US company turns original Mazda MX-5 into classic speedster with no windscreen

The original Mazda MX-5 sports car – launched in 1989 to great acclaim – has become a popular choice as a base for speed shops to provide their own takes on the convertible.

But the latest example of a modified Mazda MX-5 – built by US firm Xenex Motorsport, and called the MX Speedster – is different from the rest.

Based on the first-generation ‘NA’ Mazda MX-5 – built from 1989 to 1997 – the MX Speedster draws inspiration from 1950s 'speedsters' cars such as the Porsche 550 and 356, by removing the windscreen and roof to create an even more open-air driving experience.

Xenex Motorsport commissioned designer Kasim Tlibekua to create the MX Speedster’s exterior design, with a more rounded front bumper, wider wheel arches, large side skirts and a tweaked rear bumper compared to the original Mazda.

In a post uploaded to Instagram, Mr Tlibekua showed off his creation – which was displayed at a car show in Florida last week – though its silver and yellow paint combination appears to be a nod to a Ferrari Monza SP1 speedster of 2018.

It appears the Mazda MX-5’s interior is largely unchanged apart from re-upholstered leather seats, a new steering wheel and a tweaked instrument cluster.

According to the MX Speedster website, there will be three variants available to order from April 2023: the base grade, the MX Speedster S and MX Speedster RS.

Xenex Motorsport claims the base MX Speedster is almost 115kg lighter than the standard Mazda MX-5 – which tipped the scales at 960kg in 1989 – while performance upgrades such as racing brakes, track-focused suspension and 17-inch wheels have also been fitted.

Stepping up to the MX Speedster S adds a supercharger, increasing the car’s claimed power output from 85kW to 149kW.

At the top of the range is the MX Speedster RS, which sees the MX-5’s four-cylinder engine replaced with a General Motors ‘LS’ V8, as used in Holden Commodores from the end of the 1990s, and US Chevrolet Corvette sports cars.

Xenex claims the V8-powered MX Speedster could develop more than 260kW in a car which weighs less than a tonne.

While exact pricing and specifications are yet to be announced, the company claims the conversion from Mazda MX-5 to MX Speedster costs approximately $US15,000 ($AU22,600) – if you can sell the parts from the standard car that are removed in the conversion.

The cost of the conversion does not include the price of a first-generation Mazda MX-5. In Australia, 'NA' Mazda MX-5s are advertised for sale between approximately $10,000 and $30,000, depending on the condition of the car, and any modifications applied.