Adding big power to lightweight roadsters is a well-established path to performance. The Shelby Cobra and Sunbeam Tiger are two examples where a British sports car—customarily powered by a four-cylinder engine—swapped in an American V-8 with a resounding effect.
However, the British sports car industry nearly disappeared in the early 1980s. In its place, in 1990, Mazda delivered the Miata. Mazda’s roadster replicated the Brit spirit—if not the leaky seals and sketchy electrics. It didn’t take long for enterprising hotrodders to see what might fit beneath the Miata’s aluminum hood. The Monster Miata was born.
This V-8-powered 1990 beast recently listed on eBay could be on the poster.
Rollin’ in My 5.0 Monster Miata
This Miata houses a five-liter Mustang V-8 engine beneath its hood. It’s a roaring roadster in the vein of earlier legends, such as Monster Motorsports, which started converting stock cars and offering conversion kits in the early 1990s. Back in the day, car magazines marveled at how well the Fox-body Mustang drivetrain fit the much-smaller Miata.
The swap nearly doubled the available horsepower while adding only a few hundred pounds to the nose. The extra weight up front upset the handling balance a bit, but Monster Miatas are still a blast to drive in the twisties. And if you want to add more power, there are few engines with more tuning options than the small-block Ford V-8.
A Few Flaws Easily Fixed
This car has more than 150,000 miles on the chassis, and a few points underneath show road rash and some corrosion. Under the hood, the engine bay looks like a used Mustang. Nevertheless, it’s a refreshing change from chrome and billet aluminum components everywhere, even with the dingy spots.
An air conditioning compressor is installed, so the AC may be functional. Driving a topless Miata is refreshing most of the time, but you want cool air blowing on a scorching summer day or when the rain falls.
The bodywork on this Monster Miata looks very good from most angles, though we see a couple of dings. The Miata’s hood seems slightly misaligned, and the soft front bumper looks wavy—two flaws that happen to most Miatas. Thankfully, eBay has abundant replacement options. The interior looks nearly stock condition save some bolster wear on the seat. But, again, that’s easily repaired or replaced. Fresh auxiliary gauges could help you keep an eye on the rumbling Ford soundtrack.
When the 5.0 Was King
Of course, you could make more power with the modern Chevy LS V-8. Several companies offer LS swap kits for the Miata.
But the small-block Ford has a long history of being swapped into roadsters, and if you aren’t going to take your Monster Miata racing, the power from the Ford is more than enough. I have an early Miata in my garage—in this same Mariner Blue—and a Monster kit may very well be in my future.
