MadaboutKitcars

Gary sent me pictures this week of my body being widened to fit the Mazda Miata's 66 inch width. Even though they are pretty dark I have attached them. When Gary is finished he will take some better pics. I will post them when they are available. Hopefully, my body will be on it's way to New York, USA this week.

I have my donor Miata in my shop. I will start stripping it down soon and and get ready to build my frame. I have attached a couple of pics of the frame that I built for my Cobra. It uses C5 Corvette parts. I will build a similar frame for the Miata parts. The frame is skinned with aluminum then the body will slide on.

My goal is to have the car completed so that I can show it at the Carlisle Pennsylvania Kit Car Show In May 2012.

Look forward to seeing pics, as you start to work.

Will you attach bonnet the same way as Gary does?

I am getting a TVR Tasmin and then getting the G46 body fitted. Did you get the TVR wedges in the States?

I was originally going for a lengthened Miata using a space frame but the TVR gives me that, no change to the chassis and a V6 or V8 lump up front.

I will be attaching the bonnet as Gary. It will be full tilting.

TVR's are not common here. I was going to make my car a longer wheelbase. However, after some photoshop work I think it looks best at the stock Miata wheelbase. This is slightly shorter than the Sammio. So, I will be taking a little out of the cockpit. By keeping the Miata the stock wheelbase and width it will make the build much easier. Everything from the Miata will simply bolt in. As will any aftermarket Miata parts.

My Sammio will be a light, little car. I believe the 4 cylinder will be perfect. I agree that the bigger G46 will make good use of a bigger engine.

My Miata frame will be simpler to build than my Cobra frame. I won't have to build any suspension, steering rack, engine, or diff mounts. I will use smaller tubing as well. Can't wait to get started.

i like the widened look - its even further away from looking cobra-ish
- In the flesh it will look purposeful

Keep us updated with pics John, I might have to get you to sell me a frame or perhaps you could share the design with Garry and he could offer it in the UK.

Hi, it looks good in the widened version, have you built the frame from plans of your own or is it something you can get in the states?.. PAT

I may be about to buy this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330640085655&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123#ht_725wt_1267

to stick a shortened G46 body on. It would save me having to build the space frame to hold the MX5.

Roadster - if you are interested in getting a chassis created to take an mx5 and Sammio i can recommend a builder near Southampton. The guy who runs DreamShack (he is a member on here) builds good chassis and knows Gary and the Sammio cars.

As a next project or 2 I fancy building my own chassis/spaceframe for Skippy, I've looked at the locost plans needs enlarging a bit but if there are off the shelf plans but getting the wheelbase and track right is fairly important but the widened one above looks good and was thinking Ford or BMW running gear could all be pie in the sky as I do (and always have) fancied a 550, PAT

wca its just a pipe dream at the moment
"Live life one dream at a time" in other words "build one car at a time"

Garry is the only one here who is developing multiple projects at the same time and he is ...................

(choose one) A - Stark Raving Mad
B - My hero

Garry what about this "art deco" design?
Is it a coupe


Sorry John I hate when people hijack a thread and now im guilty
Good luck with your build

Roadster - 1 at a time. Agreed
Pat : Locost Chassis, BMW 3 Series running gear, Self fabricated body = where I originally was coming from. maybe next time* (*see answer 1). -

Hijacked - i have seen this on your thread lets leave Johns for his progress

Thanks for the comments. I believe that it will be great looking---and---performing.

I build my own frames. I have built versions of the pictured one for quite a few different cars. As a result I have a professionally built jig base that was built on a flat plate. I have a lot of adjustability in it. The new Sammio frame will be fairly simple to build, using the Miata cradles and all.

It think that my frame will have 8 inch tall sills along the cockpit and that I will put in functioning doors.

The other thing that I will do is mold in a rear flange on the rear of the bonnet. I have done this with my other cars with tilting bonnets. This keeps the shape, reduces flexing, and keeps the line between the bonnet and the firewall consistent. If molds are made after this then the 2 halves will perfectly match with out any body work.


I will happily share the final frame design with Gary.

Some more pictures taken this morning for John...

The shipping is being arranged at the moment so hopefully it will be on its way soon....

Looking good Gary.

Looks quite, dare I say it, Cobra-ish.

MX5 based 289 when the supply of Heralds/Vitesses dries up?

I heard the MX5 was a bit modern and souless. ;-)

Stick it on a TVR chassis and you have a V8 up front to give the Cobra replicas a shock

LOL. I have a big V8 in my Cobra. It's fast, fun, and expensive. I'm looking for something different and inexpensive. I always thought that the Sammio looked a little bit like a cross between a Cobra and a 550 Spyder. Not bad company. But, I think it looks less like a Cobra widened.

This is an exciting time for me. I am going to be marketing a Sammio MX5 Spyder in the USA. This is of course with Gary's permission, input, and participation. I plan to have 2 different versions. The first is to strip down the Miata, remove the windshield, cut out the rear body, then bolt in 5 different space frame braces to stiffen the Miata Unibody. My Sammio body will mount over this. It will have functioning half doors. A wood steering wheel, aluminum gauge facia, and different seats will complete the look. This car will be unrecognizable as a Miata. I purchased a great running Miata with 70,000 miles on it this week for $1250. This means the Sammio MX5 Spyder can be on the road quickly and for a fraction the cost of a Cobra or 550 Spyder. And, in the USA can continue to be registered as a Miata.

