- Paco Motorsports adds off-road flavor to the Mazda MX-5 ND.
- The build gains long-travel FOX suspension and beefier tires.
- Hand-crafted steel flares and tubular bumpers complete the look.
The Mazda MX-5 has spent four generations being praised for the things it does on a winding road, not the things it might do off one. Paco Motorsports has spent the last few years arguing the case for the other column. After lifting an NA-generation car into something close to a rally raid weapon, the company has now turned the same logic on the current ND.
It started with the Beachster, a raised ND built for a customer based in the U.S. Virgin Islands. A second car followed, this one called Simba, destined for Tanzania to serve as a daily driver in the desert.
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While the Beachster was built in Paco’s Northern Kentucky facility, the Simba is a different story. Components were crated to Dubai, where a local outfit handled the build with the Kentucky team coaching from afar. It is an unusual way to construct a one-off Miata, though arguably an appropriate one given the destination.
Hardware Built For The Rough Stuff
To support their dune-conquering abilities, both roadsters wear steel fender flares, tubular bumpers with recovery hooks, extra LED lighting up front, side skirts that double as rock sliders, and a custom rear rack. The sportier touches include a vented hood, a lip spoiler, mesh between the taillights, and twin center-exit tailpipes.
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The serious work happens underneath. Suspension travel has been maximized using FOX shocks and a custom spring setup, ground clearance climbs, and chunky all-terrain rubber replaces the standard MX-5 tires. The Beachster goes a step further with a lengthened wheelbase to accommodate a staggered rear setup.
The resulting builds are much more capable off the beaten track compared to a mainstream SUV. The compromises are predictable. There is more body roll, acceleration suffers, and fuel economy takes a hit compared with a standard ND.
Despite the Mad Max styling, both cars keep the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, retuned for sharper throttle response. Paco also swapped in the limited-slip differential from the related Fiat 124 Abarth, which runs a shorter final drive than the Mazda unit.
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Both the Beachster and the Simba start with the MX-5 RF and its folding hard top. The split between them is mostly inside, with a black interior in the Beachster and tan trim in the Simba.
Paco Motorsports told CarScoops: “The Beachster lives literally on the shore and has become a local legend around the island with locals and tourists alike. The owner is a longtime resident who wanted something a bit special to haul his weekly trash to the collection site and pick up a 12 pack on the way back home. It’s additional ground clearance makes it perfect for the rugged and very vertical terrain of St. Thomas.”
Donor Car Sold Separately
Pricing for these one-offs has not been disclosed, but Paco’s MX-5 NA program gives some idea of the cost. The Offroadster kit starts at $4,999, while the more involved Conqueror kit is listed at $7,999. Naturally, neither figure includes the cost of the donor car.
