My new 91 Miata "Grand Sport" build...

[GregW]

In an effort to have an affordable and fun autocross car, I just picked up a complete and running 91 Miata for a good deal. i have been working on getting the car for awhile and it was just delivered to me yesterday. It runs but needs some bodywork and paint. I was given all the parts with the car. Bumper, fender, headlight assembly, etc I call it a "Grand Sport" becuase I plan to paint it like a 1996 Corvette Grand Sport, complete with racing stripes and fender hash marks.

I plan to use it to autocross, but yet still drive around town on occasion with tags and insurance if I want to. This year I plan to go through the car and make it nice and "decent" to drive around town and reliable to autocross. Basicly, back to stock with a custom paint job.

I will document my progress here.

Here is how it arrived to me.

[GregW]

After cleaning it up and going through the car, here is a status list.

- Bought a new battery and it runs great!
- A/C doesnt work, still R12, compressor does not turn on, no pressure in lines.
- no rear lights work
- Headlights come on but dont flip up
- trunk filled with water when i washed car
- small tear in soft top
- No radio
- missing rear trim pieces
- Did I say no A/C??
- Lots of dings all over, slight hail damage on hood
- Needs front end reassembly
- Needs paint

[GregW]

This is the Grand Sport look I plan to replicate in true Miata fashion. The Corvette is all origional, the Jimmy is my truck I painted like a GS, and plan to have a matching Miata. hehe

[cone-cerned]

Good luck. That will be a good looking Miata.

But, this is what I think of when some one says Corvette Grand Sport.



I'm pretty sure Delmo Johnson had a silver one in 1963 or '64.

[GregW]

Yeah, that is the 1963 Corvette Grand Sport. in 1996 Chevrolet decided to commemorate the end of the production run of the C4 Vette and they made 1000 1996 Corvette Grand Sports which paid tribute to the 1963 racer. My Jimmy and Miata will both be painted like the 1996 Grand Sport.

You obviously know your cars! Not many people have ever heard of ANY year GS!

[trickyrix]

Great to have you aboard! Looking forward to the progress on your Miata GS! My vote would be for the original '63 GS paint scheme but it'll look spectacular either way - keep it up!

Is the Jimmy "just a Jimmy" or a Typhoon?

[cone-cerned]

I attended a few SCCA races at Green Valley Raceway in the 1960s. Delmo's Grand Sport is one of the standouts in my memory. Some others are Paul Jett in a Lotus 19, Tim White in a Lotus 7 and Ken Miles in a Shelby Cobra. I remember a Lola with a Ford V8, but not who was running it.

Anyone remember the Appolo GT? I saw one racing at Green Valley.

[GregW]

Thanks. The Jimmy is a 85 Jimmy 4x4 converted to AWD with an LT1 and full Typhoon interior.

[trickyrix]

Doug, I remember the Apollo from the stacks of my dad's car mags and collector car books I grew up with. Gorgeous cars! I've never been to Green Valley but I've heard some good stories. And I almost bought a Shelby/Green Valley replica event t-shirt at the Peterson Museum in LA. Dammit!

Greg, keep an eye on the boards and bring that Jimmy out to a Wed Nite GTG if you can - we'd love to see it!

[CHeavin_2006]

If you go with the Grand Sport paint job you're gonna have to eventually go with an LS1 or LS3 conversion, don't deny it...

Good luck with everything! That'll be one unique, cool-looking miata!

[wrx74]

HPIM0100..jpgHPIM0150..JPG

[marmed]

If you go with the Grand Sport paint job you're gonna have to eventually go with an LS1 or LS3 conversion, don't deny it...

I bet there's a V8 in this miata's future. An LT1 in the Jimmy, an LS1 in the miata, it just makes sense.

[Electro]

GregW - does this GS make it to Granbury on Saturday mornings every now and then? I've seen one here while getting coffee. Dad is a huge 'Vette guy and has owned over 20 Vettes since I was 4 yrs. old. We still have a '73 Stingray, '94 Z-R1 (massaged by Lingenfelter before his passing), and a race-prepared '90 Z-R1. Cheers!

[Electro]

Here's some inspiration for your build...

[Yeller90]

Love the LT5!!! Hmm would one fit?

[GregW]

You buy it for me, I'll install it! Lol

[GregW]

I have the car in the bodyshop now getting all the dings and dents fixed. It is almost done.
I found that my A/C compressor wasn't working and the fuse was blowing due to a bad A/C circuit replay. Good news! We also put on a 134a retrofit kit to switch over from R12.
The lights weren't working because a fuse under the hood was pulled and put back in the wrong place.
I have the passenger door broken down. Handle, mirror, weatherstripping, etc all pulled. Anyone familiar with the stock weatherstripping? I think I ruined it. Every single t-clip ripped the rubber when it came out. Darnit...
I also got a special delivery today with a left mirror, front blinkers, sun visors, brackets, a spare tire and jack! Whooo!! Im almost there!

Here are some pictures...

We have lights!!


Getting stripped for paint


And the body is slowly but surely coming along!

[ken o]

Looking good. The Miata is a stout car. Mazda held true to the original concept, British roadster fun with Japanese reliability.

[Electro]

Call Gary at Track Dog - he has a few spare doors in the back and will prolly be able to help you out on the weatherstripping. Just recently replaced one after going back to non-gutted doors.

[GregW]

Oh ok, I didnt realize he sold used parts too. Thanks!