The People's Ferrari Monza SP1 Exists And It's This Restomod Of The Original Mazda MX-5

A  first-generation Mazda MX-5, with the current engine and converted to a  single- seat barchetta. This is the cover letter for this Concept NM born in Italy under the aegis of  the firm Gorgona Cars.

It is the first project of these transalpines, that is to say, it arises with this prototype which seeks to pay homage to the emblematic Miata but with the aftertaste of a classic Italian single-seater from the middle of the last century.

At the moment they are looking for interested parties to produce it and make it a reality, but the work they have done, in the style  of the Ferrari Monza SP1, leaves no one indifferent.

The Japanese sports car that was meant to be a classic single-seater

This is not a rendering: the  Concept NM, for '  Naked Monoposto  ', was designed by Gorgona Cars and manufactured by OfficineCubo, a Roman company specializing in the design of prototypes.

These Italians used a  first-generation Mazda MX-5  , that is, the 1989 NA, as a base. But instead of having the engine that fitted this first chapter of the Japanese roadster, under the hood hides the  2.0 liters Skyactiv, 184 HP and 205 Nm  from the current.

Other advantages  of the latest MX-5, or ND , are also present, such as the six-speed manual gearbox or the limited-slip rear differential. It is therefore already a restomod, although very particular.

And is  the body and chassis are from the Miata NA, but modified . Starting with what you see, this Concept NM has no bonnet and the classic hump present in the barchettas of the 50s has been added. Underneath it is equipped with a roll bar.

In addition, aerodynamic elements have been added, such as a matt black front lip, a tone that also dresses, for example, the door handles or the 15-inch Enkei RPF1 light alloy wheels.

The windshield is also replaced by a short visor above the instrumentation. And the set is completed with the side mirrors of the current model.

For its part,  inside there is only one seat  and the board is completely minimalist, being covered in Alcantara. This velvety textile also dresses the seats or the door panels. In addition, and as an option, they plan to offer the hood, fenders or doors in carbon fiber.

The guys at Gorgona Cars have also worked on the chassis which they promise offers twice the torsional stiffness. And by adding a tubular subframe, the doors had to be cut in the lower area.

They also added  better brakes, new adjustable shocks  and a rear engine position for more optimized weight distribution.

These Italians are looking for interested parties, whose contribution in the form of a signal will help finance the project which, obviously, will be a very limited series.

The intention of Gorgona Cars is to homologate it to circulate on the road and they estimate that its base price is around  70,000 euros  before taxes. Much more than the current MX-5 starts with this engine.

But of course, this is all a  rare review  designed for pure enjoyment and to touch the hearts of purists and enthusiasts bringing together two worlds: that of Japanese sports cars and that of legendary Italian racing single-seaters. Hopefully they manage to raise enough to make that happen.