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costs
So what did it cost?
These costs are retail prices, as shown in the Car and Driver article. My own costs were a little different in some areas because of my connections with Flyin' Miata and other aftermarket companies. I also had to apply a value to some parts that were just sitting around my garage.
I've always maintained that my car could be duplicated with a normal engine, stock ECU and less expensive paint for $7500. According to these numbers, that's not far off.
|
retail |
notes |
| donor car |
$0.00 |
I've probably made a profit by selling off little random pieces. Some Miata parts came out of my personal stash of old bits. |
| Brakes |
| Wilwood parts |
$350.00 |
Pedals, master cylinders, residual pressure valves. Actually $287, but I told C&D $350. I'm not sure why. |
| brake line and 3-way union |
$8.45 |
from a local auto parts store |
| stainless lines |
$110.00 |
custom made |
| brass fittings |
$3.64 |
for fitting to masters |
| pressure switch |
$10.80 |
to make lights go. |
| flare fittings |
$7.48 |
Many reused from donor |
| rotor turning |
$40.00 |
NAPA |
| front brake pads |
$89.25 |
Carbotech XP8 |
| rear brake pads |
$86.01 |
Carbotech XP8 |
| subtotal: |
$705.63 |
|
| Suspension |
| Powerflex bushings |
$40.00 |
leftover stock never sold separately, unknown retail cost |
| control arm bolts |
$22.41 |
Whoops, got some extras |
| steering bits |
$51.56 |
From a friend |
| pillow ball for steering |
$6.76 |
Teflon block from Grainger |
| inserts for steering spindles |
$7.10 |
from FK |
| tubing for steering |
$7.75 |
To extend tie rods |
| tires |
$440.52 |
Toyo RA1 205/55-14 |
| mounting for tires |
$39.80 |
|
| wheel prep stuff |
$40.00 |
Gelled paint stripper, black paint and clearcoat. |
| coilovers |
$625.00 |
Including springs |
| subtotal: |
$1,280.90 |
|
| Frame |
| starter kit |
$2,437.50 |
CMC prices are a discounted price instead of retail, but I've since learned that nobody ever paid retail anyhow. |
| roll bar |
$150.00 |
CMC |
| aluminum floor upgrade |
$75.00 |
CMC |
| shipping |
$556.86 |
|
| Metal Etch |
$5.32 |
Pre-paint prep. |
| POR-15 |
$46.29 |
Paint for frame |
| subtotal: |
$3,270.96 |
|
| Electrical |
| 1.8 ECU |
$887.04 |
Link programmable ECU. |
| air intake sensor |
$107.60 |
Required for ECU |
| 1.8 MAP sensor |
$216.32 |
Required for ECU |
| 1.8 coils |
$60.00 |
To play well with 1.8 ECU |
| wiring bits |
$8.07 |
Terminals, etc |
| Caterham tails |
$95.64 |
From Rocky Mountain Sports Cars (Caterham dealer) |
| front marker lights |
$6.44 |
Some sort of trailer part from Autozone |
| headlight shells |
$54.98 |
Dune buggy shop |
| starter button |
$18.34 |
MSC |
| Del City order |
$110.42 |
Wire connectors, switches, etc |
| Datatool Revlight tach |
$80.00 |
No longer available new, eBay |
| battery tie-down |
$7.30 |
|
| subtotal: |
$1,652.15 |
|
| Drivetrain |
| driveshaft |
$264.78 |
Custom made from new |
| differential side seals |
$44.95 |
|
| engine |
$1,500.00 |
I pulled this out of my Miata street car, but the original purchase price was for the used engine already built up. Killer deal. The actual cost to duplicate would be fairly scary and some parts are not commercially available. |
| radiator cap and JB weld |
$12.75 |
|
| radiator hoses |
$47.54 |
Universal flex lines |
| radiator |
$230.90 |
Griffin 2-25135-X |
| subtotal: |
$2,100.92 |
|
| Fuel |
| fuel pump |
$247.54 |
Pierburg unit |
| fuel filter |
$9.54 |
|
| fuel cell |
$100.00 |
Estimated cost for steel, Kreem and fittings |
| subtotal: |
$357.08 |
|
| Exhaust |
| u-bends and muffler |
$90.00 |
|
| pool hose |
$17.11 |
For mocking up muffler |
| subtotal: |
$107.11 |
|
| Body |
| pre-cut panels |
$225.00 |
CMC |
| mirrors |
$30.94 |
Lockhart Philips F1 motorcycle mirrors |
| aluminum sheets |
$11.50 |
For fender guards |
| seatbelt bolts |
$15.64 |
|
| seat bolts |
$7.69 |
|
| aluminum for hood |
$0.00 |
From Mark Rivera in exchange for leftover fuel pieces |
| hood latches |
$16.00 |
Originally for a toolbox. |
| paint |
$385.00 |
Lotus Chrome Orange. Expensive stuff. |
| channel for windshield frame |
$15.00 |
From Home Depot |
| glass for windshield |
$31.42 |
Laminated safety glass |
| rivets |
$40.00 |
That's gotta be low. |
| subtotal: |
$778.18 |
|
| Total |
$10,252.94 |
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