I am posting this for a friend who recently lost her beloved early
90's purple Miata. The front end was heavily damaged in a t-bone type
accident. The impact was ahead of the passenger side front wheel and
bent the frame, bumper support, radiator support and the inner
fenders above the frame and ahead of the wheel wells. the rest of the
car is fine.
Somewhere around 100k, running very well prior to accident but has
not been started since due to fan/radiator interference.
It is an automatic. Recent new black top.

It is an unusual car in certain ways and has probably been seen on
the road in the St. Louis area.
It was converted to one of Simpson Designs' Miami Roadsters.

http://www.simpsondesign.net/roadster.htm

I have talked with Jim Simpson himself (very friendly guy)and he
tells me it was one of two cars built (a third kit went to Japan, but
he does not know if it was ever assembled) and he recalls this
particular kit to have been installed on the Los Angeles
International Auto Show exhibit car. According to Jim, it was then
reinstalled on this car by the guys at Monster Miata.

So, in a way, it is a genuine 'show car' (well, parts of it are...),
and a piece of custom Miata history (again, sort of).

The parts installed as part of the conversion or at the time of the
conversion include the front bodywork, taillights and bezels, seats
(tan leather), OZ racing wheels, Nardi steering wheel, wood trim on
the console/dash, and an embroidered 'Ferrari' panel on the passenger
side interior (not part of Jim's kit, he didn't care for that bit).
I'm not sure how much of this stuff was part of the Roadster kit and
how much was 'other stuff' added at the same time.

Under the hood it has a polished tie bar, cam cover, and intake
plenum. I'm not that familar with the Miata's, so pics will explain
more than I can. Since the car was in Monster Miatas hands at one
point, and there does seem to be some non-factory stuff under the
hood, there may have been other work/parts involved. I'm not trying
to lead anyone with 'what hidden treasures' there might be, but I
don't know enough about the Miatas to spot what all might have been
done and I haven't been under the car. The motor is black with a
polished or chrome cam cover and plenum, is that factory? I'll let
others judge.

Condition:
-front body work is toast, unless you really know how to work
fiberglass, but the roadster hood is not bad (one crack near a hinge
and popped at the front pass. corner, fixable)
-front frame/bumper support/radiator support are bent.
-OZ wheels have some curbing, one is much worse than the others.
-tires: Cooper Zeons on the back (fairly new, less than two years,but
cracking for some reason), BF's on fron, unknown condition.
-driver's side seat needs repair (side bolster is split with foam
showing, but repairable), passenger side is fine, but both need a
real good cleaning)
-back end is fine.
-relatively new black top (less than a year, I think)
-wood trim is good
-all running gear is reported to be fine and running good (I will try
to get it so the car can be started and at least moved in the
driveway)


The car does have a salvage title (probably from around the time the
kit was put on it years ago) due to a rear end accident. But to be
honest, unless someone is really committed or owns a body shop, I
don't think this car will be fixed. Jim Simpson says he does still
have most of the molds and is willing to make whatever replacement
parts he can, but he says some fabrication will still be needed. So,
if someone wanted to transfer the remains of the kit to another car,
that could be done. It would be a shame to lose one of the two
existing cars completely. Jim still has the prototype.

The reality is that it will probably donate the running gear and some
trim for another car.

My friend is open to offers for the whole thing and is realistic
about it's value. If no one wants the whole car, then we will part it
out.

You can contact me at:
opelbits@...
or:
314 803 6440

If you send me a regular email address, I can send pics.

The car is currently located just south of 141 and 21. (A few miles
south of Fenton and Arnold)

Tony P