Parts Spotlight: Racing Hardtops

Race-designed hardtops for NA, NB and NC MX-5s are light, cost effective and can improve aerodynamics and safety.

http://mazdamotorsports.com/wcsstore...7/Hardtops.jpg

NA/NB Miata Fiberglass Hardtop (not legal for Spec Miata)

Miata 1990-2005

Part #0000-07-5900

NC MX-5 Miata Fiberglass Hardtop

MX-5 Miata (2006-2015)

Mazda Part #0000-07-5901

Racer Price $849.00 each (plus Freight charge)

One of the things that makes the MX-5 such a great car is that ability to drop the top and feel the wind through your hair. However, there's no breeze through your hair when you're wearing a racing helmet, and while the lack of a top can make ingress and egress easier, it can be detrimental in some other areas.

The first is aerodynamics. That open space behind the windshield with the seats, driver and roll cage creates a lot of turbulence and drag. That's why, when it's an option, most racers will choose to use the hardtop. Safety and convenience is another - most sanctioning bodies require arm restraints in open cars, and many drivers prefer not to use them if they can. Plus the hardtop is another barrier between the driver and anything the car might hit, or might come off another car at you.

Factory hardtops, however, are not always easy to come by. The number of Spec Miatas at any given race should provide a clue as to why. When they do pop up for sale, they are often overpriced and are snapped up quickly. So MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development has sourced an alternative.

http://mazdamotorsports.com/wcsstore...top-detail.jpg

With models for both NA/NB (not legal for Spec Miata) and NC MX-5s, the hardtops are produced specifically for racing. Thus they are light, at only 16lbs., thanks to their durable foam-core fiberglass construction and have shatterproof (non-glass) rear windows.

When used for racing, hardtops require positive fasteners beyond the factory attachments. The NA/NB hardtops include the rear brackets, and the NC hardtops include front and side brackets.

http://mazdamotorsports.com/wcsstore...p-brackets.jpg

They do not include the Hardtop-brackets rear hardtop molding or rear window molding, and are not recommended for street use.

These hardtops are special order items, so once you call MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development at 800.435.2508 to order yours, you should expect seven to 10 days for production and three to five days for shipping, which will run from about $125 to $180 for UPS Ground Freight. You can also pick it up in the San Diego area to avoid freight charges.

Source: http://mazdamotorsports.com/webapp/w....MZ6j7mR6.dpuf

hopefully with this release the prices will come down at tad on used Hardtops, they have been going up in price like crazy lately

This doesn't really address the root cause of expensive hard tops, which is Spec Miata. I expect few will ever be sold since these MMD fiberglass tops are only legal for Miatas participating in racing classes other than Spec Miata and there already are competitors on the market filling that niche. Now, if the powers that be said that these MMD tops were also legal in Spec Miata, then I would expect the price of OEM hard tops to plummet as racers sell them to buy this lightweight alternative.

I have to agree. There are a few guys making ultra-thin hardtop 'skins' that are better suited to PTx cars with a full cage. These skins bolt to the cage and are extremely light. Not something you could put on a street car.

Looked in this thread expecting to see Mazdaspeed and Kanspro hard tops and the like. Find this one most unattractive. One wonders if there's much of of a market it. The rear mounting points look like a good idea though.