---
title: "Found for Sale: Flyin’ Miata-Built, LS3-Swapped 2016 Mazda MX-5 With Only 2,000 Miles"
description: "This little riot weighs just 2,600 pounds and makes 525 horsepower thanks to its C6 Corvette-sourced V-8."
date: "2019-08-27"
modified: "2019-08-27"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/29595/found-for-sale-flyin-miata-built-ls3-swapped-2016-mazda-mx-5-with-only-2000-miles"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "For Sale"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "compact"
  - "Convertible"
  - "mazda"
  - "miata"
---

# Found for Sale: Flyin’ Miata-Built, LS3-Swapped 2016 Mazda MX-5 With Only 2,000 Miles

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/08/Flyin-Miata-Hero-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Are you of the mind that the sub-200 horsepower that comes from Mazda's factory isn't nearly enough grunt for the [magical MX-5](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/28333/2019-mazda-mx-5-miata-vs-2004-honda-s2000-comparison-review-cross-generational-roadster-showdown>)? Well, spotted for sale on [Bring a Trailer](<https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2016-mazda-mx-5-miata-10/>) is a barely-used, [LS-swapped ND Miata](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/7466/is-a-525-hp-corvette-v-8-too-much-engine-for-an-nd-gen-mazda-mx-5-miata>) seemingly made just for you.

According to its listing, this white 2016 MX-5 is the first customer car to get the V8 "Habu" conversion from the tuners at Palisade, Colorado's [Flyin' Miata](<https://www.flyinmiata.com/>). The swap consists of a Lingenfelter-built, 6.2-liter LS3 V8 out of a C6 Corvette paired to a Tremec T56 six-speed manual and a GM differential.

The LS3-swapped Miata is said to produce [525 horsepower](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/4630/good-god-its-a-525-hp-mazda-miata-with-a-corvette-v-8>) and weigh just 2,600 pounds.

![message-editor%2F1566928819556-2016\_mazda\_mx-5\_miata\_1565911029a7d308fca7c52e010-exterior.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1566928819556-2016_mazda_mx-5_miata_1565911029a7d308fca7c52e010-exterior.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

![message-editor%2F1566928823905-2016\_mazda\_mx-5\_miata\_15659110107ba7d308fca7006-exterior-e1566243650257.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1566928823905-2016_mazda_mx-5_miata_15659110107ba7d308fca7006-exterior-e1566243650257.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

![message-editor%2F1566928826676-2016\_mazda\_mx-5\_miata\_15659111457d308fca7c52efc031-exterior.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1566928826676-2016_mazda_mx-5_miata_15659111457d308fca7c52efc031-exterior.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

![message-editor%2F1566928855781-2016\_mazda\_mx-5\_miata\_15659114127d308fca7c52efc077-interior.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1566928855781-2016_mazda_mx-5_miata_15659114127d308fca7c52efc077-interior.jpg>)
**Bring a Trailer**

For maximum peace-of-mind, the car is being sold by Flyin' Miata themselves on behalf of the owner and includes a clean Carfax and Virginia title, all the factory and conversion literature and documents, and—most notably, perhaps—just a little over 2,000 miles on the odometer. The thing's barely broken in.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1pV1EDFZHw

It isn't just the engine, transmission, and diff that's been replaced, though. Dual, center-exit exhausts and a new rear diffuser give the Mazda roadster more visual punch, as do the black 17-inch Advanti Storm wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R tires. Behind those reside Wilwood brake calipers, specially-tuned Fox Racing coilovers, beefier anti-roll bars, and extra chassis bracing.

I'm not usually the biggest fan of [modified cars](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/26373/the-top-10-easily-modified-used-cars-first-time-enthusiast-buyers-should-grab>) but I gotta say, this thing looks really cool particularly from the rear three-quarter view.

The auction ends on Wednesday and is currently sitting at $55,000, or pretty much double the price of a new, soft-top 2019 Mazda MX-5 [Miata](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/28882/behold-miataland-the-worlds-only-mazda-miata-themed-luxury-resort>).

![message-editor%2F1566928932232-2016\_mazda\_mx-5\_miata\_1565911272308fca7c52efcfa86054-interior.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1566928932232-2016_mazda_mx-5_miata_1565911272308fca7c52efcfa86054-interior.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

![message-editor%2F1566928937185-2016\_mazda\_mx-5\_miata\_1565911290a866ec057-interior.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1566928937185-2016_mazda_mx-5_miata_1565911290a866ec057-interior.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

![message-editor%2F1566928965158-2016\_mazda\_mx-5\_miata\_1565911125fcfa866ec027-exterior.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1566928965158-2016_mazda_mx-5_miata_1565911125fcfa866ec027-exterior.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)