-E trim, the Premium trim starts at $47,600 or $40,100 after tax credits. It gets 300 miles of estimated battery range. It can go from 0-60 miles per hour in 4.8 seconds.

The final trim, the Mustang Mach-E GT starts at $59,900. After tax credits, it can be $52,400. The GT gets 270 miles of estimated battery range. It is the quickest and can go from 0-60 miles per hour in just 3.8 seconds.

Which Ford Mustang Mach-E trim provides the most value?

An orange 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT parked on a racecourse
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT | Ford Motor Company

The Ford Mustang Mach-E premium trim provides the most value. The Premium has great estimated range, is quick, and can be affordable after tax credits. The Select trim provides great value as well but 230 miles of range is on the lower end of the range spectrum in this age of EVs.

The Mustang Mach-E is an amazing electric SUV and one of the best EVs of the year. It is helping to usher in a new era for Ford. If 101-year old Harold Baggott can wrap his head around the Mach-E, even Mustang purists should be able to make the adjustment eventually.

RELATED: How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Ford Mustang Mach-E?

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2021 Hennessey Venom F5 Set to Be Hyper Exclusive with Low Production Numbers

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Having rare cars with low production for many people means several thousand or several hundred, but some cars are even rarer than that. In the case of these ultra-rare cars, they are typically exclusive and unimaginably expensive, and the Hennessey Venom F5 is no exception. It’s insane 1,800 hp toting LS engine, beautifully designed and hand-assembled body, and track-ready interior are an experience that only a handful of owners will ever experience, with production numbers sitting in the low two-digits.

The Hennessey Venom F5 at the 2021 Concours d’Elegence

Hennessey Venom F5 on display at the 2021 Amelia Island Concour d’Elegance | Gabrielle R Schmauderer, MotorBiscuit

When I had first glanced at the silhouette of the Hennessey Venom F5 it was underneath a silk-like cover on a stage at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance waiting to be unveiled to eager onlookers and attendees. Mr. John Hennessey himself was busy pacing the field in final preparation just hours beforehand, and stayed nearby the car to watch onlookers admire and ask questions. Luckily for me, Mr. Hennessey was in a rather amicable mood, excited to answer all of my questions. Among them, he told me that the Venom F5 “wasn’t looking to compete” against other hypercars, but rather the team just focused on producing the best car that they could — and the fastest.

The Hennessey Venom F5 only set for production of less than 30 cars

One thing that amazed me from my conversation with John Hennessey was his mention of the incredibly low production numbers: he told me they only intended on making 24 of the Hennessey Venom F5 hypercars ever. I took this with a relatively large grain of salt because it isn’t unheard of for manufacturers to produce a handful of cars more than intended, as many Ford GT owners experienced with the latest GT. Only 24 cars are set to be custom built for a select few buyers, and Mr. Hennessey had told me directly that their team was only prepared to make a handful of cars every year, as they are custom built and hand-assembled. Unfortunately, if you’re just starting to peak in interest of the Hennessey Venom F5 you are already too late — they are sold out.

The Venom F5 is already sold out ahead of final production

With incredibly rare cars like the Hennessey Venom F5, they are often made to order, so they are sold before production even begins. In the timeline given by Mr. Hennessey, buyers can expect to wait for quite a while to take delivery of their Venom F5 hypercars, which will each be built with custom options and specifications to meet the desires of each buyer. As he told the duPont Registry:

“Selling out is just the beginning of the F5 journey for us, our customers and our fans. Production has already begun, with customer deliveries starting this year and continuing through 2023. That’s not all, as we’ve saved a few more surprises for the F5, including the Track Pack enhancements, plus something else that’s literally out of this world!”

John Hennessey, founder and CEO of Hennessey Performance

RELATED: Hennessey Venom F5 Blows Past 200 MPH Despite Being Down 50 Percent on Power

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