Gorgona Cars NM Concept Transforms Original Miata Into a Barchetta Restomod

The answer to most any automotive question is always Mazda MX-5 Miata—at least so the joke goes. But as with the best comedy, there is a grain of truth behind naming the Miata as the solution to any car-related queries. It's one of the most beloved sports cars the world over, thanks to its peppy handling, happy demeanor, and huge modification potential. Mazda's little roadster even makes for an excellent engine-swap or kit-car-starting-point candidate. Though we've seen many V-8 swapped and British look-alike Miata creations over the years this new one from Gorgona Cars isn't your average Miata-based kit car. Instead, the NM Concept is complete vehicle based off the original NA-generation MX-5 chassis and turned into a truly Italian-designed barchetta. Stripped down to the bare essentials, its only additive feature is a new Skyactiv engine from today's ND-generation MX-5. Maybe the answer isn't always Miata, butlessMiata.

See All 52 Photos52

Gorgona Cars is a startup based in Rome, Italy by passionate car enthusiast Omar Abu Eideh and David Galliano and just looking at the Gorgona NM Concept, you see where their passions sit. The concept is evocative of classic racing cars like those that attacked Le Mans or the Mille Miglia. From the beltline down, it looks almost like a regular Miata, down to the NA's pop-up headlights, slim turn signals, and cute taillights.

Above that, everything's unique. Styled into a barchetta, it lacks the Miata's folding top and windshield and should prove slipperier through the air. The NM also includes a full tonneau cover that leaves only a single opening for the driver to pop out of, as well as a matching roll hoop cover that slopes into the trunk lid, just like those classic barchettas of the Mille Miglia. The underfloor, however, gains a modern touch, having been converted to a true flat floor. A rear diffuser induces some negative pressure under the car for better downforce without using a wing. The NM's doors are also converted to half versions made from carbon fiber, but retain the classic, finger-actuated door handles of the NA Miata, which were already befitting of a 1960s-era sports car. Gorgona claims that these doors also improve side impact safety of the NM, albeit without going into detail about how the lower frame is reinforced or whether it is at all.

The spoiler has been integrated into the decklid of the NM and new mirrors, LED lighting, and front splitter have been added, but otherwise, the NM is all Miata on its exterior. Also added were a set of iconic and lightweight Enkei RPF1 15-inch wheels in black with a set of Yokohama A052 tires sized to 205/55R15 all around. With the heaviest bits removed, the NM Concept can weigh in at around 1,830 pounds with some additional lightweighting components used.

The interior is stripped away with only a bit of carpeting on the floors, while a plain metal plate and rubber boot enclose the shifter. The original Mazda steering wheel has been replaced with a Momo piece while the gauges and starter button come from a ND-chassis MX-5. There is also a small fairing just over them and should help with some wind deflection, but we're going to recommend some form of glasses, goggles, or maybe a full-face helmet to keep the wind and road debris from blinding you.

See All 52 Photos52

As mentioned earlier, those ND-generation gauges hint at a modern Miata connection: Underhood lives the ND MX-5's 181-hp, 151-lb-ft Skyactiv 2.0-liter I-4. When swapping the modern engine into the older Miata, the crew situated it further rearward in the car than it normally would be; this should improve driving dynamics and offer better weight distribution, though stock Miatas are nearly perfect already in this regard. Since there is no windshield and the tonneau cover allows for an opening between it and the rear hood line, you're also able to see it while driving. With an optional "power kit," Gorgona claims it can raise the Skyactiv's output to 225 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque, which would deliver an incredible power-to-weight ratio of 8.13:1. Further driving improvements come from a set of adjustable coilovers, an improved braking system, and the use of reinforcement bars on the front and rear subframes with additional reinforcement welding done to the chassis to make a truly rigid chassis with minimal flex, despite a huge chunk of it being missing by being a topless car.

See All 52 Photos52

The goal of Gorgona Cars is to make the NM Concept into a production reality and fully homologated for road use. At least in Europe, as many states in the US require a windshield to be present. They are also not building a full NA Miata to create the NM, but instead require a donor car plus about $70,000—and European Value Added Tax (VAT)—to build the NM. In addition to all of the parts listed above, Gorgona can also add in carbon fiber parts like the hood, doors, and front fenders. The Gorgona Cars NM Concept was built in conjunction with OfficineCubo, Carrozzeria Di Vitale (the body producer), Giantymir (composite bodywork), Roman Del Broccolo (half-door producer) LamaLaser, Officina Meccanica Prina (axle builder), and FOL.