Miata Parts

An ongoing set of components for one car, a 1990 Mazda MX-5, each designed and manufactured by me.

The brief: modernise where the original design language allows it and leave it alone where it doesn’t, so every part sits next to thirty-five-year-old bodywork without looking out of place.

The rear end was 3D scanned to design custom three-bulb taillights and a ducktail spoiler, each 3D printed, smoothed and painted. The door handles pop out on linear actuators at the press of a button.

Inside: a 2.1 audio system with printed tweeter pods, a period-correct audio visualiser, Alcantara door cards, a MagSafe charger in place of the ashtray, and a new HVAC panel and cup holder.

Printed surrounds fit 4×6 headlights into the pop-ups, which run on a four-layer PCB designed around an STM32C0 in place of the original relay. One click toggles, two wink, a long hold forces both down.

Eli Crawford contributed to the ducktail ideation and much of the taillight modelling.