Miata Softtop Question: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Jan. 15, 2010 7:39 a.m. unevolved Reader

My friend Kyle and I are going to look at this car this afternoon, hopefully. As you can see, it's in need of a little TLC.

My question is this: Will a softtop from a NB fit? I know it's not supposed to, but will it? Roofs fit fine, so logic would seem to say the softtops would fit as well. The reason I ask is I happen to have a '99 softtop in good condition at work that he could buy. I tore apart the car a few months ago to make it into a Spec Miata, and I still have the softtop sitting on a shelf. I have several '90-'97 roofs as well, but none of those are really intact anymore.
Jan. 15, 2010 9:04 a.m. Soma007 New Reader

Yes, the NB tops bolt right on.

But are you really sure you want that one? For a Lemons car I hope. That one looks like its taken a sizable hit to the right front corner. I think they pulled those front indiciators off a trailer or something...
Jan. 15, 2010 9:16 a.m. GregTivo Reader

that's a GRM Challenge car or spec miat for sure with that damage. Don't take it to LeMons though, miatas really do deserve better than that.
Jan. 15, 2010 10:32 a.m. mw Reader

Just to clarify,you need an nb frame for an nb top. You can't put an nb soft top on an na frame.
Jan. 15, 2010 11:48 a.m. Keith SuperDork

In other words, it's really easy :) Just unbolt the NA top and bolt on the NB one. Removing the fabric from the frame is more work. As an added bonus, the NB top is lighter.

All the damaged body panels in the picture just bolt on, and it wouldn't necessarily take a big hit to crunch them like that. Easy enough to inspect in person. I do have to say the lights are a first.
Jan. 15, 2010 12:38 p.m. Soma007 New Reader

Keith wrote: All the damaged body panels in the picture just bolt on, and it wouldn't necessarily take a big hit to crunch them like that. Easy enough to inspect in person. I do have to say the lights are a first.

To me it looks like the hood is tweaked a bit relative to the headlight and fender which means something underneath is bent. Like you said easy enough to figure out how bad if you see it inperson.

Given the lousy flat black paint job, the Japanese letters in the windshield I'd gather this car has been "drifted" into something immovable. I do not, however, have any explanation for the "Expedition" badge on the bumper or the top, which looks like its been covered in toothpaste. Or white shoe polish.

Anyhow someone must be pretty hard up for a Miata if this is one of their options so maybe they can overlook all its issues.
Jan. 15, 2010 3:17 p.m. Capt Slow HalfDork

do the rear corner panels just unbolt too? Mine has an annoying dent I would like to get rid of.
Jan. 15, 2010 4:06 p.m. Keith SuperDork

Sorry, them's part of the unibody.

It's not hard to make a hood/bumper/fender junction work badly I think the top is urban camo. That's my theory, anyhow.
Jan. 15, 2010 4:42 p.m. unevolved Reader

I have absolutely no explanation for the condition of the car. It defies all logic. The interior is even better. Pink shag dash rug, leopard-print steering wheel cover, etc. It's awesome.

We're going to take a closer look at the car and talk to the owner. If it does indeed run semi-well, I think we'll offer him $400, and not pay a cent over $500 if it runs amazing. If it doesn't run (and it seems like something I can fix) we'll give him $100 and haul it off.

Thanks for confirming my suspicion on swapping over a NB frame/softtop. That's going to make this that much easier if he gets this car.