Flyin’ Miata will no longer sell V8 swaps or parts for them

Article content

For the last number of years, those of us who wished to double the cylinder count in a Mazda MX-5 had the option of writing a cheque to Flyin’ Miata in Colorado, whose speed freaks would gleefully swap a V8 into the roadster’s engine bay. However, a recent post to the company’s blog suggests the days of their shop taking on such a build are squarely in the past.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Flyin’ Miata will no longer sell V8 swaps or parts for them Back to video

According to the site, the company has “discontinued our V8 conversion service and are no longer offering turn-key builds or conversion parts for V8 builds.” Why? Blame emission regs, apparently, along with America’s famously litigious society, which has recently come down hard on swap shops that choose to defeat emission devices on vehicles intended for the street. With those dark clouds hanging around its office, Flyin’ Miata has chosen to lay its V8 program to rest.

Article content

This doesn’t mean the FM squad are disbanding or closing up shop. They are still very much in the business of making MX-5 roadsters faster than stock, but will now focus on designing and selling emissions-compliant upgrade parts using bits and bobs from their standard parts catalog. That’s a service they will be offering for every year of Miata, not just the latest ND-chassis, so any of you lot whose Miata has pop-up headlights are still able to get yer speed fix from the crew in Colorado.

The blog post goes on to point out that V8-swapped MX-5 roadsters do pop up for sale on the secondhand market from time to time, linking to several examples of FM-swapped rigs which appeared on the popular auction site BringATrailer. They also link to an owner’s forum and suggest one particular Facebook page populated by owners who hold the keys to an Octopot Miata. In a fit of goodwill, they even link to another shop – presumably one with whom FM used to compete for V8 business – which still does the swap at this point in time.

It is also noted in the post that it’s not as if the combined brain-trust at Flyin’ Miata has instantly forgotten all the eight-cylinder work they’ve completed over the years, and remain able to answer questions about the swap or other associated components, such as appropriately upgraded brakes and suspension which can handle the newfound power.