The second version will be a true lightweight with a steel and aluminum space frame. This will use the Miata suspension and drivetrain. The cradles will bolt into my frame.

Anyway this is the plan. As soon as the body arrives I will start a build blog.

I think thats a great idea John
I dont think the windscreen being removed will change how rigid the body is
but there are plenty of uprated parts to stiffen up the shell- chassis rails and braces so maybe you wont need to fabricate.
i made sure that i left all the double skined part of the monocoque well alone and i glassed the body on and foam filled it to maked sure it was as "structural" as i could.

Im sure there is a market for your version of the spyder - the simpson cars are not so pretty and they cost far too much http://www.simpsondesign.net/#

Good luck - i look forward to the build

I want one!!

JMC14, I've been wanting to do a miata version of the Sammio since I stumbled across the site a few months ago. I've been measuring and trying to see how I could modify the body to fit a Miata. I'm very pleased you are already doing it. I've had a Miata for 18 years, a mean one that's used to being on the track. I completly agree that with the correct chassis prep, you can take away all the unneeded bodywork and windshield without a problem. (just like an E production race Miata) I would like to get a body asap. what's your timeline? I'm quite serious.
Thanks
JR

Thanks for the inquiry and info JR. The body should be leaving Gary's for the trip to NY next week. It will be 4 to 5 weeks to have it delivered. (I am told)

I will be working full time to modify the body as needed, mold in the mounting flanges, ect. In the mean time I am just about finished stripping down a Miata. This is my first experience with the Miata. I am very impressed on how easy it is to work on. I have about 8 hours in stripping it and using a reciprocating saw to cut away unnecessary body work. I will try to take a picture today and post it this weekend. After stripping the unnecessary body work I am more sure than ever that this is a viable option. And, that instead of 5 separate braces that I was going to fabricate I think that I can do it in 1. This piece will tie in the rear shock towers, the rear cockpit bulk head, and the door openings. It will also have roll bar(s) mounts and the mounting brackets for the main body tub.

I have done a few measurements. Maybe Gary can comment on how these are looking as far as lining up with the body he widened for me.
The width of the front bulkhead (top and bottom) and the cockpit tub at the bottom of the sill is 60 inches. The height of the front bulkhead/firewall with 4 inch ground clearance is 29 inches. To the top of the fuel tank, which is on the rear deck is about 26 inches. I think the body is going to fit fine.

My plan is to have the frame work, molds and a finished car in time for the Kit Car show in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in May. It is in May that I plan to be able to start producing the kits.

Hope this helps and any input/suggestions from anybody are welcome. For instance are function doors something people will want?

John ,
I did all your measurements this morning and then promptly left them sat on Barry Mays car !!

The Miata rebody does look viable ....its a shame that the amount of cutting will make it an SVA'able car here ...but if you can work it in the U.S. then ....GO GIRL !!

In theory , an MX5 shouldn't struggle too much with SVA here , but I'm not sure.....

From my memory of the measurements this morning ...

width of cockpit tub is 63''
height from floor with 4'' clearance is 29'' at the sides rising to about 32'' in the centre ...

other measurement I can remember is centre of rear arch to back of body was about 26''
Centre of rear arch to bulkhead was 71.5-72'' depending upon where you measure it.

JMC,
I would rather not have doors. I'm thinking simplicity in the chassis structure and added strength. I though of running parallel tubes from the front to rear with an X brace where the doors would normally be. I also would like to have it as light as possible. Doors, latches, hinges all add up, and mess up the body lines. I'm hoping that the net weight of the finished car could be 1600 lbs or lighter. (I don't know how thick / heavy the body is). Thanks for the update, looking forward your pics of the stripped Miata.

When I first looked into building a Spyder I really wanted doors, mainly because, well, cars have doors, right?

After speaking to Gary though, and looking at a couple of finished cars, especially '66, I decided that no doors was the way ahead for ease of build and a little extra crash protection.

That's one reason why I'm slamming mine onto the tarmac: so I can climb into the bloody thing!

Here are a few pics of the stripped down Miata. The hood, front fenders, front and rear facias, bumpers and dash easily unbolt. I used a reciprocating saw to cut out the rest. In all I probably have 8 hours to get it to this point. This car came with AC which I will remove. Still debating the heater! I still need to remove the unnecessary items from the engine compartment and clean that up. The big thing is how the bonnet fits.

I like the simplicity of not having doors, the extra side impact protection, and the clean lines. But, I realize that some people might want it to be easier to get in and out of. Half doors will still allow good bracing and make egress much easier. I probably will offer doors as an option.

I think 1600lbs finished is a reasonable goal. I have a set of race car scales and will weigh the car as it sits early next week. I'll let you know what it weighs.

Sorry for the small pictures. I need to learn how to post full size pics.

Try going to [url]www.photobucket.com[/url] in another browsing window.

Create a user account.

Upload your pictures to an album.

Hover your cursor over the image you want to post but don't click on the image, then click on the img code at the bottom when the drop down menu appears.

Then switch back to the madabout page and paste the img code into your post, once you click submit the image will appear.

And, as they say in France, zere you 'ave eet.

THERE YOU GO.....






You have stripped that down a bit then .....